Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-17
ADVOCATES OF FREE PANAMA
CANAL TOLLS TO CONDUCT
ACTIVE FIGHT.
" TOLLS ARE ELIMINATED
SHIP BILL WILL BE URGED
Free Tolls For American Coast Ships
Preferred, Government Steamships
Substitute Of Nsesssary = Either
Would Reduce Transeontinsntai
Freight Rates, II is Claimed.
Especial Correspondence

| Washington, March 17.-If the pro-
ponents OF the repeal of the free tolls
provision in the Panama canal meas
ure succeed in winning their fight 1t is
not unlikely it will be followed up by
congress by a step much more far
reaching than free tolls. This is the
enactment of measure providing for
i the conduct of northumberland
line OF freight and passenger steamers
between the Atlantic and the Pacific
ports thru the Panama canal.
Representative Stephens, of Califor-
mia. said today he would introduce al
the outset of the special session his
bill providing for a governmental
line of steamers. He introduced the
bill last congress but will modify it,
provide for a larger fleet of steamers,
and present it again. Moreover, he
intends to press it with all possible en-
ergy.
:. Favors Free Tolls. :. 5000.
Mr.. Stephens is strongly in favor nf
free tolls and hopes the provision will
not be repealed. But he points out
that if free tolls is repealed, then the
agitation for a government owned line
is certain to be increased, because the
demand for some action which will
lower freight, costs by water and by
transcontinental railroad will be in
tensified.
1t is the view Of Mr. Stephens, as 1t
is of large number of the advocates
Of free tolls in congress. that the Can
adian Pacific railroad plus the trans
continental railroads of this country
are backing the movement for free
tolls, and cleverly enlisting the sup
port Of various elements, seemingly
conflicting and Homogeneous. 1t was
freely charged last winter that a
powerful lobby was at work to repeal
free tolls. These charges are being
made as vigorously as ever.
1t is persistently represented here
that. despite the plank for free tolls m
the Baltimore platform, the admins
tration viii come out for the repeal of
the free tolls provision. II this Is done,
it will precipitate fierce fight in con-
gress.
To Talk Frankly to Wilson.
Opponents of the repeal OF free tolls
intend to talk frankly with President
Wilson about the situation. They in
tend to lay before him such evidence
as they have that the transcontinental
railroad interests in Canada and here
are working for repeal of the free
tolls feature Of the canal law.
1t is uncertain what will happen on
the tolls question OF President Wilson
comes out for. free tolls. The fact SEN
ator OGorman. of New York. who is
for free tolls. is slated for chairman OF
the interoceanic canals committee in
the senate, is a factor in the situa-
ton.
Friends Of the plan Of a government
owned line Of steamers declare that the
Canadian and American railroad in
terests fighting free tolls would prob
ably lose interest in the situation il
they come to believe that repeal would
be followed by the adoption OF a pol
icy Of government ownership and OPP
Grafton Of a merchant fleet thru the
canal to act as q regulator Of freights.