Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-11
CANAL TOLLS BILL
PASSED BY SENATE
lodge Warns Measure viii En-
barrass Disarmament Con-
ference; du .Pont Opposed Il.

Washington, Oct. n.--Ry vote of
a. 60 81 the senate yesterday passed
the liorah bill providing for free pass
Ant through the Panama Canal of
American coastwise trading vessels.
The measure WIS passed over the
earnest warning OF Senator Henry
cabot Lodge. Republican leader, that
n would seriously cmharrass the COM
inn Arms Conference.
when the bin was called up SEN
nior i.odg, stated that while he ad-
mlttcd that the United States. under
the HAY fauncefete Treaty. had the
"lvral right TO give American coast
wise ships free passage through the
canal "thcre are compelling reasons
why we should not exercise that right
81 this time.
The reasons against it's exercise
new on the eve of an imporatnt in
tufnatiunal conference to which we
have invited the representatives of
other great nations" the Chairman of
the ttrcisn Relations Committee con-
tinucd. "arc especially potent. The
question concerns Great Britain pri-
marily, hut Il involves all the other
commercial nations whose ships all
uep the canal Lodge urged that the
uuoaiion Of free tolls be left to ar
filtration.
senator norah, author Of the bin.
denied that its passags would in any
way effect the conference. He de-
vlared that he had discussed the bin
with those primarily responsible for
- - 4
thuy assured him that il would not
cause any embarrassment
Mr. hosah said that he was inclined
a. aefce with senator Lodge that the
matter 81 free tolls be left TO arbitra-
tion, but pointed out that Viscount
bryce. former British Ambassador 70
tno United states. had expressed the
upinion that there was nothing TO
ufhiirate as 70 the exemption OF
American vessels from paying tolls.
Party lines were completely lost in
thp passage of tho bill. which is SINH
lnf in many ways 20 that passed by
Republican Congress in 1912, and re-
rvhled al the instlgation of President
Wilson by y Democratic Congress in
1914, although in the campaign the
Democrats had promised free tolls.
~ the nght yesterday many peculiar
iclltlcal situations developed. Senator
tndee. Notwithstanding that he sub
Hefihed % the Republican platform Of
last year which promised free tolls.
fpnNht the measure with all his
wtrnelh and voted against It. while
senator Oscar Underwood. the Demo-
vfaile floor leader. voted for il.
llAniing that the bin be passed in or
der O. fulau Republican promises,
seventeen Republican Senators Joined
with twenty Democrats in voting
AGAINST lt while twelve Democrats
NoiUd with thirty-fiys Republicans in
fnNur OF q.
Ilio bin Is short. After the enact
inK clause Il starts that hereafter no
tolls shall be levied upon vessels pass
in0 through the Panama Canal en-
HnFcd IN the coastwise trade Of the
United States.
section repeals the amending
act of 1914. passed under the Wilson
ferlme.
senator King of Utah. offered a res
olutien providing for arbitration as a
substitute Tor the Borah bill. The sub
stituto would have authorized the
frevldcut % negotiate with Great
1Rfiiain Tor The submission OF the ques-
ton 60 the Hague tribunal. The sub
siltute was defeated without a record
vote. as was a proposal by Mr.. King
that an appropriation OF $4,000, 900 be
tnade 60 reimburse American coast
wise vessels paying tolls 10 use the
cnnai.
Senator Cummins (Rep., la in sup
porting thc bill. expressed the opinion
that the President and either the In
terutatc Commerce Commission or the
shipping Board should be vested with
authority 20 regulate the use of the
eanal hy American vessels.
llo stated that during the fiscal year
ending June 80. 1921. American YES
HeAA having a tonnage OF 1,451, AT
PASSED through the canal and paid
81 ahi.475 In tolls.
senator Williams (Dem.. Miss.
warmly supported the contention ot
Senator lodre that the question o.
tolls should nos be raised at a tim,
when the arms congress was aboui
~ be held. He also insisted that ar.
hlifaffon was the only fair and right
MfHe Tor the United States 20 pur-
Fus.
Democrats for the bin We're:
Aahunt, Broussard. Harrison, Ken
afiek. Ransdell. Reed. Robinson
Shields. Stanley. Underwood. walsl
Mass and Walsh (Mont.).
krnAbllcans against the measure:
hrkndegee. Colt, Dillingham;, Ernst
atfsls. Kenyon. keyes, Lodge, McCor
mlck. McCumbef Mckinley, Nelson
Nsw. spencer, Sterling. Wadswortl
ard Warren.
Two other Republicans, du Pom
snd Mclean were paired against tn,
hil.
The biz now goes to the House an,
aeadera are Of the opinion that il vii
not be reported out OF committee a
this SESSION.