Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-10
CANAL BILL PASSES SENATE.
Free Passage Of American Ships Elk
cant Those Owned Sv Railroads,

cept IhoSe OWned cy HailroaoS.
Washington. Aug. 10.-The Panama
canal administration bill providing free
passage for American ships. prohibit
ing railroad owned vessels from using
the waterway and authorizing the
establishment of one man govern
ment when the canal is completed. was
passed by the senate last night by
vote of AZ to Is. The provision for
free tolls. which was fought out In the
senate Wednesday. was indorsed again
just before the passage of the measure.
Attached to the bill as it passed the
senate we're two important amendments
directed at trust or railroad control or
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 their competitors, II 1t
were proved that they were sitting
competition.
Opponents Of the free toll provision
for American ships, against when
Great Britain made formal protest.
carried their fight up to the last mo-
ment 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 provisions for
free tolls to American ships in the for
eign trade. Both OF these motions were
defeated by overwhelming votes.
AS the bill passed II would permit
American coastwise vessels to pass
1r.ith NOr1 n
tions; while American foreign trade
ships might pass thru free II their
owners agree to sell the vessels to the
United States at fair prices In times
of war or emergency.
The great fight OF the day centered
about the provision to prohibit rail-
road 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 lines with which
it might otherwise compete. were not
accepted by the senate. This was mod
flied so that railroads would be pro-
hibited only from owning steamship
lines that may operate thru the Pan
ANA canal.
The Bourne amendment. however,
adopted later by a vote of 36 to 20. re-
stored much Of the vigor Of the anti
railroad provisions Of the house bill. 1t
provided that il the interstate com
merce commission should find that any
railroad had an interest In compel
tive line OF steamers, and that such
interest was Injurious to the welfare
Of the public, the commission might
compel the railroad to dispose OF It's
steamer connections.
Senator Brandegee, chairman OF the
interoceantc canals 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 provision relating to
railroad control be stricken out. This
motion was defeated 45 to Is. A sub
seuuent proposal by Mr.. Brandegee TO
permit any ships to use the canal. CIV
ing to the Interstate commerce COM
mission power OF control over them.
also was defeated.
The Reed amendment against trust
owned ships was called up for n Sec
ond vote before the hill passed. and
was adopted on hnal passage by vote
OF 36 to %.
The completed canai ON Hnaiiy was
rassed, with Senators Burton. Crane.
Gnllinger. Lodge, Root and other OPP
ponents OF the free toll and antt-rail-
road features OF It, voting against IT.
In the form III which it returns to
s:sS,s s:sS. iii,usisa ths h!l! adds to the general
scheme for operating and governing
the Panama canal provisions for the
admission to American registry OF any
foreixn built ships owned by Amert-
cans, provided they are operated wholly
In foreign trade.