The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-17
TIE PANAMA CANAL BILL.
OPPONENTS OF FREE TOLL TO
STRIVE IN CONFERENCES.
After Panama Hill Becomes Law. For.
cign Once VIII Probably Present
Another Protest.

Terence on the Panama canal bill
against granting free canal passag,
to Americn foreign bound ships. Tn,
conference committee had its frs
meeting today and continued the dis,
cussion Of the measure at night ses.
sion.
Senator Brandegee, who opposed
free toll provisions in the senate. 1.
understood to stand with Representa-
tives Adams and Stevens of the house
conferees In opposition to what they
consider violation of treaty right
and too great concession to foreign
bound shipping. 1t Is believed rom
preliminary conference that the free
tolls provisions for American coast
wise shipping will be retained.
Little progress was made i'm the
frst session of the conferees toward
an agreement on the Bourne amend
ment to divorce railroads from con-
troll of competing steamship lines, ana
the Reed amendment prohibiting trust
controlled ships from using the Pan
anna canal. Both houses have in
dorsed the plan to prohibit railroad :
owned ships from using the canal.
but tie Borune and Reed amend
ments are new matter so far as the
house Is concerned
The British government according
To advices from the state department
today. had made no further represen-
tations regarding the proposition to
allow American vessels to use the
canal free OF tolls. 1t Is now await
ing. IL Is said. the enactment OF leg
islation into law and the adoption OF
regulations to put IL into effect in or
der to have sufficient basis for
more formal protest.
In recognition OF the superior right
of Great Britain to address the United
states on this subject by virtue of the
existence Of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty. other European nations and
even Japan have refrained from ap-
preaching the state department not
withstandins their interest is equal to
that OF Great Britain by reason Of
their right to claim equal treatment
for their shipping under the favored
nation clauses IN existing conventions.
Officials II rhis government how
ever. are said 20 expect that soon az
Ger the prcsid,nt signs the act the
British charge will be directed 10 sub
NIT to the state department formal
protest against what II regards as dis
elimination against Bi itjsh shipping
This will require an equally formal
reply. reciting the act itself as a man.
late by congress which the executive
can not disregard. supported by such
argument as the diplomatic bureau
can make to justify the action. AS this
Will amount to ID positive refusal of
the British request to treat British
shipping on an equality with Amcri-
can, Il Is probable. I'm the opinion t
sovernmert authorities. that the for
eign oifice will come forward with a
proposition To submit the issue to rr-
bitration, calling attention to the
arbitration treaty As
a basis for the proposition. which
move would bring the matter TO
real crisis.
Should arbitration be adverse to
the American position II would be
necessary. II Is said, for the state de-
partment to find reasonable ground
for a declination of the British over
ture. without laying itself open To the
charge that II deliberately had vio-
lated provisions of treaty-the
charge lodged against it in connec-
ton with the Hay -Pauncefote pact.
The night session Of the conference
committee developed a demand of
house members that shipbuildlng ma
terlals should be admi ted free Of
duty i'm case the senate provision is
retained permitting American registry
for foreign built ships owned by
Americans.
No definite agreement has been
reached tonight on any amendments
To the bill although many minor
changes are acceptable to all MEM
bers OF the conference committee.
From the attitude of house mem
bers OF the committee, II Is believed
the anti-railroad provision suggested
by the senate may he I'm part retained.