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WILLIAM J; BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR - I
- VOL. 14, NO. 5 ""
Lincoln, Nebraska, May, 1914
Whole Number 661
PROGRESS ON TOLLS AMENDMENT
Since the last Issue of The Commoner the
measure providing for the repeal of free tolls
has made progress, The senate committee on
interoceanic canals has had extended hearings
and the bill, has- been reported to the senate.
Owing to divisions in the committee it made no
recommendation.
The committee added an amendment which
specifically reserves all rights of the United
States. The language of the amendment is as
folio Wb:
. "Provided, That neither the passage of this
act nor anything therein contained shall be con
strued or held as waiving, impairing, or affect
ing any treaty or other .right possessed by the
United- States."
Thofee who support repeal are divided intp sevr
eral JSPUPfi Th'&jemb'ers. of one group .believe-,
that free "tolls would be a violation of treaty
stipulations; the members of the second group
areghe correct intefadnrfe"
the "'treaty 'atid prefer to leave the tiUesfcion'foY
future determinatibii. The members of still an
other group believe, that free tolls would not
violate the treaty, but oppose free tolls either
becaitsVof their opposition to subsidies or for
sonle other economic reason. The members of
the fourth group believe that free tolls may be
permissible under the treaty, and may, under
certain circumstances,' be wise, but think that
there should be no attempt at this time to give
this advantage to American ships,
r A majority of those who favor repeal of free
tolls law dispute; the theory that the' measure,
as ft passed the house, could be construed as a
surrender of any rights which the government
may have, bnt they favor the amendment as a
concession to those who entertain doubts upon
the subject. The amendment is unobjectionable
from every 'Standpoint and is defensible as a
means of Increasing the support of the measure.
'As the 'repeal -measure would not, of itself,
operate as a destruction of the treaty, or as a
surrender o 'hy Tights given by the treaty, no
harm can be; dbn& "by such a specific reservation,
as is made by the "amendment.
The proposed amendment can, therefore, be
"regarded as ifelpful to the passage of the bill.
The only other proposition worthy of con
sideration is the -resolution offered by Senator
Borah, which readfe as follows:
"Whereas; The three political parties now rep
resented in the executive and legislative depart
ments of the government, and which alone will
have to do with pending legislation, went before
the voters in the last national campaign solemn
ly committed 'to the policy and the justice of
exemption Of tolls from American vessels en
gaged in coastwise trade; and
"Whereas, The three candidates for the presi
dency of each of, said political parties individual
ly declared In favor of the justice and wisdom
of such policy;- and
"Whereas, It is.now deemed by some the part,
of wisdom, notwithstanding such pledges and
on the subject; his mind is fully made up, and
there is no ronson to believe that lie will bo
influenced in his vote by the result of the coming
congressional election for reasons that will be
set forth in the discussion of the second objec
tion. The socond objection is that r referendum in
impossible.' The word referendum cart.nrbperly
apply only when a definite proposition is sub
mitted to the jpeople for approval or disapproval,
as in the case of a constitutional amendment, a
statute, an issue of. bonds, etc. We have no pro
vis'on for the submission of the tolls question,
or any othpr question to a vote o the people;
No. matter, which way the congressional election.
,by. reaspn, of dejaying ,.g?03v i woma ue ausuru to regard we result as
MtjRl'!ll JIUI-vJ-lt-? " Micxli jxBiE0t'f o vol? or' disapproval of any par-
rieuinr mnnnurn fnncrfM or. imf
platforms, to impose tolls upon American vessels
engaged in coastwise trade; and
"Whereas, National honor and the fundamental
principles of representative government require
that we deal in the utmost good faith with the
electorate, and that all public servants carry out
the pledges solemnly made to the people and
upon and by reason of which pledges they are
delegated to act for the people; and
"Whereas, At the approaching Novomber elec
tion the entire house of representatives and
thirty-two members of the senate are to be
elected, all of whom mijst be elected by popular
vote; an'd
"Whereas, In this way a referendum for all
practical purposes may be had upon this import
ant question heretofore submitted to the peo
ple; and
"Whereas, No injury of any moment cau.posr
sibly arise or be incurred
.the passage, of. this
TherefoWtfe'it -
"Resolvg&ha.Ua- vote upon House Bill No.
wtm1
rr v 1 1 I r 4- a r P w 4-1 T Tm 1 U 4- r n i- n 1 A m
14385, providing, for .theepeaLaPPrtlq rffifflW-,-0 -',aW:w
oiAe UWatmttatives will run as cfomo-
dSeniptiori br tolls 'updn vs.els engaged In coast- cnits, fothibiiconti or progressive republican .to
wise trade shall be postponed until after the as representatives Of Other narties. and aT ccm'-1
-. ... . .,
sidorable percentage, if not a majority, of the
votes cast for each candidate will b.e due to that
candidate's party affiliations, and not to his' attl
tudo on any particular question,
, Then, tdo, each candidate, will, represent &
number of issues upon which the voterp may de
sire to express themselves. Some will regard
one question as paramount while others will con
sider another as-more important. Take the cask
of Serfator Borah, for instance. Ho will doubt-
less make Speeches during the congressional
campaign, and in his speeches he will dga wjtk
a number of issued. He voted against the demo
cratic tariff bill, and he is not likely to lose ak
opportunity to explain why he voted against it
and to give his objections to the measure whicit
the democrats enacted. Ho also voted against
the currency reform bill, 'and he will -bo uhder
some compulsion to discuss that. Tho'trUst-tyllls
arfl soon to come- before the senate, and -upon
these' he must take a position for or against t'ho
'.admijtfratl6niv:,Tho president's foreign .policy
will.afcfo & a dubject for discussion, ;and apod
this "Senator Borah, as a member of the foreign
relations -committee; cannot bo silent. Ho will,
of course, discuss the tolls question along with
other questions, but no ono can say. whether the
votes which he influences, to the extent that he
may influence -votee, will bo influenced by what
he-sayfi on- the tolls question; or by what he says
on the currency question; or by what he says on
the tariff question; or by what he says on tha
trust question; or by what he says on the ques
tion of the president's foreign policy; or by what
he says- regarding the many other questions
which are likely to kbe discussed.
If, by any possibility, the republicans succeed
In controlling thbrnext congress, it will be inter-
- esting to' read the editorials in republican papers
n.d the interviews which will be given out by
convening of congress, Decdniber 1, 1914, to the
end that this matter may again be submitted to
the voters of the United States whose right and
privilege it is to finally determine this question."
This resolution is not likely to change the
situation or to cause any re-alignment among
the senator's, but it may not be out of place' to
suggest two objections to the resolution which
have doubtless occurred to the friends of the re
peal measure.
First. The proposition comes from an oppon
ent of the measure. He desires to defeat It, and
therefore grasps at anything that can, by any
possibility, contribute to the carrying out of his
desire. His own attitude may rightly be con
sidered in the discussion of the matter. If the
resolution came from one who would be in
fluenced by the result of the election or was in
doubt and desired infbrmatlon as to public
opinion, it might 1 e more deserving of support.
&ut Senator Borah Is not seeking information
CONTENTS.
PROGRESS ON TOLLS AMENDMENT
MEDIATION IN THE MEXICAN CRISIS
A CAMPAIGN IS APPROACHING
ELECT A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS. :
. PRESIDENT WILSON'S TRIBUTE TO
COUNTRY'S DEAD .
SOMETHING NEW IN CONSERVATION
"SALUTING THE FLAG" IN HISTORY
PRESIDENT WILSON ON MEXICAN
AFFAIRS.
,
WORK OF THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET
CURRENT TOPICS. .
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