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Show ROOT URGES A REPEAL Omission of Tolls in Panama Pan-ama Canal Wisest Way Out of Situation Washington, Fob 12. Repeal of th-free th-free passage provision ot the Panama canal act as the "wises! and best way out or a very embarrassing and injurious situation" was urged b, Senator Root today before the senati committee on interoceanic canals, in support of bis bill for a repeal of the provisions which exempts mcri.an coastwise shipping from the payment of lolls "1 don'i believe the omission of tolls will in any way affect transcontinental transcon-tinental freight rates." said the sens tor Railroad Influence. The extent of railroad influence at work to repeal the free passage n-'o vision, the obligation of the United States to submit the canal dispul to 'arbitration, and the questiou of I this country's right to oxerum coast-j coast-j wise traffic from tolls, figured In the discussion. "Is It not a fact." asked Senator O'Oorman of Senator Root, (hat the protest of Great Britain against the free passage provision was mspir. d by th- railroad interests or CaUad l, acting with iho great railroads or the Cnlted Stat' s ' "I have not heard from or of -u-railroad Interests in this matter,' - d Senator Root, "'and l have no reason i to suppose they have any int. res) ' '1 be- committee look no uaiou to- da) Another session will be held Monday. |