The Washington herald., 1914-05-22
ROOTS Plea FOR
REPEALLAUDED
Senator's Argument on Tolls
BIZ Lasted Five
Hours.
SUPPORTS PRESIDENT
Says United States Is on Its Honor
with the World in This
Matter.
SUPPORTS PRESIDENT

Elihu Root spoke for nve hours In tn,
Senate yesterday afternoon in support OF
the bill to. repeal the legislation ex
empting coastwise vessels from paymen,
Of Panama Canal tolls.
At the close Senators made an un.
usual demonstration. applauding vigor.
ously. Senator Kern. Of Indiana. the
Democratic leader. started it. Senators
crowded around Mr.. Root and congratu-
lated him. The speech was regarded as
the ablest yet delivered in support of the
President.
In opening his address Senator Root
said:
The excitement and fervor of false
patriotism, the insolence and rancor
which Ill befits the consideration of a
serious International subject by q great
people. but which have been injected In
to the popular discussion of this question
In some quarters have found but little
response among the members Of the Sem
ate. The question before us has been
debated with a sense OF responsibility
and dignity"
The Senator continued,
Basis of Our Rights.
The treaty with Panama is the basis
Of our rights. From II we get our
title. By that treaty the grant of prop
erty and Jurisdiction. upon which We
have, proceeded. upon which We hold
the canal. is subject to the provision
that the canal when constructed and
the entrances thereto shall be neutral
the terms provided for by the treaty
between the United States and Great
britain In 1901. So the treaty with
Great Britain. which Is referred to here,
10 carried into our title as a limita-
ton upon II.
'If the construction which feel
forced to give to this treaty Is a sound
one We are not at liberty to produce the
result Of a subsidy to American ships
by relieving them of tolls which we i'm
pose upon other ships.
A Public Service Work.
For three-quarters of a century the
United States had been declaring to the
world that she sought to procure the
making Of a canal across the isthmus as
a public service work. a public calling.
q public utility. with all the wants of th-
public to be served, always, without one
varying note. until We got the title and
control Of the canal: and then for the
American owners of ships shall receive
better treatment in tolls than the owners
Of other ships.
Answering the assertion that sovereignty
was being yielded. Senator Root said:
Conformity to the obligations of
treaties is the highest exercise of
and not the infringement OF
In concluding Senator Root, with great
referred TO the charge that
The repeal Of the statute would be a
surrender at the behest of Great Britain.
Not . Behest.
What has Great Britain said to US,
She has said that she considered the
statute a violation of the contract. Does
hat sound like a behest? Is there any
hing arrogant or insolent about that?
Let me recall to your minds what the
United States has said in respect of ar
'itration: the messages of Presidents in |
ong succession, declaring to Congress |
he unalterable devotion of the govern |
nent of the United States to the principle |
Il arbitration. Are We to regard II as |
lrrogant and insolent that a nation with |
which We have a treaty, differs from our /
Of a treaty and proposes |
DO the American people want US to be |
Ugly. revengeful. insolent. brutal, and |
or do they want US to be digni-
led, calm. considerate, and reasonable in !
'ur relations with foreign countries?"
Idded the Senator. Great Britain asked
or arbitration, and We are here discuss