The Raymer enterprise., 1921-10-20
Passage Of Canal Tolls Exemp-
ton Bill May Result in
Serious Complications.
MIDDLE WEST IN PROTEST
American Delegates to Arms Confer
enee Formulating Policy-sudden
Death Of Senator knox-Germany
10 Enraged by Reported Par.
tition Of Upper siIssia.
BY EDWARD W. PIcKARp.


When the senate last week passed
the Borah bill exemptlng American
cOastwlse vessels from payment Of
Panama canal tolls 1t started some
thing. and that something may prove
later rather embarrassing for the ad-
ministration, provided the house also
passes the measure. In the opinion
Of the opponents Of the bill It is a
violation Of the treaty Of 1914 with
Great Britain assuring all nations
equal treatment In the operation of
the canal, and they are confident that
the British not only will protest the
bill II II Is made law. but will de-
mand arbitration Of the matter. Some
senator's asserted that II was unwise
to bring up the tolls Issue at this time
because II would add q new complica-
ton to the armament conference. This
view was held BY Senator Lodge. al
though. he declared the United States
had the right under the treaty to ex.
empt Its coastwise shipping from tolls
payment. Senator Borah, however, In.
timating that he had consulted the
President, said that "those who are
primarily responsible for the success
full outcome Of the conference. so far
as the United States Is concerned. do
not share the fears Of embarrassment,
which have been expressed on this
door today"
When 1t came to vote, IS Repub-
licans and u Democrats were recorded
in favor of the measure. and II Re
publicans and 20 Democrats In oppo-
sltion. Free tolls was plank In the
Democratic platform Of 1912, but 1t
was repudIated by President Wilson,
and at his insistence the free tolls
clause In the canal act was repealed
In 1914 after an exciting parliamentary
battle. Last year the Republican plat
form advocated the exemption of
American shipping and President Har-
ding has urged the passage Of the
bill. In middle western states busi-
ness and commercial organizations are
strongly opposing the measure because
they believe 1t is designed to benefit
the Atlantic and Pacific coast states at
the expense Of the rest Of the country.
Many Of the middle western senator's
who voted In favor OF the bill are
blamed for blindness to the interests
Of their sections of the country. The
argument that the measure Is In con.
travention Of the treaty is weakened
by the fact that coastwIse traffic is
restricted by law to vessels of Ameri-
can registry, and It is to these only that
the proposed exemption will apply.
The real battle over the issue win
come IN the lower house, and 1t is
predicted that the bill will be allowed
to sleep there until after the conclu-
sion of the conference on armaments.
While the foreign delegates to the
arms conference are on their way to
America, our own delegation Is hold.
ing meetings to formulate the policy
that WIN be followed by the United
States. AT Its first session Secretary
Of State Hughes reported that not one
Of the participating powers had raised
a single objection to any part Of the
tentative agenda he had submitted.
Even Japan. which at first was a bit
coy, has proposed no additions or
ellmInatIons. Mr.. Hughes also said
he had cabled to the powers, as an
addition to the agenda, the proposi-
tion that the conference consider
the question Of electrical communica-
tion In the Pacific; which. Of course,
means that the controversy with
Japan over the Yap cable and radio
will come up unless II Is settled In
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