Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-09
May Change Charges, But Must Sc.
cure Enough for Operation.
COMMITTEE AGREES ON BILL
By Vote Of Fourteen to Four. Favor.
able Report on Measure Will
Be Made to House.

to fix tolls within certain itations, q
maximum of 81 .25 ton being prescribed,
with q minimum not below an amount
sufficient to maintain and operate the
canal. No preference would be given to
American ships.
The bill. which was ratified by the
committee by vote Of fourteen to four.
and chr1stens the canal "the Panama
canal"
1t ratifies and legalizes all the work
done there by executive authority since
the taking over of the zone, and deflnes
and legalizes the courts until such time
as they shall be changed by subsequent
legislation.
President to Appoint Governor.
To populate the zone the DILL pro-
vides for the government to acquire
title to lands not yet procured. 1t fur
Their provides for dismissal Of the Pan
anna commission when the canal ap-
proaches completion. and for the Presi-
dent to appoint a governor of the Pan
anna canal and Canal Zone, who shall
receive q salary OF $4,000 year. and
serve four years. 1t gives the Presi-
dent authority also to name all otner
persons necessary to the maintenance
and operation Of the canal. and to pro-
vide for it's sanitation. etc.
The President is authorized to open ana
operate the canal and to make rules TOT
the government of the canal and fix the
tolls. The provision OF the Dill reiating
to the rates Is as follows:
THAT the President Is hereby author
ICED to prescribe and from time to time
change toll charges for the use OF the
Panama canal by all vessels. except those
United States Including those OF the
Panama Railroad Company and the gov
eminent of the republic OF Panama,
which excepted vessels shall be charged
no tolls
Tolls Not to Exceed $1.25 Net Ton.
Charges may be based upon gross or
net registered tonnage. displacement ton
mage, or otherwise. and may be based
on one form OF tonnage for warships
and another for ships of commerce. but
the tolls shall not exceed $1.25 per ton,
based upon net registered tonnage for
ships of commerce. nor be less than the
estimated proportionate cost Of the
actual operation OF the canal" :.
The prohibition clauses in the bill in
clude the following as summarized:
THAT 1t shall be unlawful for ships to
pass through the canal which are owned,
road company engaged In interstate COM
merce or by any other corporation in
which such railroad company has any in
terest whatsoever or by any other person,
association or corporation with intent to
restrain or prevent or with the effect OF
restraining or preventing competition
through the Panama canal, either between
ships, ship lines and ship companies, or
between ships, ship lines or ship COM
panies and railroads"
Provides for Competition.
That 1t shall be unlawful for any ship
to pass through the canal II the owner
shall be engaged in any agreement. COM
bination. ship ring or conference with in
tent to restrain or prevent, or with the
effect Of restraining or preventing COM
petition through the Panama canal
among ships. ship lines or ship companies.
or between railroads and such ships, ship
lines or ship companies
fine of $1,000 or imprisonment IL
provided for conviction Of violation Of
the prohibition causes.
The bill establishes one United States
district judge shall SIT in two cities,
and who shall have magistrates and
bailiffs in other towns throughout the
zone, and it provides for the right of
jury trial on demand in all criminal cases
and cases at law. The district judges
salary is fixed at 5000 a year. and the
court shall have appellate Jurisdiction
with the circuit court of appeals at New
Orleans Extradition of criminals also
is provided.
There will be a minority report on the
bill, Representatives Knowland Of Cali
fornia, Broussard OF Louisiana, Calder Of
New York and poremrs OF MI Michigan not OF
the toll charges and will prepare q report
within a few days.