Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-29
HAS CHANGED MIND
ON TOLLS QUESTION
Senator Oliver Voted Against
Exemption; But Now 0p-
poses Repeal.
HIS READING OF TREATY
INFLUENCED BY PRESIDENT
Quotes Candidate Wilson in Support
of His Present Stand
on the Issue.

the eleven senators who voted in 1872
against the free tolls clause of the
Panama canal act, told the Senate to-
day that he had changed his mind re-
garding the right of the United States
under the Hay -Pauncefote treaty to ex-
empt its vessels from the payment of
tolls and that he would vote against the
pending repeal bill.
1 voted against the exemption clause
in 1872" said Senator Oliver. because it
then seemed to me that the exemption of
our vessels was in contravention of the
treaty with Great Britain. AS to the
economic policy involved in such ex-
emption, | was never in doubt, and if
the question had been free from the
complications involved in the treaty l
would, without hesitation, have cast my
vote in favor of exemption
Admits Change of Mind.
Senator Oliver frankly admitted that he
had changed his mind in regard to the
treaty obligations, and said that IN
changing his mind he followed AN il
lustrious example," He then quoted from
a speech of President Wilson, delivered
while a candidate for the presidency. in
which the President spoke in favor OF
the free tolls clause OF the canal act
II have as much right to change my
mind as the President has to cnanSe
his said Senator oliver In lact' l
think that my right in that respect is
even greater than his. because my re-
sponsipiity is less. No one beneres that
this legislation could receive the support
which is now being given 1t on the
democratic side of the chamber ii it
icfa
terful and all-compeiling man who moves
the minds of his followers from place
TO place. like the ngureS on a chess-
board
Senator Oliver discussed the provisions
OF the Hay-Pauncefote treaty and the
reasons which had led him to change
his mind He insisted that if under the
treaty the United States had no right 10
exempt American ships OF commerce. IL
also had no right to exempt from the
payment of tots its war Hesseis. fioM
ever. he said. no one commended the
United States has no right TO exempt
it's war vessels from the payment oi
tolls.
Not the Only Subsidy"
Taking up the economic side of the
question, Senator Oliver said:
III this toll exemption is subsidy.
then practically every appropriation
we make, except for actual running
expenses. can be called by that name
He show ed how the Senate had in
creased an item of $4,000 in the agri-
cultural appropriation bill last week
to 100000 for the purpose OF making
Investigations in connection with the
DEVELOPMENT of live stock production
in the cane sugar and cotton as
frictS of the United States.
What else is this but subsidy
intended, | presume, to reconcile the
sugar growers of Louisiana to the
cruel stab they received in the house
of their friends by the enactment of
the tariff BILL" said Senator Oliver
Senator oliver declared in conclusion
that while he had become convinced
that the United States had the right
to exempt American ships of com
merce from the payment of tolls
through the canal he was willing that
the matter be submitted to arbitration
and he was ready to support an
such provision.
Senator Cummins' Amendment.
Senator Cummins of Iowa has in
PRODUCED an amendment to the Panama
canal tolls repeal bill which would
have the effect of charging ships en-
United States Just about one half the
amount of tolls through the canal as
would be paid by foreign vessels pass
ing through the canal.
1t provides also for submitting the
tolls question, SO far as the right of
the United States to exempt American
vessels from the payment of all tolls,
to arbitration.
Amendment Fixes Charges.
The amendment would have the tolls
for foreign vessels based on the cost
of operation of the canal plus per
cent on the investment. taking into ac-
count the. entire tonnage passing
the canal The charge. how
ever, should not exceed sl.25 per net
ton.
In the case of domestic commerce of the
United States the tolls would be based
on their proportion of half the estimated
cost of the operation of the canal, but in
any event. not over 60 cents per net ton.
The arbitration feature calls for a board
of equal number of nationals of this coun-
try and Great Britain and one other
chosen by them. Any decision must re-
ceiye the concurrence of at least one
national of the country to which it is
adverse
Senator Sterling for Repeal.
Senator Sterling of South Dakota, re-
publican yesterday addressed the Senate
in support of the Panama canal tolls re-
peal bill. He insisted that under the Hay
treaty the exemption of Amer
lean ships of commerce. coastwise or
otherwise, was prohibited.