Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-12
SENATOR MARITIME
OPPOSES WILSON
{ ON TOLL QUESTION
Says Policy Is Mistake and
Will Vote Against
Repeal.

WASHINGTON. March Ex-senator
MARITIME. Of New Jersey. Democratic
senator from President Wilson's own
state, yesterday gave his reasons why
ne could not follow the President on
the canal tolls question. As usual.
the views Of the New Jersey Senator
are expressed In strong and vigorous
terms.
i am against the proposed repeal
OF the toll-exemption provisions OF
The Panama Canal act, first, because
OF the fact that when / voted to re-
ueVe American ships engaged in the
coastwise trade from the burden OF
Tolls through the canal did so after
most mature and earnest delibers-
lon," said Senator MARITIME.
did my duty then, as I always
e1daeavor to do 1t. conscientiously.
There was no question or suggestion
at that time OF Jingoism, nor has II
ever had any place in my mind.
After studying the subject thoroughly
! felt that while we had been out
generated and outplayed IN the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, yet the conditions
under which we had built the canal
were so utterly and entirely different
from those existing when the Hay
Pauncefote treaty was ratified that
we had rich and ample Justification
for granting this freedom from tolls.
i have always voted and will al
ways support those measures that
tend TO increase American shipping.
hgk - IL b., IN
Canal, as an American institution,
would be q grt { means to aid our
own shipping. But If it Is to be put
on the same plane and burdened with
the same duties imposed on the ship
ping Of other nations, the object
sought is virtually destroyed. / was
among those who favored free ocean
tolls, my position being that this
would be our canal and absolutely
free from the domination Of any other
power.
my proposition was that 1t would
be our duty to determine how much
It would require to maintain and OPP
crate the canal and then fix the tolls
for all nations other than our own
at such a figure as would properly
maintain the canal. The interest on
the great amount expended In the
construction of the canal I would
count as the gift OF the United States
60 the whole civilized world.
"If l ever had any doubts since, as
TO the wisdom of my action. | felt
richly Justified and fortified as | read
recently the excellent address OF
President Wilson at Washington
Park. N. J. Further, he has express
ed himself, stating that there Is room
for honest difference OF opinion on
this question.
"As 7 read the London Times. now
and then, I have seen articles and
advertisements relating TO the pro-
posed sale of property even as far
north as Vancouver, In which there
Is exploited the wonderful advan-
tages to shipping and to property
that will follow the opening Of the
Panama Canal IN the London Times
Of February q or thereabOuts I read
an editorial setting forth the advan-
tages the canal would bring. These
wonderful advantages, this paper as
Rerted, would be felt to the north Of
the canal, rather than to the south,
because of the initiative and natural
energy and enterprise OF the people.
This boom in property and In bust
ness, the Times said, would extend on
up into Canada, which was bound to
reap a generous benefit from the new
waterway
1.-THE thing that impressed me most
of all in this editorial, however. was
its reference to the American mer-
chant marine. AS to shipping the
editorial said, we will have entire
supremacy for many years to come,
as the Americans have no footing
there at ALL
THAT is the way our British friends
look at the situation. For my own
part. l feel that ii would be little
short of mbeci'ity to retreat from the
position we have taken.
81 want to be with the administra-
ton if | can. believe the Presi-
dent is broadminded and a states
man. but at the same time | fee. that
he like the rest of us, Is but human,
and we are all liable to error