The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-08-15

washington, Aug. 12.-Despite the
powerful Influences that were brought
to zeal by the railroad interests OF b
United States and Canada, working
through Great Britain, tho Senate has
passed the Panama canal bill
and In 1t Is Incorporated q provision
for the free passage of American owned
vessels engaged in coastwise trade. hi
bin also provides for the free registry
provided they are operated wholly IN
foreign trade, and is designed to pre-
vent the monopolization OF shipping
lines by the railroads. The bill was
adopted by a vote OF Al to 10.
The provision for free tolls, which
was fought out in the Senate Wednes-
day, was Endorsed again Just before
the passage OF the measure.
Attached to the bill as it passed tho
Senate Were two important amend
ments directed at trust or railroad con-
troll of steamship lines. The first, by
Senator Reed. would prohibit ships
owned by an illegal industrial COM
binatfon from using the canal. and the
second. by Senator Bourne. would force
railroads to give UP water lines that
It was proved that they were stifiins
competition.
John Bulls Friends Lose.
Opponents OF the free toll provision
for American ships, against which
Great Britain mad formal protest, car
ried their fight up to the last moment
Of the bills consideration. Just before
its passage Senator Root moved to
strike out the section giving free tolls
to American coastwise vessels, and
Senator Hoke Smith, Of Georgia. moved
to strike out the provision for fres
tolls to American ships In the foreign
trade. Both of these motions Were de-
feated bY overwhelming votes.
AS the bill passed 1t 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 wal or emer-
gency.
The great hght Of the day conferred
about the provision to prohibit railroad
owned ships from using the
Change House Bill.
The broad terms of the original
House bill, which would required
every railroad In the country to dis
pose at once of any such lines with
which 1t might otherwise compete, were
not accepted by the Senate This was
modified so that railroads would be
prohibited only from owning steam
ship lines that may operate through the
Panama canal.
The Bourne amendment, however.
adopted later by a vote of SO to rs, re-
stored much of the vigor of the anti
| railroad provisions of the House bill.
1t provided that If the Interstate Com
merce commission should find that any
railroad had an interest in a competi-
tive line of team and that such in
terest was injurious to the welfare Of
the public, the commission might COM
pei the railroad to dispose of its
steamer connections.
Senator Brandegee. chairman of the
interoceanic canal committee of the
Senate, made an ineffective fight on
the rigid provisions against railroad
ships. After the amendments had been
adopted to the House bill he moved
that the whole paragraph relating to
railroad control be stricken out. This
motion was defeated. as to 18.
Brandesree Plan Voted Down.
A subsequent proposal by Mr.. Bran
degee to permit any ships to use the
canal, giving to the Interstate Com
merce commission power OF control
over them, also was defeated.
The Reed amendment, against trust
owned ships, was called up for a Sec
ond vote before the bill passed and was
adopted On inal passage by a vote OF
SO 10 %.
The completed canal bill finally was
passed with Senators Burton, Crane,
ponents of the free toll and anti-rail-
road features of it voting against it.
In the form in which it returns ia
the House the bill adds to the general
scheme of operating and governing the
Panama canal provisions for the Nd
mission to American registry of any
foreign built ships, owned by Ameri-
cans, provided they are operated who'll
~ in foreign trade.