Evening star., 1921-04-24
>NOTOLLSONU. SHIPS
IN CANAL DEMANDED
Fight Resumed in Congress for Free Passage
Through Panama Waterway Opponents
Quote Hay-Pauncefote Treaty.

oCAdtOl AoOSS, lHc pIeSclt IcpuOhSdh
leader and chairman of the foreign re-
lations committee; former Senator Root
of New York and many other repubii-
cans supported the President in his
demand for repeal. On the other hand.
Senator Underwood of Alabama. demo-
cratic leader of the Senate today and
at that time democratic leader of the
House, attacked the repeal measure
vigorously. So did the late Champ
Clerk, then Speaker of the House, and
other influential democrats
The repeal bill. after prolonged
debate. finally passed. The vote in
the House was 247 to 160 and in the
Senate, SO to 35. The complexion of
the Senate and House has changed
very materially since then, however.
and the proponents of the free tolls
legislation insist they will have the
necessary majority to change the law.
Business of the Canal
The Panama canal was opened to
traffic Informally in August, 1914.
American vessels. both coastwise and
foreign going. have been paying tolls,
just as the vessels of other countries
have ever since. On July 20, 1920.
President Wilson, conforming with
the provisions of the Panama canal
act, issued proclamation formally an
nouncing the completion of the canal
and declaring it open to commerce
The business of the canal has shown
a marked increase in the six years in
which it has been in operation. not
withstanding the fact that the world
war interfered greatly with the nor
NAL development of ocean-going COM
merce. For instance. in the fiscal year
June 80. 1915, 40 American vessels,
465 British and 153 of all other ma
tions passed through the canal, while
in the fiscal year ending June 80, 1870.
1929 American vessels. 753 British
and 596 of all other nations made the
transit. Tolls and other revenues, of
the canal in 1915 were $4.343.3S3, and
in 1920 sS,935,S71. The canal in its
present state, according to the report
of the governor of the canal. repre-
sents a capital expenditure by the
United States of s366.650.O00. This is
exclusive of expenditures for military |
and naval defense.
The proposed exemption of Ameri-
can vessels from the payment of tolls |
through the Panama canal is only one |
step in the campaign which senators !
and representatives, enthusiastic over
the development of a great and per-
manent American merchant marine, |
are undertaking. But it is considered |
a very important STEP
International Question Raised
There seems to be little doubt. how |
ever, if this legislation goes through, |
that it will add another international |
question to be taken up and deter |
mined by the new administration
The arguments. pro and con. on the !
been made many times. When the |
matter was last discussed in Con-
gress. It was the coastwise vessels |
that had been exempted, though the |
law left 1t to the discretion Of the |
President to decide whether the ex-
emption should be extended to cover |
foreign-going vessels. 1t was point |
ed out that no foreign vessels are
permitted to engage in the coast |
wise trade of the United. States. and
it was contended for that reason no
foreign nation should raise an OBJ
lection to the exemption Of American |
coastwise vessels from the payment
of tolls. But foreign nations did. |
Great Britain proposed to arbitrate
the question. But, as Senator Under
wood said while majority leader Of
the House in 1914, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Sims), the
author Of the repeal bill asked by
President WILSON, proposes to sur
render all our rights without a fight"
Article of the Hay-Pauncefote |
treaty between the United States and I!
Great Britain relating to the Panama |
canal and its naturalization says, in |
part:
The canal shall be, free and open
to the vessels Of commerce and Of
war OF all nations observing these
rules on terms OF entire equality. SO
that there shall be no discrimination
against any such nation. or it's citi-
CONTINUED on Third Page.)