Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-15
CANAL BILL INTRODUCED
Representative Mann Has Measure
Regulating Charges for US.
PRESIDENT TO HOLD THE CLUB
Chief Executive May Prcscribe that
Any CORstwise Vessels owned by
Railroad shall Pay
Higher Rates.

! WASHINGTON. Jan. ALPHABETICALLY the
entire time Of the house today was dc
voted to the army appropriation bill. only
| small progress being made with its pro-
visions. There was no session Of the senate
Both senate and house will meet at noon
Monday.
A bill to provide for the operation OF the
Panama canal regulating the charges for
| IFS use, and authorizing the establishment
OF dry docks and warehouses. with ample
facilities for furnishing supplies TO craft.
was introduced today by Representative
Mann OF Illinois.
The measure authorizes the president to
prescribe and from time TO time. readiust
charges for the use Of the canal These
are to be based upon registered displace-
ment' cargo or other tonnage, and be
not more than $50 nor less than 50 cents
per net ton and registered tonnage. for YES
sells other than those owned by citizens of
the United States and Panama.
The rate is not to be less than the es-
timated proportionate cost OF the actual
operation of the canal. subject, however. TO
the United States Panama treaty of No
vember 49, 1903. and the right of the
United states to pass it's own vessels.
troops, materials, merchandise and sun
plies without the payment of any charges.
President Holds Club.
The president is given the right to pre-
scribe that any coastwise vessel, wholly
or partly owned by a railroad or railroad
holding company, or controlled by a rail-
road or by any interests seeking to avoid
or reduce competition Of ocean traffic be.
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
shall pay the highest rates. This pro-
vision, however shall not apply to the
Panama Railroad company or it's vessels
No preference is to be given 70 any coun-
try except the United States and Panama.
The bill does not touch upon fortified
tons which is a matter for another com
mittee.
An investigation Of the Department of
Justice to determine why il has Instituted
no prosecutions of cotton and wheat man
ipulators of 1909 and 1910 is requested I'm a
joint resolution in the house today by Rep
resentative Craig of Alabama
1t calls for joint committee of twelve.
six from each branch of congress, with
full power to summon witnesses. examine
papers, records and compel witnesses to
testify
The resolution also asks the committee
particularly Ito make an investigation of
he failure of the de .lartment to make an |
investigation and prosecute any person for |
-o!ating said law in Illegally conspiring TO
control the price of wheat BY advancing or |
raising the same in the spring and sum-
mer Of 1903 and a like failure to prosecute
any person for violating said law in IL |
legally conspiring to control the price of
cotton by reducing or lowering the same in !
the fall, spring and summer OF 1910"
Confer On Tariff Commission.
The republican members of the ways and
means committee Of the house passed sew.
eTal hours in conference again today over
The proposed tariff commission bill to be
reported to the house for passage With
The LongwOrth and DalzelI bills before il.
The committee has not thus far succeeded
m agreeing upon form of bill entirely
The republican members will confer with
President Taft tomorrow night The Dali
sell bill would continue a tariff board in
The treasury, under powers SIMILAR to thoee
now exercised by the board appointed by
President Taft, while the Longworth bin
will create commission of five members,
with inquisitOrial powers and widened
range Of action.