The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-01-05
FREE TOLLS FOR U. S. SHIPS
FLINT WOULD FAVOR THEM IN
PANAMA CANAL.
White House Conference Develops ri.
vergent Views on
Subject.

Flint of California, chairman of the
committee or inter-oceanic canals, and
Representative Mann of Illinois, chair
man of the house committee on inter.
state and foreign commerce, expect
to introduce general Panama canal
bills. These will incorporate their diff.
fering ideas as to the needs of legis.
lation for the waterway in the light
OF the White House conference.
The White House conference devel-
oped substantial harmony of opinion
favoring fertilization of the canal,
presidential discretion as to the exact
amount of tolls under prescribed max
imum and minimum limitations, gov
eminent operation of the drydock and
repair shop facilities and government
sale of all the coal, oil and other ship
supplies at both ends of the canal to
the trade of the world passing through
the canal, and the safeguarding of
competition through the canal.
The differences of views as to
whether foreign shipping and coast
wise shipping should receive equal
treatment in canal charges could not
be reconciled and the problem still
is unsolved.
Coastwise Exemption Favored.
Senator Flint's bill will provide
either an unqualified free passage Of
American ships or the collection of
toll and subsequent rebate of the en-
tire amount.
His bill will fix certain maximum
and minimum of toll on vessels of
other countries, probably from so Or
IS cents minimum to Sips or $3.50
maximum, Per net ton, leaving the
exact charge to the discretion of the
president SO that it can be adjusted
to changing commercial conditions.
1t will provide that the rebate to
coastWise vessels shall not be allowed
TO any vessels that are owned or con-
trolled by any railroad with which
they are competitive, directly CT in
directly. 1t also will provide that the
uses, ii necessary, any vessels that
avail themselves OF the rebate, which
would make all coastwise craft en-
gagged in canal traffic subject to naval
uses on demand.
The general measure which Mr..
Mann proposes, probably will lie pre-
sented to his colleagues on the inter-
state and foreign commerce committee
at one of the early meetings after
the recess. Whether the bill carrying
the amount wanted for the initial ex-
pense for fortification will come from
the appropriations committee or the
military affairs committee of the
house, is uncertain.
Tawney in Opposition.
Chairman Tawney of the former, is
opposed to heavy increases in govern
ment expenditures, and it may be that
the military committee, Of which Re-
Hull of Iowa, defeated
standpatter, is chairman,
and which is framing the army apDro-
priation bill, will report out such
measure.
The question of what treatment to
accord coastwise shipping caused the
principal discussion at Wednesday
nights conference. Much of the time
was devoted to Interpretation of the
treaties with England, as to whether
the general reference to all powers
being treated alike was to be inter.
ported as meaning all powers foreign
to the United States and the treaty
with Panama, as to preferential treat.
ment of it's craft.
Senator Flint especially was insist.
emit on the coastwise exemption.
There was unanimity of view as to
the government furnishing the ship
supplies. The president feels that
these are more essential at the 18TH
mus than on the Suez canal ports be-
cause of the distance from coal or
other supply depots and because pri-
vate concessions would open the way
for discrimination between canal pa
irons.