Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-04-25
HARDING FACES
NEW TEST On TOLLS
Expected He Will Take
Hand to End Ruction
In Congress
BORAH'S BILL UP SOON
President Said to Favor Delay Pend
ing Negotiations With Britain
Opponents Seek Subsidiary

Washington, April 25.-P'cpase-
.agis.a,on exemptirg American ships
rom the payment Of Panama Cana
tolls is destined to sir up big rue.
ion in Congress in which Presi.
len. Harding is expected to take /;
nand at an early date.
The Senate Committee on Inter
Oceanic Canals, of wh'ch Senator Bor.
ah IS chairman. is scheduled to be
gin consideration this week Of tht
Borah bill exempt!ng American coas;
wise ships and of the JONES an
Poindexter bills exemptlng all Amen.
can ships from canal charges.
The Republican national platform
last year for the first time declared
for toll exemption for all American
ships, out Senator Borah thinks that
in view of the opposition, It Will be
easier to put through bill applying
to coastwiSe ships only. Free tolls
were indorsed in the democratic plat
form of 1912, but renud.ated in 1914
by President Wilson.
President Harding favcrs toll eX-
emption, but has Indicated that i.
should oe achieved through new un-
derstanding with Great Britain. Whe-
ther he will halt the proposed legis!a
ton pending negotiations with Eng
Land or endeavor TO adjust af,erwa!d
any. differences arising 2t:sh Great
Britain or other nations from the ex-
emption remains to be seen.
Last year the canal earned S1O.29o,
362 in tolls, CT which S4,724 ,494 were
paid by 1881 American ships. S3,351,
@57 by SGT British ships, S5S3,643 by
l22 japanese ships and $4ll.422 by
Ill Norwegian ships. y total OF .
Sl4 vessels representing more than
Is nations passed through the canal.
The maintenance cost, including
$1,000 600 for 1ettermrnts, was 81, ,446,
272 leaving surplus of $751; .09O.
Since the canal was opened the up
keep cost has been S36 100000 and the
aggregate tolls S34,O00,000, but it is
estimated that after July next there
will be surplus of $5,000,0OO a yea:
a, present toll rates with American
ships paying tolls.
OF the 16,324,O24 tons of al Amer.
can sh pping, 3,9S6,755 tons. CIR less
than one-fcurth, passed through tn"
canal in 1920.
The opposition to toll exemption Is
based on variety CT contentious. il
is asserted that il; would be a viola
tion Of the treaty and that even if a
nsw understanding with Great Bril-
ain were reached. the exemption
wcuM De a subsidy to the onefOur:h
part CT American tonnage using the
canal as well as Il discrimination IN
favor Of ssaboard producing and shgp'
ping interests aga:ns. competing in
rei-es.s in the Middle West which
must depend on ran transportation,
II is contended that new under
standing with Great Britain can be
reached only by making concessions
valuable tc England, and which WI!
be tantamount to yielding in mater,
of vital consequence 10 the whole ma.
ton in order to procure privilege OF
benefit 10 a fraction of American SHY
ping and to Scaboard interests.
American and Canadian ships now
pass through the Canadian canals or
equal terms, and by some il is feare,
that the proposed Panama discrim;
nation in favor Of American ship:
would lead 20 retaliation by Canad:
beth in regard 10 the present canal:
and the contemplated ST. LawreEc'
waterway.