Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-30
ALL AGREE ON SEVERAL MATTERS
Favor FOrtificntion Of Canal, Presi-
Dental Discretion A. TO Exact
Amount OF Tells and Govern
mental sale of Supplies.

WASHINGTON. Dee 9.-Both Senator
Flint ot California. chairman OF the com
mitteo on tnteroceanic canals and Repre-
sentative Mann of Illinois. chairman oc
the house committee on Interstate and
foreign commerce expect to introduce gem
eral Panama canal bills These will in
corporate their differing ideas as to the
needs of legislation FOR the waterway In
the ught OF the White House conference
last night
This conference developed substantial
harmony Of opinion favornE fortificntion
OF the canal presidential discretion as to
the exact amount cf tolls under prescribed
maximum and minimum limitations gov
ernent operation Of the dry dock and re-
pair shop facilities and governmental sale
OF all the coal. oil and other ship supplies
at both ends OF the canal to the trade OF
the world passing through IL and the safe
guarding OF competition through the
canal
The differences OF views as to whether
foreign shipping and coastwise shipping
should receive equal treatment in canal
charges could not be reconciled and the
problem stin is unsolved.
Free Passage of American ships.
Senator Flints bill will provide either
an unqualified free passage OF American
ships or the collection OF toll and sub
seauent rebate Of the entire toll which
from the viewpoint Of some OF those in
the conference merely would operate
a matter OF bookkeeping. His hili will TX
certain maximum and minimum OF toll
on vessels OF other countries. probably
fro 50 or 70 cents minumim to SIS or $50
maximum a net ton. leaving the exact
charge 70 the discretion Of the president
so that il can be adjusted TO changing
commercial conditions.
II will provide that the rebate to coast
wise vessels shall not be allowed 10 any
vessels owned or controlled by any rail
road with which they are in competition
directly or indirectly. II also viii provide
that the government may take over to its
own uses. when public emergencies make Il
necessary any vessels. that avail them-
selves OF the rebate. which would ruaise
all coastwise craft engaged In canal traffic
subject to naval uses on demand
The general measure which Mr. Mann
proposes probably will be presented to his
colleagues on the interstate and foreign
commerce COMMITTEES at one OF the early
meetings after the recess. Whether the
/ bill carrying the amount wanted for the
initial expense for fortification. will come
/ from the appropriations committee or the
military affairs committee Of the house Is
uncertain. Chairman Tawney OF the tor-
mer is opposed TO heavy Increases in gov
ernment expenditures and q may be that
/ the military committee. OF which Mr.. Huh
Of Iowa, defeated republican standpatter.
Is chairman and which Is framing the army
appropriation bill, win report out such a
measure.
COaEtwise shIbpinE discussed.
/ The question Of what treatment to ac-
| cord coastwise shipping caused the prime
! ipal discussion at the conference. Much
OF the time was devoted 10 the interpreta-
/ ton OF the treaties with England. as to
whether the general reference 10 all powers
being treated alike was TO be interpreted
to include the United States or to mean all
powers foreign to the United States and
thus permit lower tolls for vessels Of this
| country and the treaty with Panama, as
TO preferential treatment OF It's craft
/ Senator Flint was especially insistent on
the coastwise exemption There was unan-
unity Of view as TO the government furnish
/ ing the ship supplies The president feels
that these are more essential at the
sthmus than on the Suez canal ports be-
cause OF the distance from coal or other
supply depots and because private conces-
slons would open the way for discrimina-
/ ton between canal patrons.