Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-22
TWO ASPECTS OF CANAL TOLLS.

.#@&HsAAS SuUjCSt Oh lcVy1uS 6dnama Ia11al Tolls on
American ships passing through the canal may be
viewed from two aspects: one, from that of the
moral obligation of the country, the other{rom the
standpoint of economic policy.
The subject of exe1npting American vessels
IRON payment of canal tolls has been threshed over
q good many times. The original bill providing for
canal tolls exempted American vessels engaged in
sifcoast-wise trade. At the suggestion of President
Wilson, supported by some of our most eminent
legal authorities, this provision was repealed on the
ground that it was in contravention Of our treaty
with Great Britain. That treaty is the successor to
the old Clayton-Bulwer act which designated the
! conditions under which a canal across the isthmus
should be built. The purpose /of that treaty was
declared to be to provide for inter-oceanic COM
munication for the benefit Of the entire world, and
IT was agreed that the United States and Great
ssBrltaln should jointly assume the responsibility for
the construction OF such canal, and should jointly
control It. The canal was to be open on the same
|, terms to ships of all nations. The present treaty,
the Hay-Poncefote treaty, provides for the chm
Z lnation of Great Britain from the building and con-
troll OF the canal, the rights, duties and responsible
{ ties, IN connection Herewith to be vested in the
United States but by the express terms of the trea-
J ty, all the conditions of the former document relat-
ing to the international freedom Of the canal and to
the imposition Of equal tolls are retained. Among
the high authorities in international law in this
country who held the exemption Of American yes
I sells to be a violation of the terms of this treaty are
! Elihu Root, then United States senator from New
I York. The body Of opinion in accord with his was
I SO great that congress repealed the tolls exemption
provision. Unless the opinion Of these authorities
( are 70 pc dllsregarded, this exemption provision can
4 not be reviewed except by agreement between this
country and Great Britain. II, as was then pro-
1 yided, the United States has agreed for a considcra-
~hon that our vessels shall pay the same tolls that
al other vessels pay, we cannot as one party to that
agreement, r%epudlate any of its provisions.
The second consideration, that of economic
policy IS one which can be considered only if it is
determined that we have the right to charge tolls
-or not as we may see fit. Business advantage can
not under any circumstances be set up against a
moral obligation, but If it is decided that we have a
right TO exempt our own vessels or any of them
from the payment of tolls, the question arises
: : whether or not il will be good business for us to do
. 81 The people Of the interior Of this country have
I 4 decided interest I N this question. The United
/ States has built and is maintaining at great expense
/ the Panama canal, The money to pay this cost
\ comes out of the federal treasury. Anfof the neonle
ut the country must be taxed to pay it Unless the
\ revenues derived from the canal are suffficient-hp
I meet the cost This they will not be If. our large
4 shipping interests are exempted. Freedom from
I tolls through the canalswil have the effect of low
xaeling transportation rates between Atlantic ana pa
ciic coast points. This will be a direct ADVANTAGE
4tos thc cities along both coasts and to the country
people of the great central sections, the whole 81 tie
Mississippi valley and Tor some distance On either
z side viii derive no benefit They must continue q
payratesestablshed On the basis of land transporta-
exion alone 81 seems therefore that the exemption
DtsAnaes'ea1l Shipping nom re payment Of tolls
Iplaees npon millions ~ our people The burden Sc
IiaintainingS an important Waterway for the benefit
s0E MY y 6cWs his would Sc unjust and sutterfv
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES There seems 10 be ~ consideration
of5 oceanstfsA Az xhich Would warrant Me- impcsition
Ax,d novw Briinnton gOess ons tie siecture platform.
1tat 8oaetltH III belp to make ttiis - interesting fall.