The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-16
BORAH WILL SEEK REPEAL OF TOLLS
 OF PANAMA CANAL
Will Begin Agitation as Soon as Congress Convenes De- spite the Wishes of
 President Harding
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau The Agc-Hersld
 800 DuyiISnn Building

Washington, September 15.--(Spe- cial)-The repeal of Panama Canal tolls will be agitated by Senator Borah and associates just as soon ss Congress reconvenes, it is understood today
 President Harding. without havi1i< declared his position relative to the proposed repeal, has expressed desire that legislative effort to secure the end desired by Borah be postponed limitation of armament.
 But Borah. it is learned definitely, does not intend to be deterred. IL is his opinion that this government has already sacrificed too much in the hope of maintaining perfect re- lationshp with Great Britain.
 Those who oppose the proposed re- peal of Panama tolls as they ap- ply against American vessels engagsl in coastwlse trade, declare that q question of national honor is involv- ed. This was the argument of for mer President Wilson when, after his first campaign he had sponen handsomely of repeating the tolls. determined, as President. that the Hay-Paunceforte treaty forbade such action.
 That treaty provides that all ships of all nations shall use the canal on terms of equality The answer to the argument based on the treaty is that the proposed repeal applies solely to vessels engaged in coast .~.. vessels. otherwise engaged, compete through the canal with Great Britain or terms of equality.
 In coastwise trade, England is not competitor of the United States. Its boats cannot transport American goods from New York to Mobile. or from Boston to Seattle. Senator Borah's position is that England .z not at all concerned in the proposed effort to remove what he terms dis eriminat.on against American ves- sels bearing American cargoes.
 Democrats Chief Exponants
 In the Wilson administration fight. the abiest defenders of the Hay Paunceforte treaty were republicans, Senators Root, Lodge, Kenyon, Me- Cumber and others. Among ths ablest opponents of the proposed res peal were democrats, Senators Cham berlain, o'Gorman. Reed, yardaman. and in the House, Speaker Clark. aud Mir Underwood. democratic floor leader.
 The lineup in the new fight which impends is speculative. For the res peal, Senator Borah will take the lead senator Underwood is regarded as still in favor of making the pro- posed di discrimination in favor of American vessels engaged in coast wise trade. The position of Senator Lodge cannot be ascertained.
 Irrespective of the lineup. the struggle will be furious. It will re vive in intensified form the question of Irish independence, and the all eged selfish, graspins inclinations o3 Great Britain. in other words, what is termed "Anglephobia."
 The neat question which Congress will have to answer by its vote is whether coastwise trade Is excluded to one coast or embraces both coasts of the United States.
 Is vessel plying from New Tork through the Panama Canal to Seat tie, vessel engaged in coastwlse trade, or does coastwise trade exS tend only from New York to ksS Vest
 Senator Borah takes the position that coastwise trade Is not confins1 to only one American coast. othsre hold that a vessel is not engaEed in coastwisc trade when 1t toucneq n coast which is rot American eve1 though it's point of destination is on al, American coast.