Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-15
Administration Measure Goes
Through Senate after an
Uphill Struggle.
FREE TOLLS FOR AMERICANS
Opponents Of This Provision
Continue Their Fight Up to
the Last Possible
Moment.

Washington. Aug 9.-The Panama
canal administration bill, provi ling
free passage to American ships, pro-
hibitmg railroad-owne1 vessels from
using the waterway and authorizing
the establishment of one-man gov
eminent when the canal is completed,
was passed by the Senate Tonight by
vote Of Al to Is. The provision for free
tolls. which was fought out In the
Senate Wednesday, was endorsed again
just before the passage of the meas
ure.
Attached to the bill as 1t passed the
Senate were two important amen J.
ments directed at trust or railroad
control of steamship lines The first
by Senator Reed, would prohibit ships
owned by an Illegal industrial com
bination from using the canal; and
the second. by Senator Bourne, would
force railroads to give up water lines
that might otherwise be their COM
petitors. If 1t were proved that they
were sitting competition.
Opponents of the free-toll provision
for American ships, against which
Great Britain made formal protest,
carried their fight up to the last mo-
ment of the bills consideration Just
before its passage. Senator Root NOV
ell to strike out the section giving free
tolls to American coastwise vessels.
ana Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia
moved to strike out the provision for
free tolls to American ships in foreign
trade. Both of these motions were
defeated by overwhelming votes.
AS the bill passed, it would permit
American coastwise vessels to pass
through free If their owners agreed to
sell the vessels to the United States at a
fair price in time of war or emergency.
GREAT FIGHT OF THE DAY.
The great fight of the day centcred
about the provision to prohibit railroad
owned ships from using the canal. The
broad terms Of the original House bill.
which would have required every railroad
| in the country to dispose at once of any
steamship line with which 1t might other
wise compete We're not accepted ny the
Senate This was modified so that rail-
| roads would be prohibited only from own
ing steamship lines that may operate
through the Panama canal.
| The Bourne amendment. however.
n dopted later by a vote of Sc to % restored
! much OF the vigor of the anti-railroaded
provisions of the House bill 1t provided
| that If the interstate commerce commits
sion should find that any railroad had an
interest in a competitive line of steam
ers, and that such interest was injurious
to the welfare of the public. the commits
sion might compel the railroad to dispose
! of its steamer connections.
| Senator Brandeeee chairman of the In
teroceanic canal committee Of the Senate,
made an ineffective fight on the rigid
provisions against railroad ships, After
the amendments to the House bill had
been adopted. he moved that the whole
paragraph relating to railroad control be
stricken out. This motion was defeated
45 to IS. A subsequent PROPOSAL by Mr.
Brandegee, to permit any ships to use
the canal giving the interstate commerce
commission power OF control over them
also was defeated.
The Reed amendment against trust
owned ships was called up for second
vote before the bill passed, and wa!
adopted on final passage by a vote OF
&c to %.
The complete canal bill finally wal
passed with Senators Burton. Crane
ponents of the free-toll and anti-railroad
| features of it voting against 1t.
In the form in which II returns to the
House the bill adds to the general scheme
for operating and governing the Panama
canal, provisions for the admission tt
American registry Of any foreign-buil
ships owned by Americans provided they
are operated wholly in the foreign trade
ONE BATTLESHIP ASSURED.
Washington. Aug. 9-Battleship and no
batteship democrats in the House to-da,
practically effected a compromise b,
which provision will be made in the nava
appropriation bill for one super-dread
nought. AS a result of the understanding
a petition was circulated for n caucu.
next Wednesday night, The two-battle
ship champions are said to be insisting a
a price for their surrender that the shil
to be authorized shall be more powerful
than any now afloat or contemplated,
WEALTHY WOMAN FOUND