Evening star., 1921-04-24
ny G. GOULD LINCOLN.

fdHdUud Cf1Idl, III lllC liiiC~
light since the opening of the
new Congress, because of the
consideration of the treaty with
Colombia just ratified by the Senate,
promises to continue in the foreground.
The agitation for free passage of Ameri-
can vessels through the canal has begun
again. The Senate committee on inter-
oceanic canals is to meet soon at the
call Of Senator Borah of Idaho, its
chairman. to consider this matter which
is Of vital Importance to American
shipping.
Three bills providing for free passage
Of the canal by American vessels al
ready have been introduced in the Sen
ate and referred to the committee. They
were offered by Senator Borah. Senator
Jones Of Washington, chairman of the
Senate commerce committee, and Sen
ator Poindexter of Washington. Ot
these bills, Senator Borah's provides
for free passage of the canal by Amerl-
can coastwise vessels. The Jones and
Poindexter bills, however, extend this
privilege to all American vessels,
whether they be engaged in coastwlse
trade or in foreign trade. In this
connection, however. it may be said
that Chairman Borah has no objection
to having the privilege extended TO the
foreign-going American vessels. and
would accept such an amendment to
his bill.
President Opposes Tolls.
President Harding. in his speech ac-
oepting the presidential nomination
last July, announced himself in favor
Of the principle of free passage OF
American vessels through the canal.
He followed this up with similar re-
marks, in speeches during the cam
paign. It is to be expected, there
fore, that he will give the matter
his support. In his address to Con-
yress at its opening, he announced
himself in thorough accord with the
efforts being made to maintain and
develop the American merchant ma
rine. And the friends of free tolls
for American vessels-as the plan for
free passage of the canal has been
popularity but enormously termed-in-
sist that no step could be taken which
would do more to promote the in
terests of American shipping today
than the passage of the proposed law
A contest Of no mean proportions
looms up, however, over this proposal
To pass American vessels through the
canal free Of charge. 1t may lead TO
diplomatic exchanges, Great Britain
taking the stapd that under the Hay
Pauncefete treaty the United States
has not the right to discriminate IN
favor of it's own vessels. But pro-
ponents of the plan say that while
under that treaty the United States
promised equal treatment of the ves-
seis Of all nations. it did not mean
that the United States. which built
and operates the canal, shall not have
the right to extend special privileges
to American shipping if it desires.
But the enemies of the proposed
free tolls" plan are not only in Eu-
rope. They are here in the United
States. The great transcontinental
railroads fought the proposal for an
interoceanic canal. tooth and toenail,
from the inception of the plan. They
were active in the last fight against
free tolls for American vessels. The
present high freight rates on trans
continental hauls already have divert
ed much traffic to the Panama canal,
which ordinarily would have been
carried by the railroads. according to
the railroad executives. II the water
route is given the further advantage
Of free passage through the canal. it
is expected that the traffic will be
greatly increased, with a consequent
falling off in the amount Of freight
carried across the continent by the
railroads.
Advantage of Free Passage.
Just what does II mean to American
merchantmen to receive this privilege
Of free passage of the canal? First, it
means that they will not have to pay
$1.20 q net ton as tolls. 1t is easy to
see that this will be considerable ad-
vantage to American carriers when in
competition with those of other nations:
that it will be a very decided advantage
in their competition for the intercoastal
trade with the railroads.
The question Of "free tolls for Ameri-
can vessels has had a stormy career.
In the original law enacted by Con-
gress for the maintenance and operation
Of the Panama canal. American vessels
engaged in the coastwise trade were
exempted from the payment Of tolls
through the canal This was put
through in the last year of the Taft
administration and finally was approved
by President Taft. The campaign for
political supremacy and the election of
q President followed soon afterward
The platforms of all Of the contending
parties, republican. democratic and pro-
gressive. particularly declared in favor
Of the free tolls" principle. Yet Presi-
dent Wilson, who was elected as a result
Of The campaign. had been in the White
House only a year when he appeared
before Congress and delivered a brief
and decidedly cryptic message in which
be urged the repeal Of that part of the
law permitting the free passage OF the
canal by American coastwise vessels.
Imposition Of Tolls.
President Wilson said in submitting
his request to Congress to repeal the
'free tolls" provision:
= ask this Of you in support Of the
foeeign policy Of the administration.
shan not know how to deal with other
matters Of even greater delicacy and
nearer consequence if you do not grant
1t to me in ungrudging measure
This was on March 8. 1914 What