PANAMA CANAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1516, 12 August 1912, Page 5

PANAMA CANAL.

--4 THE TOLLS. POSITION OF AMERICAN VESSELS.. By Teloerapli—Press Association- CopyriEhl Washington, August 0. The Senate has endorsed a proposal for a qualified free toll for American vessels engaged in foreign trade using tho Canal. An'amendment was adopted authorising" American owners under foreign flags to bring their vessels under tho American registry, provided they are engaged only in foreign trade. Tho Senate has exempted from payment of tolls all ocean-going vessels registered in America, provided their owners will permit them to bo used by tho United States Government in war time. BILL PASSED IN THE SENATE. "A HUMILIATION." (Eec. August 11, 5.5 p.m.) . Washington, August 9. The Panama Canal Bill, providing for frco passage for American ships, prohibiting' railroad-owned vessels from using the Canal, and authorising the establishment of one-man government when the Canal is completed, passed the Senate by 47 votes to 15. Mr. Root moved to strilto out free tolls to coastwise ships. Mr. Hoke Smith proposed to strike out free tolls for American ships engaged in foreign trade. Both motions were overwhelmingly defeated. Mr. Brandeya insisted that the admission of foreign trading vessels would be a violation of the Hoy-Pauncefote Treaty. It would be a humiliation to see American ship 3 labelled "built in Germany." CANADIAN POINT OF VIEW. THE PANAMA. EXPOSITION. Vancouver, August 0. The Board of Trade is calling a special meeting to discuss whether the province of British Columbia' should withdraw from active or official participation in the Panama exposition, owing to the action of the United States regarding tolls on American ships passing through the Canal. •