New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-01-06
Democrats to Refuse COnceS-
sions to U. S. Ships on Canal.
WILL NOT REMIT TOLLS
House Committee Rejects Sug-
gestions Looking to Encour-
agement of Coastwise Trade.

Washington. Jan. 5-Not content with
having persistently thwarted EFFORTS 10 up-
huid the American merchant marine '"e
House Democrats, framing legislation gov
ernine the use Of the Panama Canal no"
Man 70 deliver the final blow to the SUI
premaoy of American ships
The Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee will begin next TUESDAY 10
frame hill fixing toll rates ana pfo'lu.'e
o form, Of government for the canal Inc
nenocrats. il is now learned, viii reject
ali suggestions that American coast"'Se
trade ho encouraged by the granting oil TIC
ar lovyer canal tolls American oWnen
,b;rs Il IS declared, must stand on the
same footing as foreign NeSss'S anu
must pay the same tolls.
REPRESENTATIVE Knowland, Ropuohcah
r,.r,ba, NJ the committee, has introduced
b;ll 20 encourage American ships engaged
A. tho coastwise trade by allowing them
e. use Of the canal Representative
Mann another Republican member ara
former chairman. has proposed that the
o,estion Of toll rates, al least in tho expert
mental stage, be left 10 the discretion OF
the President, who may require the u'ul-
mum toll from American ships.
II is not the intention Of the Democrauc
majority Of the committee to report either
~ these bills. but instead the chairman OF
the committee, Representative Adainsoh'
will draft a Democratic measure. MI.
Aaamson declared to-day that he would
o-.,ose arv concessions to American YES
sells.
THE canal" he said. lis built for the
benefit Of the 100000 people Of this coun-
trv. We are not going to report bill mat
woul0 rob these people in favor Of Amori-
can s1ipownors. and every ship, whether
owned by Americans or foreigners, must
nav the Same tolls into the United States
Treaeurv. Why should we favor American
bottoms? Their owners are doing very
we'll indeed, from all reports
democratic members Of the committee are
understood 10 share the view Of Judge
A6snoson. The members Of the committee
recently spent two weeks on the canal ana
The trim is said to have been an enjoyable
one I'm every respect. The committee now
feels that it IS prepared to go ahead with
legislation affecting the Canal Zone, but It's
attitude may cause a deadlock when VIII
POSTPONE this important legislation Tor
another year
The Senate is likely to be Influenced BY
the recOmmen0auoNS OF the fiSSluSlI' WIZ
IN his recent message TO Congress urged
that. within certain limits, the power Of
fixing rates should he delegated to the En-
ecutve. He said:
am very confident the United States has
the power 10 relieve from the payment OF
tolls any part OF our shipping that Con-
xress deems wise. We own the canal. IL
was our money that built il. We have the
right TO charge tolls for its use. Those tolls
must be the same 10 every one, hut When
ve are dealing with our own ships, the
practice Of many governments OF subsidy,
ing their own merchant vessels is so well
established in general that subsidy equal
10 the tolls, an equivalent remission OF
tolls, cannot be held 70 be a discrimination
IN the use Of the canal The practice in tins
Suez Canal makes this clear
James F. Curtis. Assistant Secretary Of
the Treasury. will leave Washington mex
wednesday for Porto Rico and Panama OF
q customs inspection trip. MIR. Curtis viii
discuss with the canal officials the custom!
needs OF the zone after the waterway i
completed The Treasury Department !!
considering the construction Of an adequate
customs system. covering importations foi
the zone or for transmission 10 Contra
American countries.