The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-07-11
MAY OBJECT TO TOLLS
Canadian Pacific Ships Are
Deeply Interested in
the Matter.
WILL FILE STATEMENT
But the senate Won't Wait
Lon" to Hear From
Rritain'S Ambassador.

W,stuSGToN. July 10.-Tnternati tional
complications over pending Panama
Canal legislation are likely as the result
of action by the British Government
The British Embassy. It was learned
tonight, has presented To the state
department a request that final action
on tho canal legislation he deferred
until statement can be filed with the
Government Of the United states on
behalf ~ the Government Of Great
britain This request was referred by
tho state Department tn Senator Bran
d"gce Of Connecticut. chairman of the
Senate Committee on Interoccanlc
Canals
The senator replied that IL was i'm
pera'ivo that the canal legislation he
enacted az soon as possible and that II
vas quite impossible To postpone II AT
this time. II is understood Of course
that should the statement of the British
Government he presented in Washing
ton Before the canal bill is passed II will
receive proper consideration.
The request Of the British Embassy
for q delay did not make known To
what features of the pending canal bills
Great Britain objects. II Is believed.
however. that this step was taken In
behalf of the Canadian railway sys-
tens which own and operate steamship
lines.
Provisions in the bill now before the
senate would make 1t impossible for
ships owned by railroads OF Canada
lo pass through the canal II they en-
Easc in coastwise trade. The line gen.
orally supposed here to be hardest hit
hy this provision is the Canadian Pa
Viic Railroad. This railroad system is
operated under Government sub
sidv and Is in the closest relations
20 tho Canadian Government. 1t owns
and operates ships in both the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans and Is known to
have anticipated sending its vessels
through the Panama Canal extensively.
Representations made by this railroad
20 the Canadian Government and the
home Government are believed to be re-
sponsiblc for the request for delay in
canal legislation.
The House bill contains a most drastic
ant-railroad clause TO the effect that
no railroad in the United States own
any ships This was to be accomplished
nv amendments to the interstate COM
Inerce act and was not solely Panama
legislation, The Senate. at the re-
Quest If railroads such as the New
YORK Central and the New York. New
Haven and Hartford lines, which operate
ships on the great lakes and along the
, Atlantic coast without any reference to
the Panama canal. rewrote this section
~ the House bill. As amended this
feature Of the Senate bill now pro-
vides:
That No railroad owned ship shall be
I.'mitted To pass through the Panama
Canal II engaged in tine coastwise trade
between ports of the United States.
This prohibition, 1t is believed here
would restrict the Canadian railroad
owned ships from using the canal un.
less they ply only between Canadian
ports on the Atlantic and Pacific. Sucf
restriction, 1t Is understood. is con
'emplatcd with concern by the Canadian
interests
Another explanation OF the British
request for delay is that that Govern
nlent has decided to take exception Il
u" provision in pending bills grantins
freo passage through the canal Il
American ships not owned by the rail
road, on the ground that such pro
vision Is in violation OF the Hay
Pauncefot" treaty regarding the 18th
man canal. This view Is not gener
ally credited. however.
For more than year the matter o.
Tree tolls To American ships using thu
canal has been agitated in this countr!
and abroad, and thus far Great BritaiI
h's ~'"n ~ To make no protest agains
what was generally regarded as th'
lr'hahl" action OF Congress. Other ma
lions # course, whatever they nigh
'..nk about the right Of the United
N'ai'S 10 grant free use OF the cana
70 American ships. could make no pro
''. not having any treaty with th!
'f'''rnm'n' covering the point In an
way The silence of Great Britain ha
''"u accepted even by those who be
.'Fo fr"" Iassage n violation of the treat.
~ ifo'f That Great Britain does no
'Arc !" raise the point and has de
'IN"d to make no objection to the cours
~" United States In this regard
~ majority opinion Is, of course. tina
~ Grant irc" passage to American ship
h"' "A violation of the Hay PaunCefo
'r.j.
\' d"hnl'" Information regarding tn
'>"S h hind the request for della
'+''' 'N the british embassy could b
.''h'I her" tonight. Ambassado
.." IS travelling in Australia an
' Mitchell lnncs, counsellor Of tn
and 'harg" dAnares. has cs
'.i summer quarters for the cm
10 kin"n, Maine.
'"H "i.kr>ED NIR,OIs sYsrrs