PANAMA TOLLS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144351, 16 March 1914, Page 3

PANAMA TOLLS.

DISCUSSION IN CONGRESS. IRISH AND GERMANS HOSTILE. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT. WASHINGTON, March 15. Representative Knowlaud, in opposing a favourable report on Mr. Sims Bill repealing the exemption of American ships from tolls in the Panama. Canal, asserted that Mr, Sims Bill gave notice to tho world that tho United States had abandoned the policy of nu American-controlled canal, and surrendered the power of the control of its commerce because of tho peace-at-any-pricc policy. Mr. Rnowland asserted that thousands of patriotic Americans considered America was abjectly surrendering her national honour. A largo section, of the press is agitating against Mr. Sims’ Bill, particularly in districts where Irish and German voters are predominant. Senator Chamberlain, commenting on Ambassador Pago’s reply, said some means ought to bo to seal the Ambassador’s lips, otherwise he ought to be recalled. This was the second time wiQiin a year that Dr. Pago had been guilty of impropriety in placing tho American people before tho British public in a false light. Tho Senate Lobbying Investigation Committee learned from witnesses that the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace had spent £6OOO in promoting the repeal of the canal tolls. Millions of pamphlets had been distributed throughout tho United States against the tolls exemption. THE FINANCIAL QUESTION. (Received March 16, 8.50 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 15. Professor Emerv Johnson, addressing a banquet of Pennsylvania University men, said tho taxpayers would be obliged to meet a loan of £4,000,000 during the first ten years of the operation of the canal. It was necessary to secure a revenue of approximately £4,000,000 annually to meet the cost of operation, sanitation, and tho annuity payable to the Panama Republic and other charges. If all vessels paid tolls the revenue from tho canal at the end of ten years would cover tho animal outlay for operation expenses, also the charges upon capital, li, however, American ships were exempted, the canal would not bo self-supporting. Professor Johnson declared that there was no doubt it was the intention of those who negotiated the Hay-Paunce-foto treaty that the United States should bo granted no rights that other nations did not receive.