The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-03-15
FIX PANAMA TOLLS
MEASURE AGREED UPON WOULD
AUTHORIZE PRESIDENT TO
OPEN AND OPERATE CANAL.
AMERICANS ARE
Boats Controlled by Railroad Inter.
ests Prohibited From Using Chan
neI-Other News Of
Congress.

Washington, D.. C.-The bill foI
the government of the Panama canal
zone and the operation of the canal
was agreed to by the house commit.
tee on interstate commerce. 1t would
give to the president authority TO fix
tolls within certain limitations, a max.
imum OF 1925 a ton being prescribed
with a minimum not below an amount
sufficient 10 maintain and operate the
canal. No preference would be civ
en- to American ships.
The bill would authorize the presi-
dent to open and operate the canal and
to make rules for the government of
the canal and fiXe the tolls.
Prohibition Clauses.
The prohibition clauses, summarize
ed, include:
That it shall be unlawful for ships
10 pass through the canal which are
owned, leased, operated or controlled
by any railroad company engaged in
interstate m or by any other
corporation in which such railroad
company has any interest whatsoever,
or by any other person.. association
or corporation with intent to restrain
or prevent, or with the effect of re-
s%training or prevention of compete
ton through the Panama canal, either
between ships, ship lines and ship
companies, or between ships, ship
lines or ship companies and rail
roads"
The Government.
That it shall be unlawful for any
ship to pass through the canal if the
owner shall be engaged in any agree
ment, combination, ship ring or con-
ference with intent to restrain or pre-
vent, or with the effect of restraining
or preventing competition through
the Panama canal among ships, ship
lines or ship companies, or between
railroads and such ships, ship lines
or ship companies"
The bill would establish one United
States district judge with magistrates
and bailiffs in the various towns
throughout the zone and would pro-
vide jury trial on demand in all Grim
inal cases and cases at law. The dis
trict court would have appellate jur-
isdiction with the circuit court of ap-
peals at New Orleans. Extradition of
criminals also would be provided.
Democrats Would Hasten Legislation.
Curtailment Of the Democratic tar
III revision program with a view to
speeding up" congress to permit adj
journment before the national conven-
tions is now the expressed aim of the
Democratic majority in the house. Re-
publicans and Democrats in the SEN
ate and house are chatting over delay
in actual legislation that threatens to
crowd congress later on. Democratic
Leader Underwood of the house, chair
man OF the Ways and means commit
tee, indicated that the wool tariff re-
vision bill, which is to be reported
probably within ten days, will be the
last OF the revision measures at this
session of congress.
Washington, D. c. - Stripped of
the clause, which it was claimed
would invade the constitutional treaty
making power of the senate and with
many other limitations added, the
general arbitration treaties between
the United States and England and
France, proposed by President Taft
and Secretary Knox as forerunners of
universal peace were ratified by the
senate by a vote Of 76 to 3. The SEN
ators, who voted against the ratifica-
tion, were Lorimer, MARITIME and Reed.
The latter two are Democrats.
Treaties Are Cup in the Air"
Virtually the treaties by the SEN
ate's action are up in the air" as
in their modified form they must be
referred to England and France.
BY the terms of an amendment pro-
posed by Senator Bacon of Georgia.
the senate consented to the ratification
Of the treaties with the distinct pro-
vision that they do not authorize the
submission Ito arbitration of any
question which affects the admission
Of aliens into the United States or
any question which depends upon or
involves the maintenance Of the ira
ditional attitude of the United States
concerning American questions, com
monty described as the Monroe doc
trine' or other purely governmental
policy"
AS amended the treaties provide
that all differences, with the exception
of the subjects named in the Bacon
amendment, which it has not been pos
sible to adjust by diplomacy and
which are justifiable in their nature.
shall be submitted to arbitration at
The Hague tribunal.
No official expressions were made at
the state department. Diplomats point
ed out what they claimed was a paral-