The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-14
PANAMA MEASURE ADOPTED.
REMISSION OF TOLLS TO AMEHI-
CAN SHIPS PROVIDED.
Two Sections Are Directed at II ,t,t,
and Are Designed to Eliminate Ad-
vantage tn Monopoly.

washington. Aug. 9.-Tho Panama
canal administration bill. providing
free passage for American ships.
prohibiting railroad-owned vessels
from using the waterway. and author
izing the establishment of a one man
government when the canal Is COM
pleted. was passed by the senate to-
night by vote OF Al to 15. The pro-
vision for free tolls. which was
fought in the senate Wednesday. was
indorsed again just before the pas
sage of the measure.
Attached the bill as 1t passed the
senate were two important amend
ments directed at trusts or Railroad
control of steamship lines The first
by Senator Reed. would prohibit
ships owned by an illegal industrial
combination from using the canal;
and the second. by Senator Bourne.
would force railroads to give up water
lines that might otherwise be fEeir
competitors. II IL 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 Mp to the last Of
the bills considered. 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
free tolls to American ships in the
foreign trade. Both Of these motions
were defeated by overwhelming votes.
As the bill passed it would permit
American coastwise vessels to pass
through the canal free without con-
ditions; while American foreign trade
ships might pass through free II their
owners agreed to sell the ships to the
United States In time OF war.
The fight % the day centered about
the provisions 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 at once to
dispose OF any steamship line with
which IL might compete, was not ac-
cepted by the senate. This was modi-
FED 50 that railroads would be pro-
hioited only from owing steamship
lines that may operate through the
Panama canal.
The Bourne amendment. however,
adopted later by tote of So to 25.
restored much Of the vigor of the
anti-railroad provisions of the house
bill. 1t provided that IL the inter-
state commerce commission should
ind any railroad had an interest i'm
a competitive line OF steamers and
that such interest was injurious to
the welfare of the public. the COM
mission might compel the railroad 20
dispose of its steamer connections.
Senator Brandegee. chairman Of the
oceanic canal committee of the sem
ate. made an ineffective fight on the
rigid provisions against the railroad
owned ships.
After the amendments to the
house bill had been adoptes. he
moved the provision relating TO rail-
road control he stricken out. This
motion was defeated. as to IS. A sub
sequent amendment by Mr. Brandegee
10 permit any ships To use the canal
and To give 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 final passage by a
vote of Sc To 2s.
Tue canal bill finally was passed
with Senators Burton. Crane. Gal
linger. Lodge. Root and other oppo-
nents OF the free toll and anti-rail-
road features voting against It,
In the form by which IL returns
TO the house, the bill adds To the
general scheme for operating and
governing the Panama canal pro-
visions for the admission To American
registry OF any foreign built ships
owned by Americans. provided they
are operated wholly In the foreign
fraHa