Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-09
SENATE AMENDS CANAL ulll AMn
ADMINISTRATION WILL Az.
PROVE or MEASURE.
HELo TO De FIRST srEP
N BUILDING AMERICAN MARINE
transatlantic and !rrans. pssiMs
Shipping Said Net 10 0s AMsstsd "
Important Owners Must
Agree 70 Sell Ships 70 United statss
in Gaze Of War.

Washir ston. Aug. s.-The senate
amendment to the Panama canal bill
to admit to United States registry Am
erican- owned foreign ships en-
gagged In foreign trade only. and pass
them thru the Panama canal free oc
toll. IN all probability VIII receive no
opposition from the administration.
Secretary Nagei is committed to tho
idea. In his last annual report he rec
commended the passage OF q bill for ths
admission OF foreign built ocean steaIn-
ships to American registry. to engage
solely In foreign trade. This. he be-
lieves, would be tho beginning OF asi
American merchant marine extending
shipping under the United States nag
with trade with South and Central
America and the West Indies. Tho pro-
vision. ii is said. probably :"scnld not
affect transatlantic or translPacidcl
commerce. az there would be no In
centive for such ships to assume the
obligations OF American reeiatrv. ThA
right of free passage thru the canal
however. Il Is SAID today By officials oi
the department OF commerce and labor.
would probably bring all the lines en-
OF the western hemisphere but hying
foreign flags. under the stars and
stripes. The United Fruit Company. OF
New York. and the Pacific Navigation
Company. were cited as instances.
Important Concessions Made.
Further important concessions TO
American shipping were made by the
senate yesterday. thru amendments 70
tho Panama Cnnal hill.
The free toll provision to American
coastwise ships. previously endorsed by
the senate. was supplemented yester-
day by n qualified free toll provision
for American vessels engaged In the
foreign trade.
A still more important amendment
adopted by the senate holds out prac-
ticalIy an unqualified invitation to for-
eign built ships owned by Americana
to hoist the American flag and register
as American vessels.
Restriction Regarding Mail.
This amendment. offered by Senator
Williams and adopted by large vote.
would authorize American owners OF
foreign built ships. now compelled 10
sail under foreign flags. TO bring their
vessels under American registry. pro-
vided they engaged only In foreign
trade.
One important restriction was placed
upon the Williams free ship amends
ment This provided that no foreign
built ship admitted to American regis
try should be allowed to participate In
mail carrying contracts unless It was
construed with particular reference to
speedy and economical conversion into
an auxiliary naval cruiser.
A somewhat similar restriction was
made upon the granting OF the free toll
privilege to American vessels engaged
In foreign trade.
Must Sell Ships TO U. 8. In War.
The provision adopted by the senate
specifies that owners OF vessels en-
gagged in foreign trade must agree to
sell their ships to the United States In
time OF war or other emergencies IN
order to be exempt from the payment
of tolls when passing thru the canal.
The senate worked last night on the
railroad control feature OF the Panama
bill. Senator Bristow opposed the plan
OF railroad controlled vessels suggested
by the senate committee and urged the
adoption OF the plan passed by IN"
house. which would give the Interstate
commerce commission Jurisdiction.