Expect Fair Canal Policy.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 15, 1913:
British Shipowners Profess Confidence in American Sense of Justice.
    LONDON, March 14.— A resolution expressing confidence in the sense of justice of the Government and people of the United States to assure the recognition of the British claim for equality of treatment of the ships of all nations using the Panama Canal was adopted unanimously by the British Chamber of Shipping at its annual session in London to-day. The resolution, also said that, in default of this recognition being obtained by diplomatic means, the Chamber would welcome ex-President Taft's declaration in favor of arbitration as an assurance that in the last resort a friendly settlement would be reached.
    Sir Edward Hain, President of the Chamber in 1910-11, in moving the adoption of the resolution, said a most satisfactory solution of the tolls question would be the adoption of Senator Root's amending bill. He described a visit he made to the canal a year ago and paid a high tribute to American achievement. He regretted that Great Britain had surrendered her right to construct the canal conjointly with the United States.

    WASHINGTON. March 14.— Representative Stevens of California announced today that if the free passage provision of the Panama Canal act were repealed by Congress he would introduce and press at the extra session a bill to provide a line of Government-owned steamships from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast of the United States to carry both passengers and freight. He believes the ownership and operation of a fleet of vessels by the Government would act as a regulator of freight rates, both by water and rail, on transcontinental traffic.