The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-27

VOOutluueO from rage Oue.J
faith by those who claim allegiance to
here who differ with me In reference
to the binding effect Of party plat
form I will not at this time endeavor
to discuss the pending bill from that
standpoint.
Let US resolve the issue into the
question az to whether the platform Of
the Democratic party favorfng exemp-
ton OF tolls Of American ships engaged
in coastwise trade passing through the
Panama canal ia best for the nation
and the people Of our country, or
whether the gentleman from Tonnes
house repudiating the declaration Of
the Democratic party, Is proposing leg
islation that will be most beneficial to
our nation and our people,
Representative Underwood quoted
the figures to show that the cost Of
maintenance Of the canal and interest
on the governments investment could
be met easily without charging Amer
lean vessels tolls and by charging for
eign vessels a Fair and reasonable
toll. He compared the tolls charged by
the British at the Suez canal with Che
proposed Panama tolls.
Purpose Of Congress.
THE purpose Of congress- said he,
in providing in the act for the opening.
maintenance protection and operation
of the canal, that no tolls shall be
levied upon vessels engaged in the
coastwise trade Of the United States,
and providing further that 1t should be
left discretionary with the president Of
the United States to exempt from tolls
our ships engaged in foreign trade, was
All effort on the part Of congress to dis
crlminate in favor OF American ship
ping and to re-establish our merchant
marine. This has been q policy Of the
OF the government. The Democratic
party has never stood for direct SUBJ
sides but has always favored subven-
tfons and determinations in favor Of
our shipping.
ut was through discriminating tariff
duties that our merchant marine was
developed in the first three decades OF
our governments existance. The DEM
ocratic tariff law that il now on the
statute books carries in 1t g. discrimi-
nation amounting to a reduction Of
per cent Of the duties on goods import
ed in American ships.
IF we have built the canal for the
benefit Of an American merchant ma
rtne and not for the practical exclu-
stve use Of foreign shipping. We must
adopt policy Of discrimination in ia
vor Of American ships, or we must in
the end pay indirect subsidies to en-
able our ships to compete with ships
Of foreign nations. The subsidies and
determinations that European govern
interests have practically driven Amer
lean ships from the seas.
Both Wise and Patriotic.
For the reasons given believe that
the Democratic party was both wise
and patriotic when 1t announced q poll
cy in favor Of discriminating in favor
OF our coastwise ships going through
the Panama canal and that there is no
reason at this time why we should
abandon a solemn promise made to the
American people in one Of the most
prominent planks in our party platform.
But we are told that we are violat-
Ing solemn treaty made with another
nation and in good faith that we should
abandon the canal to foreign rivals
without contest or dispute, in order
that We may keep our standing in the
family OF nations.
mot for one moment do believe that
we have violated a treaty right and not
for one moment do believe that the
English government seriously contends
that we have violated q treaty right.
Our whole difficulty in the matter arises
from the unAmerfcan spirit of surren-
der that some Of our own people have
exhibited toward this important ques-
ton from the very beginning
''f the congress. had Unanimously
passed the canal tolls bill two years
ago. do not believe that the question
would ever have been raised that we
do not have the right to exempt Amer
lean ships from the. payment Of tolls
when we charge foreign ships a fair
and equitable rate for their passage
through the canal. Great Britain
charges $3.50. for the passage through
a canal that cost only one-third OF what
it cost US to build the Panama canal
and our toll charge Is only 1.20 per
net ton.
No Right to Complain.
1T seems to me clear that it does
not lie within the mouth of Great
Britain or any foreign nation to COM
plain that we have not given them fair
and equitable treatment in the tolls
that we have charged for the passage
of their ships through the canal
There is q more serious question
involved In the passage OF this bill
The right to discriminate In favor Of
our ships, the opportunity to encour-
age our shipping and to increase our
are matters OF vital import
ance, but they pale into insignihcance
when compared with the attack on the
of our country in the canal
zone
der our constitution rests IN the war
power of the United States We built
the canal primarily as an addition to
our war power, as It permits the
quicker transfer of our naval forces
from one ocean to another. Its In
land lake provides q harbor OF refuge
in which our nAvies can rendezvous,
ocean.
The advocates Of Great Britain
take the position that we are forbid
den to discriminate in favor Of our
own vessels Of commerce, and ~ ves-
eels OF commerce and war are named
together. how long will it be before
the Same advocate OF the British con-
fenfion win advise l1a that wa cannot