CANAL RIGHTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 5

CANAL RIGHTS.

BILL MUCH MODIFIED. AGREEMENT WITH BRITAIN HOPED FOR. A TONNAGE SCALE-' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigui Washington, August 15. 4-s an outcome of protracted conferences between the Houso of Representatives and 'the Senate regarding . tho Panama Canal Bill, tho following agreement has been reached:—■ Frea passage is to bo given to all American ships engaged in the coastwiso trado. There is to be no tariff on foreign shipbuilding, materials for use in the United States. Trust-owned ships are to be prohibited from using the canal. The railways are to be prohibited from owning competing waterway lines operating through tho canal or elsewhere. American registry is to be given Ameri-can-owned foreign-built ships engaged exclusively in foreign trade. The conference dropped the Senate's alternative giving free passage to American ships engaged in foreign trade. Tho conference considered this provision a direct violation of tho treaty with Great Britain. Political circles consider that Britain may object to. the proposed prohibition of railroad-owned ships using tho canal, in consequence of its effect on Canada's traffic. On the other hand, a general belief prevails that no further protest will be made on Britain's behalf in consequence of the abandonment of discrimination against British ships.