The Sentinel=record., 1912-08-09
SENATE WILL PASS ON MEASURE NOT LATER THAN FIVE
 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY.
MANY CONCESSIONS ARE MADE
Chairman clapp Says Legislation Separating Steamships and Rail roads Must Be Enacted--Amer-
 mean Ships Free.

Washington, Aug, s.--Agreement was reached by the senate late to- night to take the final vote on the Panama canal administration bill and all amendments to 1t not later than 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
 The subject of railroad controlled ships brought out a defense of the house bill by Senators Clapp, Poin- dexter and others. Chairman Clapp of the interstate commerce committee said somo legislation must be enact ed to separate definitely the railroaas and the steamship lines. The sug- gestion that the Canadian Pacific railway might be able to operate it's ships through the canal, while Amer ican railway owned ships would be prohibited has been brought Up. he said, to cloud the real issue. Senator Lippitt of Rhone Island said cooperation between railroads and steamships had greatly benefited at least a portion of New England
 Further important concessions to American shipping were made by ths senate through amendments to the Panama canal bill. The free toll pro- vision to American coastwise ships, indorsed by the senate last night, was supplemented today by a qualified free toll provision for American yes sels engaged in the foreign trade
 A still more important amendment adopted by the senate holds out practically an unqualified invitation to foreign built ships owned by Americans to hoist tne Ameri1an fias and register as American vessels. This amendment offered by Senator l Williams and adopted by a large vote, would authorize American own CTS of foreign built ships now com ! pelled to sail under foreign flags to bring their vessels under American registry, provided they engaged only in foreign trade.
 The senate worked tonight on the. railroad control feature of the Pana ma bill.
 Senator Bristow opposed the plan O. railroad controlled vessels sug- gested by the senate committee and urged the adoption of tho plan passed by the house, which would give the interstate commerce commission juF isdiction.
 One important restriction was plac- ed upon the Williams free ship amendment adopted today. This pro- vided that no foreign built ship att mitted to American registry should be allowed to participate in mail car rying contracts unless it was con- structed with particular reference to speedy and economical convention into an auxiliary cruiser
 A somewhat similar restriction was made upon the granting of the free tolls privilege to American vessels engaged in foreign trade The pro vision adopted by the senate speci fies that owners of vessels engaged in foreign trade must agree to sell their ships to the United States in time of war or other emergencies to be exempt from the payment of tolls The extent to when the Canadian Pacific railroad might control Pana- ma canal traffic gave the senate oc- casion for much debate when the anti-railroad section of the canal bill was reached today.
 Little objection developed to the l proposed plan to prohibit railFea.t owned ships from engaging in Amer ican coastwise trade through the ca nal The plan adopted by the senate committee, however, to attempt to restrict the operation of foreign own- ed railroad ships. proved the subject of wide difference of opinion
 Senator Simmons proposed 10 strike out all reference 10 foreign railroad ships. Senator Bristow urged adequate control of American coast- wise traffic. SO that the transconti- mental roads could not control canal rates, but he did not believe tho Ca- nadian Paeihc's ships would prove a menace. If they were permitted to engage in American coastwise trade, he said, they would be subject to American laws.