The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-08
REFUSE To AMEND
THE PANAMA BILL
The Senate Would Favor
American Ships
PENSION BILL LOST
Railroads Would Increase Freight
Rates on Commodities-Wi In
vestigate the Patent Office.
Appropriation Trouble

Senate;
Rejected conference report on pension
appropriation bill and ordered further
conference with House.
Adopted conference report on legislative
appropriation bill abolishing commerce
court
Panama canal bill taken lp.
House bill for a commission to investl-
gate the purchase of American tobacco
by foreign government passed.
Agreed to conference report on agri-
cultural appropriation bill.
Committee figured expense of second
Lorimer investigation to have been $780,
600.
from Panama canal bill provision ex-
empting American cosstwise vessels from
payment of tolls. Adjourned at 1:32 D.
m. until / a. IN. Thursday.
Recessed at s p, m until p. m. when
considering Panama canal bill was re-
sumed.
House:
Passed joint resolution to supply trans
portation to American refugees from Mex-
leo.
Rule committee favorably reported res
olution OF the inquiry into the desirable
ity of acquiring Monticello"
Representative Fitzgerald sharply crit
icised President Taft's economy commits
sion during discussion of resolution ap-
propriatng $4,000 for an investigation of
patent bureau, which was proposed
Adjourned at 4:57 p. m. until mon
Thursday.
Washington. August by a vote OF "a
to II the Senate late tonight refused to
strike from the Panama canal bill tho
provision exempting American ships from
payment of tolls for passage through tho
Panama canal. Debate on the question
had continued from p. m. until nearly
midnight. The Senate then adjourned un-
I'll tomorrow without voting on the bill
itself.
The defeat of the Burton amendment
was the Senates defiant answer to the
protest of the British government against
the legislation.
The senators who voted in favor Of
the Burton amendment were Brandegee
Burton, Crane. Fall Gronna, Lodge, Nell
son. Oliver. Penrose, Root and Wet
more.
Just before the vote was taken Sena-
tor Cummins made an frnpassioned speech
In which he charged senators who inter-
preted the HayPauncefote treaty as de-
nying to the United States the power to
discriminate In favor of its own ships,
with giving an Interpretation which they
knew Americans would not observe. He
declared the question OF power was one
that could not be arbitrated. and should
diplomacy fall, was would be the final ar
bitter. Senators Williams and Burton de
clared Senator Cummins was ruthlessly
disregarding the arbitration treaty be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain.
During the evening the clause in ques-
ton was amended upon motion Of Senator
Hoke Smith OF Georgia by making the
exemption apply only 10 vessels engaged
exclusively" In the coastwise trade OF
the United States. Another amendment
by Senator Smith requiring owners of
these vessels to keep the United States
free from liabilities for damages result
ing from their passage through the ca
nal, was defeated. so was an amend
ment by Senator Percy, which provided
that vessels owned by Americans but
built abroad should be entitled to reg
for coastwise trade