The Washington herald., 1912-08-09
TO VOTE
0NPANAMA CANAL
Late Night Session Reaches Agree
ment-Final Action on Bill
Expected To-day.
IMPORTANT AMENDMENT
WRITTEN BY WILLIAMS
Believed that Mississippi Solon's
Motion Will Tend to Enlarge
American Merchant Marine.

An agreemnt was reached last night
with respect to the Panama Canal bill
that will bring 1t to final vote to-day
| Under the agreement, after morning
business to-day the Senate Will take up
the bill for consideration. and at
O'Clock will vote on all amendments
pending or to be offered. without further
debate.
This agreement was reached after
three hours of discussion last night,
during which speeches were made by
Senators Bristow, Clapp. Lippitt, and
Poindexter.
During the day the Senate amendment
granting American ships engaged in for
eign trade exemption from tolls was
agreed to by vote of 81 to 3. This
vote emphasized the determination of the
Senate to pay no attention to Great Brit
ain. The chief objection of that govern
ment was aimed at American ships In
the foreign trade. where there would be
actual competition with British merchant
marine. The decided majority on this
proposition will not be overlooked by the
British Government when 1t takes notice
of yesterdays action of the Senate. 1t
was stated last night that the State De-
partment would not officially communi
cate this action of the Senate unless re-
Quested TO do so by the British Foreign
Office. The British protest was based
upon unofficial information in the first
place.
Senator Williams' Amendment.
Another important amendment written
into the bill at the instance OF John
Sharp Williams that many Senators be-
lieve will enlarge the American mer-
chant marine by permitting the purchase
of ships built in foreign yards and their
transfer to American registry II they are
owned exclusively by Americans. A
number of regular Republicans support
ed this amendment on the theory that ii
would not initiate against the building
of ships for the coastwise trade in Amer
lean yards. This amendment was agreed
to by q vote Of 81 to "a.
There are a number of ships now sail
ing under foreign flags when a con-
siderable amount of stock of the con-
trolling companies is held by Americans
The ships included in the International
Merchant Marine Company, an organiza-
ton created and financed by J. p. Nor
San and his associates. are said to come
within this amendment. These ships
are those of the Red Star. the White
Star, and the Atlantic Transport Com
pany. al of which are now under British
registry.
Subsequently Senator GallInger offered
an amendment to which Mr.. Williams
agreed, that none of these ships could
avail themselves Of the privilege of con-
tracing for the carrying of the mails
unless they were so constructed as to be
available for cruisers in time Of war
II the government wanted them.
Many Changes Made.
Other amendments agreed to struck out
the reduction in tolls Of 80 per cent on
ships passing through in ballast and left
the amount of tolls under such condi-
tions to the President The paragraph
fixing the toll on each passenger at sl.50
was struck out Several other changes
in the phraseology of the measure were
made, and the clause providing for the
immediate settlement on the isthmus of
claims for damages to ships passing
through the canal was eliminated.
When the section relating to railroad
owned ships was reached Senator Sim
mons moved to strike out the committee
amendment, which makes an exemption
in favor of ships owned by the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company. This precipi-
tated the discussion that ran along dur
ing the rest Of the day and night.
The Panama Canal bill was consid-
cred by the Senate for eight hours yes
terday, after which, a recess was taken
four two hours. The Senate met at 10
o'clock and the Panama Canal bill
came up almost Immediately. Speeches
were made by Senator John Sharp
Williams, Democrat. of Mississippi;
Senator Gronna of North Dakota, a
progressive Republican: Senator John
son of Maine, a Democrat: Senator
Shively of Indiana, Democrat. and 9TH
ers.
Great Britafn's Protest.
Senator Johnston of Alabama Of
fered an amendment which was adopt
ed without roll call. which provided
that in fixing tolls "the rate of tolls
may be lower upon vessels in ballast
than upon vessels carrying passengers
or cargo"
Senator Bristow OF Kansas also add
ed an amendment, which empowers the
Governor of the Canal Zone to adjust
claims In the same manner that the |
Secretary of Commerce and Labor is
now empowered to settle such claims
arising in the. United States.
1t was said here last night that Great
Britain probably will make no further |
move in regard to the Panama Canal
legislation until the bill now pending be-
fore Congress has been put on the stat