OCR Text |
Show TOLLS EXEMPTION REPEALJPPOSED Representative Knowland of California Vigorously Denounces De-nounces Bill in Report. PEACE AT ANY PRICE Virtual Surrender of United States Control of Panama Canal Is Charged. Washington, March 14. Vigorous denunciation of tho Sims bill, which he characterized as a notice to the world that the United States abandoned aban-doned its policy of an American controlled con-trolled Panama canal and virtually surrendered its power to regulate its commerce because of the "peace at any price policy," featured a minority report to the house today by Representative Repre-sentative Knowland of California, against repeal of the tolls exemption clause of the Panama canal act. The Interstate Commerce committee commit-tee of which Mr. Knowland Is a member, has favorably reported the Sims bill, proposing a flat repeal- The Knowland minority report said In part: Unparalleled Situation. "A situation unparalleled and unprecedented un-precedented in history now confronts this nation. The passage of the mil would give a British interpretation to the Hay-Pauuccforto treaty, and thus surrender for all time rights vitally effecting this nation, commercial!, strategically and politically- "Thousands of patriotic American citizens insist that wo cannot maintain main-tain our national honor in the present pres-ent controversy if we adjectly surrender sur-render every American right at fan-j ama. The history of this country would have been less glorious had we failed to urge our contentions even when fuly convinced of our right. When the Venezuelan question ques-tion stirred the nation, it was a mistake, mis-take, according to this' new 'peace at any price policy' for President Grovcr Clevoland to have declared in a message that commanded the respect of the world: " 'Today tho United States Is practically prac-tically sovereign on this continent and Its fiat is law on the subjects to which it confines its interposition.' " The report warned the Interstate Commerce committee and members of the house that by the provisions of the Sims hill It would forever foreclose fore-close the right of the United States to pass through the canal, without payment of tolls, either battleships, revenue cutters, colliers, transports or other government-owned craft. Supreme Court Decision. The fact that the supreme court rendered a decision which sustained the contention that the provisions of the Hay-Paunceforte treaty are not applicable to vessels in the coastwise coast-wise trade was cited as an additional argument against the repeal of the tolls provisions. Representative Lafferty of Oregon, in his report, said there was no doubt but that any arbitration court would support the American contention conten-tion in the tolls controversy. "It is clear from the most cursory consideration of the matter," said he, "that the president has made a mountain moun-tain out of a mole hill in appearing in person before congress aud directing direct-ing the attention of the world to his declaration that unless congress surrender sur-render what appear to be our plain rights, he will not know how to get along in the future." oo |