The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-10-21
CANAL TOLLS BILL
is PASSED 47-37
;35 Republican and II Demo-
cratic Senators Vote to Exempt
Our CoastWise Shipping.
II REPUBLICANS OPPOSE IT
Twenty Democrats With Them
Borah Denies Arms Farley Sponsors
Fear Bad Effect-Lodge Urges Ar
bitration-Expectedt to Be Held Up.

WaShingtOn.-The Senate, by vote
Of Al to 81, passed the Borah bill CIV
ing to vessels in the American coast
wise trade the right of free passage
through the Panama Canal.
Five hours of debate, much of it
spirited, preceded the final vote 1t
was defeat for the Administration
party lines being broken, with thirty
five Republicans and twelve Demo-
Gratis voting for the bill and twenty
Democrats and seventeen Republicans
against it, Senator Lodge, the Repub-
lican floor leader, fought the bill,
while Senator Underwood, the Demo-
cratic leader, and Mr.. Lodges col
league on the delegation to the dis
armament conference, supported Mr..
BOrah.
Mr.. Lodge told the Senate that in
his opinion the enactment of the
Borah bill in view of the approaching
conference for the Limitation of arma-
ments was neither the part of wisdom
nor sound policy. America" he said,
"had the legal right to grant free
passage to his vessels, but even the
assertion of legal right was un-
wise when it exposed the country to
an implication of bad faith
The defense of the bill was led by
Senators Borah and Reed, who con-
tended that the purposes sought were
largely domestic in character and for
that reason should not be Of great
concern to other nations. Senator
Borah said that Great Britain, If she
saw fit, could ask to have the question
submitted to arbitration, course that
was suggested by Senators Lodge and
John Sharp Williams.
Without roll call the Senate voted
down proposals by Senator King, DEM
ocrat, to authorize the President to
seek arbitration Of the tolls question
and appropriating 100000 subsidy
for American vessels using the canal.
Senators Warren and Dillingham;,
voted for free tolls in 1914, voted
against them, while Senator LenroOt
who, as a member of the House. voted
their favor.
The bill now goes TO the House,
where. in the opinion of well-infOrmed
members of Congress, it will prob
ably remain in committee for some
time, perhaps until after the arma-
ment conference is well under way, il
not concluded 1t is believed that the
Administration will exert its full in
fiuence to that end.
The setback to the Administration
was more apparent than real. 1t was
we'll understood that the bill would
pass the Senate by about the majority
that was obtained, and the Administra-
ton had taken this into account in
it's attitude The President has not
been opposed to the restoration OF
free tolls for American cOastwise
shipping passing through the Canal,
but he feels that this can hest be
accomplished by diplomatic negotia-
ton with Great Britain
A previous effort Of the Admins
tration to adjust the matter diplomati-
cally failed because the British Gov
ernment refused the American plan
to permit the restoration of free tolls
for American vessels in consideration
of granting the same exemption TO
Canadian COastwise shipping.
Senator Cummins, supporting the
bill, opened the debate. He said that
the United States had the right TO
pass its vessels through the Canal free
of toll. At some future day, he ad-
ded, it might become the imperative
duty of this country. to pass its yes
sells through the waterway on terms
more favorable than those accorded
to foreign countries.
"The possession of legal right"
said Senator Lodge. who followed the
Iowa Senator, docs not necessitate
the exercise of that right if there are
compelling reasons against such eXer-
else"
Mr.. Lodge expressed the opinion
that the matter was one for arbltra'
ton or negotiation, and he cited the
approach of the Conference for the
Limitation of Armaments as one of the
strong reasons for not exercising the
legal right" at this time.
Senator Sterling of South Dakota
also spoke against the bill, arguing
that the Senate had no right to pass
legislation that repealed a contract.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio in Op-
nosing the bill said that "after this
bill is passed it will be said that we
have bartered away the honor of the
- .l,;, e,,hciJvS