Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-12
THE PANAMA TOLLS

OCCUIIeuC6 Inlay pe C!!d45Su " "a
fortunate one. The United States
Senate did not take advantage of the
opportunity to do so but the House,
contrary to what has of late been its
practise, may make the most of it. II
so it must become imbued with the
spirit which the world is hoping and
praying may inspire the approaching
arms parley.
When the Senate on Saturday came
to bill (S665) to provide for free
tolls for our ships passing through
the Panama Canal it entered upon a
discussion which was but iteration of
what had gone before. The PROPOSE
don not only had been discussed in
Congress and through the press but
the Democratic national convention Of
1912 favored exemption from tolls OF
all American ships engaged in coast
wise trade, and the Republican plat
form of 1920 the exemption of all
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as we'll as coastwise. Taft, when
President, in his message to Con-
gress. December, 1912. expressed the
conclusion that the Hay Pauncefote
treaty would not be violated by the
exemption of our coastwise vessels
from the payment of tolls and ex-
President Roosevelt in a letter to the
Outlook under date of Jan. IS, 1913,
expressed like opinion.
The words of the treaty about
which most of the difference of opin-
ion arises are these: The canal shall
be free and open TO the vessels Of
commerce and of war Of all nations
observing these rules on terms of en-
tire equality, so that there shall be no
discrimination against any such ra-
ton or its citizens or subjects in
respect of conditions or charges Of
traffic or otherwise"
Senator McCumber in an able
speech against the proposed exemp-
ton cited Chairman Davis Of the
Foreign Relations committee that
considered the treaty; Mr.. Choate,
our minister to Great Britain, eur
charge daffaires. Nj White, and
Senator Morgan. all to the effect that
under this treaty nothing was given
or denied to this country which was
not given or denied to all other ma
tons.
Those favoring exemption. some of
them, raise the question that no
treaty could be made which would
affect our coastwise trade, which. be-
ing restricted to our own vessels is
an interstate trade concerning which
legislation may not be had except
through concurrence of the House.
Senator Lodge. while holding the
opinion that this country has a legal
right to exemption voted against it in
1912. supported the veto Of President
Wilson in 1914 and voted against it
on Monday, He regards the require
ment that all nations should pay
tolls means all nations other than the
United States, that this country did
not consider itself one of its own Gus
toners He said he believed now as
ne had when the matter first came I'D
that we have legal right to ex-
empt our vessels from tolls in the
canal. subject, of course. to arbitra-
ton If arbitration is demanded under
our arbitration treaties. I also be-
heve now, as then, that the possession
Of legal right does not necessitate
its exercise if there are compelling
reasons against it. Such reasons.
think, exist and they seem to me at
this moment especially potent be-
cause the Panama tolls although in
volved strictly only in the treaty with
Great Britain. concern every COM
mercial nation in the world The
views and opinions, the convictions
may say of 1912 and 1914 I cannot
now change. ! still think my prev
lous position was sound one. and
tor that reason l do not feel able to
vote to free United States vessels
from tolls IN the canal any more than
I did in 1912 and 1914 when the cues
ton was before the Senate. | there
fore shall vote against the proposed
act freeing coastwise vessels of the
United States from tolls in the
Panama Canal"
1t is almost incredible that such
differences Of opinion respecting the
meaning Of those words in the treaty.
which was discussed at length when
It was made. should obtain among
even those intinat ely connected with
the making Of it. They do exist.
however. today as in 1912. Senator
Lodge admitted that the opinion of
foreign nations, practically without
exception is against the interpreta-
ton in which he himself believes.
Such being the situation his conclu-
sion that the possession of a legal
right does not necessitate its exer-
else if there are compelling reasons
against it" and that such reasons
do now exist, impresses US as an
eminently wise decision
r. o,1r oun rroIJ