The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-06-16
CANAL BILL
IS PASSED
Scratch of Wilson's Pen Re-
peals Toll Clause In
the Canal Act
PROPOSAL PROTECTS YANKEES
PRIVILEGE TO EXEMPT COAST
WISE SHIPPING.
Presidents Proposition Is Put Through
BY Vote of 216 to 71--The Vote
Closed One of the Hardest Fights
Ever Witnessed.


BY Vote of 216 to 71--The Vote
Ever Witnessed.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington.-On President Will
sons signature was Necessary to repeal
the clause of the Panama Canal act
exempting American coastwise ship
ping from tolls.
The long and bitter fight in congress
came to an end when the house, after
brief debate and without the formality
of a conference, accepted, by vote
of ZIG to II, the senate amendment
specifically reserving all rights the
United States may have under the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty or otherwise.
Before ending the contest by con-
curing in the Senate amendment the
House voted down, 174 to 108, pro-
posal advanced by Representative
Moss, of West Virginia, to attach to
the repeal a fiat declaration of the
right of the United States to exempt
its vessels from tolls and of the SOW
ereignty of the United States over the
canal zone. During the discussion
there were flashes of heat in a debate
which characterized the original con-
sideration of the measure. Repre-.
sentative Underwood, Democratic
leader, although voting for the Senate
amendment, said that Congress should
never have made this ''un-American
surrender" and called the amendment
ineffective and negative" Republic.
an Leader Mann, who had vigorously
opposed repeal, supported the amend
ment, declaring it left the entire ques.
ton of the rights of this country to
be determined in the future. Repre-
sentative Glass, of Virginia, attacked
the Democratic leaders who opposed
the measure.
Opposing the repeal bill and voicing
dissension with the senate amendment
Underwood said: "The passage of this
bill is one of the most unfortunate leg.
islative acts that has ever happened
in the history of this country. The
future rights, future interests and the
future prosperity of more than 100,,
100000 persons are being jeopardized
! regard the amendment as a declara.
tion by the senate Of the principles
believe in, but recognize that declar
alton is not made effective so as to
protect the rights of the American peo-
pie. The present amendment is
attached to the bill merely to satisfy
the conscience and the fears of certain
gentlemen who are not willing to &C
boldly before the American people and
accomplish the results that the mem.
bership of this house was willing tc
accomplish without apology.
In its final form, as passed, the bill
reads:
BE it enacted, that the second sen.
tence in Section 5 of the act entitled
AN act to provide for the opening
maintenance, protection and operation
of the Panama Canal, and the santa
ton and government of Canal Zone,
approved August "a, 1912, which reads
as follows: No tolls shall be levied
upon vessels engaged in the coastwise
trade of the United States,' be, and
the same is hereby repealed.
Section 2. That the third sentence
of the third paragraph of said section
of said act be so amended as to read
as follows: When based upon net
registered tonnage for ships of com.
merce the tolls shall not exceed $1.25
per net registered ton, nor be less than
Is cents per net registered ton, sub
1ect, however, to the provision OF
Article 19 Of the convention between
the United States and the Republic oi
Panama, entered into November 18
1907
provided, that the passage of this
act shall not be construed or held as
a waiver or REIMBURSEMENT of any
right the United States may have un
der the treaty with Great Britain, rati
fed February 81, 1902 (Hay-Paunce
fote treaty., or the treaty with the Re
public Of Panama, ratified February
26, 1904, or otherwise to discriminate
in favor of its vessels by exempting
the vessels of the United States or its
citizens from the payment of tolls fol
passage through said canal, or as in
way waving, impairing, or affect
ing any right of the United States un
der said treaty, or otherwise, with re
spect to the sovereignty over or the
ownership, control, and management
of said canal and the regulation of the
condition or charges of traffic through
the same"
The house must now go to confer
ence, and If the house accepts the sen
ate amendment, which is expected, the
measure then goes to the president fol
signature.
The vote closed one of the hardest
fights ever witnessed in the Senate
and leaves Democrats filed with ap
prehension of the effect of SO much
blood-letting among their members
and the reputation of plank OF
their last national platform.
The most exciting event was the ap
proach to physical encounter be
tween two Southern Senators.