The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-03-14
PANAMA BILL
PROVIDES TOLLS
MEASURE AGREED UPON WOULD
AUTHORIZE PRESIDENT TO
OPEN AND OPERATE CANAL.
AMERICANS REFAVORED
Boats Controlled by Railroad Inter
ests Prohibited From Using Chan.
nel-Other News of
Congress

Washington. March 1.-THE bill for
the government of the Panama canal
zone and the operation of the canal
was agreed to by the house commit.
tee on Interstate commerce. 1t would
give to the president authority to fix
tolls within certain limitations, a max.
imum of S1.25 ton being prescribed
with minimum not below an amount
sufficient to maintain and operate the
canal. No preference would be Civ.
en- to American ships.
The bill would authorize the presi-
dent to open and operate the canal and
to make rules for the government Of
the canal and fiXe the tolls
Prohibition Clauses.
The prohibition clauses. summarize
ed, include:
That it shall be unlawful for ships
to pass through the canal which are
owned leased, operated or controlled
by any railroad company engaged in
interstate commerce or by any other
corporation in which such railroad
company has any interest whatsoever,
or by any other person. association
or corporation with intent to restrain
or prevent. or with the effect of re-
straining or prevention of competi.
ton through the Panama canal. either
between ships, ship lines and ship
companies, or between ships. ship
lines or ship companies and rail.
roads,"
The Government.
That 1t shall be unla wful for any
ship to pass through the canal if the
owner shall be engaged in any agree
ment, combination, ship ring or con-
ference with intent to restrain or pre-
vent, or with the effect of restraining
or preventing competition through
the Panama canal among ships, ship
lines or ship companies. or between
railroads and such ships, ship lines
or ship companies"
The bill would establish one United
States district Judge with magistrates
and bailiffs In the various towns
throughout the zone and would pro-
vide jury trial on demand in all Grim.
inal cases and cases at law. The dis.
trict court would have appellate jur-
1sdlctlon with the circuit court of ap-
peals at New Orleans Extradition of
criminals also would be provided.
Democrats Would Hasten Legislation,
Curtailment Of the Democratic tar.
IN revision program with view to
speeding up congress to permit ad-
journment before the national conven.
tons is now the expressed aim of tho
Democratic majority in tho house. Re-
publicans and Democrats in the sen.
ate and house are cha1ng over delay
In actual legislation that threatens to
crowd congress later on. Democratic
Leader Underwood Of the house, chair.
man of the ways and means commit.
tee indicated that the wool tariff re-
vision bill, which is to be reported
probably within ten days, will be the
last Of the revision measures at this
session of congress.
Senator Smith of Georgia. who was
secretary Of the interior under tho
last Cleveland administration, is lead
ing an attack on private pension bills
and says many Of these are for tho
benefit of deserters.
Replying to these allegations, Sen.
ator McCumber of North Dakota.
chairman of the senate pension com.
mittee, says that the only basis for
such a charge is the fact that in a
few instances where congress has by
special legislation removed the charge
OF desertion and given an honorable
discharge to soldier, such soldier In
granted a pension by the pension bu.
reau, If it is disclosed that he IL
entitled to such pension as a result
Of disabilities incurred in the serv.
Ice. ....... .a y, @
There are now pending in the house
committee on pensions, of which the
Democrats now have majority of the
membership. more than 10000 private
pension bills. In great majority of
these cases, the committeeman saw.
the private pension bills are proposed
because under the general pension
laws these soldiers or their widows
are not entitled to either pension or
Increase of pension under the gener-
al law and special reasons exist why
such pension should be granted