The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-16
LONDON DOCK BILL PASSED
Story of the Proceedings To-day in
I. S. Senate.

Z. S. Senate.
Washington June 16.--When the senate
session began to-day at II O'Clock Mr..
Teller (Co1) offered the following resolu-
tion: e:
Whereas, 1t seems impracticable to pre-
pare during this session of congress an item
lied statement showing the collection and
disbursement of all funds for the whole
period of the military occupation of Cuba,
and,
Whereas, 1t is important that statement
be now made of the accounts hereafter
named therefore be it
Resolved, That the secretary of be and
he is hereby directed to send to the senate
the following:
A full itemized statement of all payments
made out of Cuban funds to any person or
corporations if any, for the purpose of pro-
noting reciprocity between the United
States and Cuba at any time during the mill
tary occupation of Cuba by the United States
and whether such payments were authorized
or approved by the secretary Of war.
Mr.. Kean IN. j. objected to immediate
consideration of the resolution and it
went over.
Consideration was then resumed of the
London dock charges bill
Pending disposition of the Dill, the
senate agreed to a conference on the bill
for the protection of the president and
Messrs Hoar. Fairbanks and Pettus were
appointed as Conferees.
The London dock charges bill was dis
cussed by Mr. McCumber IN. D., Mr. Nell
son (Minn.), Mr.. Gallinger. On. H.), and
Mr.. Hale .(Maine).
Mr. Hale could not see why the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Hoar should not be
accepted. 1t must be an extreme, drastic
and unreasonable bill and it ought not to
be passed. if a provision should not be
inserted in the bill of lading that the
carrier should be required to pay charges
lawfully made upon him.
Mr.. Nelson contended that this London
charge was an "arbitrary and fixed charge,
not subject to competition If the charge
were included in the freight charge,
that would be subject to competition.
After some further discussion the vote
was taken on Mr. Hoars amendment,
which provided that nothing in the act
should prevent the carrier from stipulat-
ing for reimbursement to him by the
shipper or consignee Of any charges which
he lawfully may be compelled to pay for
compensation for any service which he
NAV agree to render The amendment was
Rejected, 9 to 36.
The bill was then passed.
The bill provides that no master, agent
or owner. of any vessel transporting goods
from the United st ates to foreign ports
shall insert in the bill of 1ading or other
agreement any clause whereby he shall
be relieved from liza bility for loss or dam
age arising from negligence, fault OF
failure in proper loading or proper deliv-
cry Of any goods committed to his care;
or any clause or agreement whereby there
is imposed on the consignee any port or
dock charges Of any kind for the discharge
or delivery of the goods, the payment OF
which by law is imposed upon such mas
ter, agent or owner
The Isthmian Canal.
Without disposing Of the measure the
senate at I o'clock, at the conclusion OF
the morning hour, resumed the consider
alton of the isthmian canal project, Mr.
Cul1om 1ll) addressing the senate.
Mr. Cullom favored the Spooner amend
ment He said that for many years the
belief had prevailed that, the Panama
route had been impossible, hence all at
tention had been given to the Nicaragua
route. The danger from volcanoes by
either route was about equal He pointed
out the differences in favor of the Panama
route as TO cost, length and time of pas
sage. He believed the Panama compan!
could convey a good title but under the
Spooner bill the Nicaragua canal would
be built il the Panama title could no
be secured.