Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-12
THE n CANAL BILL.

the bill, and almost an equal number of prominent
Democrats voted tor It. The attitude Of the admin
istration on the subject has not been declared.
In the consideration of this legislation there are
two important elements;
First, the honor of the United States. The Unit
ed States controls the Panama Canal strip and the
canal through it by virtues OF a treaty agreement with
Great Britain, reaching back over half a century,
some of the important terms Of which were renewed
by a recent treaty but a few years ago. BY reason
of their large interests on this continent both ma
tons assumed the right, which was not questioned
by other powers, to control any canal which should
be built connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
: Under the terms of the original agreement both ma
tons were to share in the responsibility for the con-
%struction of the canal and its control thereafter, a
specific provision being that the waterway should
lie open to the shipping of all nations on equal terms.
Subsequently a new agreement was made whereby
Great Britain relinquished all claim to control of the
canal and became relieved of all responsibility in re-
lation thereto, such responsibility and control pass
ing exclusively to the United States. The provis-
ions relating to the use of the canal by all nations
on equal terms were reaffirmed in the new treaty.
At about the time of the completion of the canal,
congress passed a bill providing for the free use of
the canal by American coastwise shipping. Protest
against this action came from Great Britain on the
ground that it was in violation of the treaty stipula-
tons. The subject was thoroughly discussed at that
time, and following an extended discussion this pro-
vision was repealed, the canal meanwhi being com
pleted and put into use. During the entire exist
CllCc ol luc canal up TO GATE, american Sl1DDlnp
has paid the same tolls that have been paid by other
shipping for the use of the canal. In the discussion
OF the subject some of the ablest men in the coun-
try participated. Senator Root of New York, con-
ceded everywhere to be thoroughly posted on mat
tiers Of international law and treaty relations, declar-
cd unequivocally that the admission of American
ships without payment of tolls would be a direct vio-
!lation of the treaty. This view was not shared by
some other quite eminent men, but the conspicuous
position held by Mr.. Root and his admitted knowl-
e6pe Of such subjects hac Oiver , oro,% la>1 It
weight to the opinion which he expressed at that
time. 1t goes without saying that congress and the
executive together can r%epudiate a treaty. 1t is also
clear that a treaty, the terms of which have been
carried out by the other party, cannot be repudiated
by the government of the United States without last
ing dishonor to it. The first question, therefore,
which must be decided to the satisfaction of all
fair minded people is whether or not the United
States is bound BY its treaty agreement to make the
same charges against its own shipping for the use
OF the canal that it levies against the shipping of all
other countries. If this is the real intent of the
treaty, no question of national interest, no question
OF private interest. can govern the decision which
this country must make. There must be no such
thing as the deliberate violation of a treaty into
which we entered with good faith.
The second question involved is that of expedi.
ency. Assuming that the United States may right
fully admit its own shipping to the canal free of tolls,
is such a course wise for it to follow? In this connec-
ton there is to be considered the influence which
our decision will have upon our international ~rela-
tons, relations which are growing in completely
and Importance all the time. The e is further a very
practical question involved from the standpoint of
the American people themselves. The Panama Cal
nal is used and will be used by American shipping
Tor such purposes as the transportation. of goods,
for instance, between New York and San Francisco,
between all Atlantic and all Pacific ports. Those
ports are connected by railroads. running across the
continent. Water transportation is cheaper than
land transportation. The use of the canal free of
tolls amounts to a subsidy to the shipping thus ia
vored. The United States must maintain the canal.
That maintenance costs money. If the canal is main
tanned at a heavy cost, and certain ships are permit
ted to use it free, the burden of maintenance passes
to the taxpayers of the country. The question arises
therefore whether it is legitimate and proper for the
taxpayers OF the United States, especially those of
the great internal section of the country, to paw
taxes to maintain a canal which is used for the pur-
pose of lowering freight rates between Atlantic and
Pacific ocean ports while the inhabitants of the great
interior district must pay for land transportation be-
tween their own homes and these same ports. The
Chicago Tribune, one of the greatest and most influ-
entail newspapers of the country is outspoken and
determined in its opposition to this plan. Speaking
IN behalf OF the interests of the people of the great
Mississippi valley, it has consistently opposed this
plan, denouncing it as unfair to many millions of
people. This attitude Of course is entirely apart
from the International obligation involved, and is
based solely on. the question of the interests and
rights Of millions of American citizens:
We have then a situation in which there is to
be considered first the rightfulness of the abolition
OF tolls on our own shipping. If such abolition is
wrong, that disposeslof the entire question, because
no Pecuniary interest can be permitted for a mo-
ment to stand in the way of that which is manifestly
right. In the second place, if it is determined that
we have the right to take the action contemplated,
the question then resolves itself into one Of the in
~terests Of the various people affected, and their .mu-
|tual rights and obligations.
RECOVERING FROM THE WAR.
EEI CSro.f:r4~k >f L A I, E=Ey TSLH. @ i
from the ravages Of the war are figures made public
the International ~lnstture OF Agriculture. The
yield OF wheat in the redeemed provinces this year
IS greater by 36per cent than the yield last year, and
by the International Tnstif,1teS NJ Aor;c,i+,,~.a @scha