Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1914-04-16
THAT TOLLS QUESTION.

The Panama Canal tolls question
which is now before congress in the
shape of bill repeating the law
which gives free tolls to our coast
wise vessels, is one that is creating
more discussion by the press of the
country than the tariff bill did. The
bill has passed the lower house and |
the Idaho delegation voted solidly |
against the bill. Representative
Smith is out in a long explanation of
his vote on the measure, for the ben
eft of his constituents.
The measure is now before the
senate where it will be threshcd out
at great length. The parties are d.
vided on this question, some OF the
presidents most able supporters be-
ing against him. while some of tic
leading republicans in both houses
are his most staunch supporters in
this important matter.
i I lie ST. Louis Republic ei~es Il
very concise statement of this mat
ter In the following:
;. THE Republic begs its readers in
their following of the canal tolls ois-
cussion, to observe one capital fact
The opponents of repeal are not dis
cussing the treaty.
One honorable member of the
house declares that lii the American
, people had suspected that the Hav-
Pauncefote treaty gave Great Britain
/ equal rights with rs not one shovel
/ tul of dirt wouli have been turned
Z on the isthmus."
. This comes periously near being
= funny. Had suspected" Why
t didn't the American people read the
Y treaty? For it not only gave Great
f Britain equal rights with us. but also
d Germany and Venezuela, Holland
r and Siam, Norway and Chile, Liberis
: and Ecuador. All the right tn,
Il treaty gave any nation, including tn,
United States, was the right to sent
II it's vessels through the canal on pay
e ment of the tolls Here is what w
Ie put our hands to:
n The canal shall be free and open
l. in time of war as in the time of peac
lie to the vessels of commerce and wa
N of all nations, on terms of entire ecu
to ity, so that there shall be no discrin
l. ination against any nation or its cit
Or zens or subjects in respect of the cor
is ditions or charges of traffic. or otl
an erwise."
IT. What are these gentlemen real
ne contending for? They say they wal
he American coastwise ships passs
St through the canal without paymel
of tolls. That will, of course, redu'
he the income of the canal by just Il
mt amount which these ships would OF
We erwise pay. And the income of Il
ry canal is public revenue. Such a T
nd duction would simply mean that Il
a government of the United States su
sidized the coastwise feet by the e
nd act amount of the remitted tolls.
be We already confer upon the coai
he wise fleet an absolute monopoly
hes American coastwise trade. BY t
at provision the president is trying
rn- repeal. we have put a subsidy on t
on OF that.
I<es We have never seen anything me
ga empty than the case against repe
ere 1t starts with utter disregard of c
ge- plain promise, quoted above. 1t V
orously defends the rights" OF
mes United States to-what? To tax
the rest of us in order to confer furtl
be favors on coastwist fleet, aires
we granted a monopoly of one of
hen richest trades in the world.
au- The enemies of repeal have need
can all their eloquence, all their facilit
the of appeal to prejudice. For, in VI
of the language of our covenan
ess. promise and the nature of the s
1. cial privilege they seek for an alrel