The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-08-11
GOES TO CONFERENCE
Canadian and Mexican Lines
Owning Fleets Not
Within Its Scope.
LODGES FIN Il PIE A
peuounccs Attempt Of Congress
TO Destroy American
Railroads.

W,SHlNGroN, Aug. 1O.--The House
to-day promptly disagreed to the Sen
ale amendments to the Panama Canal
bill. and this radical anti-railroad meas
ur. has gone to conference to be
whipped into final form.
II is acknowledged BY those who are
opposed to the measure that the bill
will lose none Of its so-called "pro-
gressive' features in the tinkering. In
,ac,. the railroads will be lucky II the
bill energies from conference with no
more fangs than 1t carries at present.
\ The House Democrats voted for an
ABSOLUTE prohibition against another
water line. and the Senate conferees
will have fight to limit this pro-
hbtion to ships that pass through the
panama Canal and to leave 1t discre-
'lonary with the Interstate Commerce
commission to say whether or not
o'her railroad lines shall be compelled
,o divorce their ship holdings.
u Il the belief. however. that the House
J ,onfcrees will finally accept the Senate's
modfcat!ons Of the Houses sweeping
prohibition.
House Views Nodded.
i' was learned to-day that the amend
m.nt empowering the Interstate Com
lnerce Commission to decide whether or
aot railroad shall be compelled to
l.,orce it's steamship holdings was
,,,s- tat
means Of preventing the adoption Of the
radical House provisio.- absolutely pro-
ti1tlng ownership Of Q competing
steamship line by a railroad.
This amendment, 1t developed to-day.
was drawn by Senator Root Of New
York, although introduced by Senator
a5urno of Oregon. The opponents Of
jbo House provision fell back on this
amendment as the only means OF pre-
ssnting the adoption Of the radical pro-
sramme proposed by the House.
The practical result has been to shut
the Panama Canal to steamships owned
By the Southern Pacific Railroad. but
3, save the steamship holdings Of the
View York, New Haven and Hartford.
'ho New York Central and other roads
tasi do not use the canal provided such
holdings shall not be condemned by the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
some light was thrown to-day upon
'"' a,,'. po. ,,na.r.,ood yss,or.
o' n.rdr,.n,
slr.1 ~. go po.S ~ Missouri
which provides that no ship engaged In
+ ,n .o,~r ,,a ,aI =, ror,roI,.a hv anv
,n,on,,n, ,h,, =. ana-o,,rg ,r v,oiation
~, ,E1 Sbar,,a a., ,,,rm.t 10,
rha p,',a n,r.,a,r,o,, s,;,,os ,ho cour,.
~ Tho Ir,,.1 S,a,o. nouor N determine
,I.,hor ar ro, .roh co,nr.nv 4. ouer.
a,od +, cnntr,vsn,ion M tho sherman
.r
S"""'e !" "os"'
There was more or less haziness in
tn Senate Yesterday over the real pur-
pose Of this amendment, but 1t was
earned to-day that the object which
senator Reed had In mind was 10
provide an expeditions means OF ie-
i"rm.ning violations Of the Sherman
antitrust law committed by the ship
.Ng interests. The men who are
'ackns his amendment say It's present
"ordin. Is unsatisfactory and that II
will T." changed in conference so as to
H"r' us purpose more explicit.
i was acknowledged to-day that two
or three features of the bill as II left
no senate afford ground for attack on
constitutional objections. one OF the
provisions which would open the bill to
attack In the courts Is that granting 10
pov,.r - Ja,E
steamship ownership by a railroad Is
injurious to the public interests.
on Senator Root himself. who
't'.'"d this amendment, acknowledged
'0'' i might he attacked on the ground
'f' Congress has no power to delegate
10 authority to the Interstate Com
i''' Commission. Other Senators
f.' o# lodge and Borah. also though
'H'' 'I'. sion might be questioned
.... ." Congress "a cbanya mi. NO.