North Carolina Newspapers

;, AUAf- AU.TIIE m while nv IS HEWS ASSOCIATED - PKESS IEASED WIRE SERVICE 7. vol. is. 3sro; 24i;; ..- : weather;, ag-y -or charlotte, p.: Tuesday. ;jiiL a 1913. v. . " " p'PTriT?, J' 'In Charlotte. One Cent. ,t , i jz XVXVXU Eisewhert. Two Cents. THE COMtllSSIOPI REPUBUC OF WILSON REVIVES CENTURY OLD PRECEDENT POPULAR ELECTION OF UNITED STATES SENATORS IS EFFECTIVE STARTS TO ADDRESS THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE agi FniiBfi if r...f VfTT i . .I . w ,'7Sr'LVi-UilUJj f.-njs V- I -V I I I I I I - I I ; 1 I I I I 11-11 I I 'I I CITIES TESTIFY CH1A Mayors 01 Cities Under Progres sive Plan TeFiBow n '! Operates TAX-BATE LOVEB; MORE IMPROVEMENTS Direct and Official Information rRe gardins the Success of the Commis sion Form of Government in Other Cities Presented to Voters of Char lotte ; "Has Worked Wonders, "Reduced Ta? Rates,' "More Pub lie Improvements, Some ' of the Terms Used. ,i ? . -.' i . . . . ; , r' For the- purpose of securing first hand, accurate and official informa tion regarding the "operation of ' the commission form of government " in other cities The Chronicle has; wired the mayors of a number of cities un der the commission form asking for a statement regarding the success of the plan in the respective cities. The cities were selected from among the list of 248 commission plan cities, the idea in i heir selection being to get those . under conditions more nearly coinciding with thoseof Charlotte and to secure'them from eyery section of the country. The replies - are given for what they are worth. The Chron icle presents the following today and will have others' during the next few days: Memphis, Tenn. "Memphis, Tenn, April 7. Commis sion government has worked wonders for Memphis during three years of operation.5. Tax rate reduced 18 cents in face of unprecedented improve ments.' Rate how lowest in city's his tory. Citizens would not under .any circumstances 'return ? to antiquated bicameral f orm,v-''We": hare coin-; misshmesr including , mayor; - aliielectr4 ed by the, people., . "W. M. PCiPE Secretary to Mayor." Memphis ;haa a population 6f 13U- 105. I" .- -.,-, Huntington. W. Va. "HUNTINGTON, W. Va., April 7. This city governed ; by four commis sioners elected at large, not more than two being from same political party. Commissioner receiving largest vote becomes mayor. Commission govern ment has existed here four years. During first two years a $100,000 float ing indebtedness was entirely wiped out and city is free of ' debt save 'a reasonable bonded indebtedness. More paving, more sewerage, more parks and improvements " generally under four yeafs commission' government than under any other" ten years ' of government by council. If a vote was taken to return to council plan of gov ernment not five per cent of voters would favor it. . ' ' ' "FLOYD S. CHAPMAN. " ' Huntington has a population " of 31,131. Topeka, Kan. "Topeka, Kan., April 7. The city of Topeka has operated under com mission form of government for threes years. Plan' has proved very satis factory and people seem well pleased. Mayor and four commissioners are elected at large. Taxpayers, are get ting more for their money in effi ciency and promptness and business like manner of conducting city affairs. No action' on part of people" to return to old system. 'R.; L. COFRAN, Mayor." Topeka; has a population of 43,684 and is one of 35 cities in Kansas hav ing the commission plan. Montgomery, Ala. "MONTGOMERY, Ala., AprU 8. The City 'of Montgomery I . has five commissioners with the, president act ing as mayor. Under commission form municipal expenses have been reduced approximately:.; $75,000 . : per annum. . Commissioners are elected at large "and public opinion seems to favor :it over the old. form.of-' govern ment. .'Individual responsibility upon heads : of different departments, the abolishment of, red. tape , delay as.to municipal, legislation; and - qUickeB c tion in all municipal . matters-are: the result, of commission form of govern ment. .v. , . - ; "W. A. GUNTER JR., President Board of Commiesioners." . Montgomery- - has a population, of 38,138. . Mr'"' iV-;;t GOVERNMENT TURNS DOWNi OFFICERS TIP& WASHINGTON, 'April IJeut. J. F. Reynolds Landis,.. United. States military attache at Rome, Vtipped''; the doorkeeper i the -American Em bassy in the Eternal City only to find that his Government. would' not. stand' the expense. Each of three' quarterly accounts of the office contained $1.9$ for thesettpi'Coptilleripf TreasuryiTradeweilftodaheldhM gratuities to a doorkeeper were not authorised. by; lav ithoriied by law. ; i 0 - ' Recognition By United States ' And Otner Powers Is Yet -Wlthneld- GREAT BRITAIN AND JAPAN RETICENT Chinese Representative in Washington Gets First Notice of ConvenUon of Parliament of : New Nation--im- pressive Scenes Mark Opening of ... Senate and House , of Representa tives Recognition by United States Expected at Any Time. WASHINGTON; April .8, Recogni tion of the jnew Chinese Republic by the United States and . other world powers came to a point today' with the scheduled meetinef of the Chinese constitutional assembly.- No official word was forthcoming at the White House or the State Department this morning as to what the United States proposed to do. it was taken as set tled that - neither Great Britain nor Japan would recognize Yuan Shi Kai's Government at this time and there was some doubt if other powers would. . ' The new Republic was successfully launched today according to a, cable gram received from Peking at the Chinese legation here my Minister Chang Yin Tang-. Within a few minutes after the re ceipt of the news the great five barred flag of China with its red, yellowj blue; white and black-stripes was hoisted to the staff over the legation building. First Parliament Convenes. PEKIN, April 8. The first Parlia ment of the world's youngest Repub lic was "inaugurated today amid gen eral rejoicing throughout the country: The scene of Jthe -gathering , of the joint ' inaugural session of , the r mem bers s bf tthtr Senate 'and the- House-' of Representatives - rwas a remarkable Five hundred representatives out of a total of S 96 and I17 Senator out of T 274; all ' .of ithem -earnest - looking men,, of -mature years and nearly. , all dressed in European fashion, with frock coats, - silently awaited the' ap pointed hour .of .opening. As the clock struck 11, several bands played the National anthem while the assemblage rose t oits feet. The senior member of the House of Representatives then made a few congratulatory remarks to the notable gathering and formally declared both houses-open. Enthusiastic Scenes. Scenes of enthusiastic Jubilation followed before an- adjournment -was taken until April 15. The proceedings, brief and simple, were watched by a large number of foreigners. Outside vast, crowds thronged tne precincts of the Parliament buildings and cheered as a salute of 101 guns boomed from the city wall. The oc casion was Observed as a general holi day. . ' ' The American charge d'affaires has intimated to the Chinese Government that recognition of the Republic by the United States wi'l be made When the parliamentary officers have been appointed and. a quorum . declared. WILSON ENTANGLED WITH CITY OFFICERS . ' r . " Wtilkr own Young Man 01 Char lotte Pols PQZZllng Proposition To The City Conrt U. 'O. Wilson, convicted v of retail ing in the Recorder's court in De cember in twd counts owes the city of Charlotte $5 a0 inthe form of a note which he gave- December 2 and he has refused to pay it. This after noon at '4 , o'clock Recorder Hamilton Jones is hearing the .a-uthorities , aa interpreted, by Colonel W. R.j Henry, attorney for .Wilson, tending to show tha Wilson's arrest laif "night and his consequence imprisonment on . a capias -was- false and, illegal. The at torney is : demanding, a fuling from the court before his client will at tend o the matter, of paying the note. that .is now due. '. V , ; -: . It is understood that Wilson ' ex- pe!cts to enter, suit against the. offi cers for arresting him -and the point Colonel - Henry ? is- desirous of having the ' cityi recorder. rtilef on has " an "Im portant - bearing - on rthe : probable civil, litigation. It is the contention of . Colonel Henry that when a note is ilven. for lav fine, .the latter1 being regai-ded:Jinla -lshment, and when .the note-is jac-f cepted.u It .becomes t a? civil action and ; under : tne constitution . or ine t&iaxe no individual can I be arrested - and no lnamauai can. De.arresieg.m J rs? standi and headed :theCprocessiou imprisoned '. for a debt . Colonel Hfen-irt .?r.- -,i. , 1 Jaoka . oio)m thft -itv', fl.dritanfce1 of ;Seatorsi:.as it left the 'Chamber of the Tnote as standing for the fine means that Wilson w is merely indebt ed to the city as though he had bor rowed such an amount and that the city has lio right to arrest and im prison him tor the non-payment of thedebt ilThe casetundoubtedlyj has some interesting ? angles' : of law and in its potentialities, it . abounds in numerous xeatures- pr i inieresi, . numerous features, of i interest , ' ' ' - " - - ; ' t ., f- . tj . . . - - ' - ; i . V' - ' mmrtiimmmlimfi minium inn n iiiniiimin wnwwww" nwinnmi i '''riimiminwMiiiiimiM,wrMiii.Wiwi,iwwiMwwiwMMiiii "' " jit pi - ; - M-mmf : t.,rtr -,.- President, While PacKed Galleries Appeal Tq Congress For . Decided Downward Revision In the Country's tariff Laws ;- WASHINGTON, April 8. President Wilson stood on the .Speaker's -rostrum-in the hall of the. House today and personally read his first message.- to. Congress, the, first . President since John Adanis to exercise that privi-r lege. . . . - - ' , The renewal of a custom abandon ed a century ago and now surround ed by such wide .differences of opinion among members of Congress, attract ed to the Capitol a large assemblage. Galleries were packed' with National figures, Mrs. Wilson arid 'her three' daughters and the women of the Cab inet circle prominent1 aniong them. The diplomatic -gallery probably -con-'1 tained a representative of every fja-? tion with an envoy .? in the "f oreign corps here. ' ' - ? " ' . The Unusual Scene. - s'-'' As the President 'rea'd on,; every eye was riveted x toward .' the ;-: Speaker's stand with its new r occupant. " 'Never in the life of any 'man.presentihad.a' President occupied' that historic "place in such a capacity ' . ' Here" was the head of the Nation come to assert that' he twas a-jjersoh;; "a human being;" come to deal 'with his fellow men in control; of : the' Na-. tion's destiny as -,a .man' of tforc,e,' trot a mere Department . of j the Govern ment. It-was all so .unusual that. to. many, it seemed r almost . unreal, ,r but the President, smiling as he epoke. and talking, to the.. great .assemblage,. ..as man to man, . soon developed in the gathering a fellow feeling Throughout , the message the Presi-J dent read in a clear .voice which car ried his words, to every ' corner; ot the big hall. Members of the House ' and Senate sat throughout. in close 'at'tn tion following every Word closely.1" A' murmur of conversation that swept the gallery when the President began was soon hushed as the tall, Imposing figure at the clerk's desk read on in his commanding but conversational style. . As he closed his introductory remarks, Explaining his presence be fore them, Senators and Representa tives joined in the applause. ' : ; r , . .Wave of Applause. . .. v. " The President concluded the read ing at; 1:0 8 amid ra waei of-applause and immediately left the chamber; f : When the President ;concluded- he aaid : "I thank you sincerely." - As the House ahd - Senate members arose and applauded the , president ted i by his . reception edinnii jtfiefcalL -ThejyicePrsident 'left :"the.f Speak- meu visit -oi ' lAef esiueniy. 10 jogjrgss . had: lasted ten -minutes ;ana;-oecome 1 history. ' I: -1 ;; :; X! The 'President . tarried a . few- min-, utes in the Spekker'sr pom; after -leay ; ing the. chamber and talked with Rep resentatives Underwood, "Palmer- "and Mann ahd Senators - Kern, Bacon and -w.., -.... Look On, Makes His Personal jGallinger. He then left the Capitol for the! White. House. .. . ' , President Wilson slipped aWay from; the White House quickly after, today's Cabinet meeting,, accompanied only by his' secretary; and one secret service man and upon arriving at the Capitol was escorted to .the" rostrum in the House where Speaker ClaVk sat' at' one side, and' Vice President Marshall at the other. The President,, speak ing with, his usual clarity of tone and notable diction," 'read- his' 'message, while the company actually packed into the chamber,, gave ' the " closest attention ,.' -' ",. , . . 7', . f Te President Speaks. ' .President Wilson began his message as follows: ' . am very ..glad indeed. to. have'this opportunity,, to. address the two; houses directly and to verify for. my self ..the t impression that the Presi dent. of the United States is a person,, not a, mere Department of the Gov ernment, ..hailing Congress from'. some isolated island of jealous power," send- ing. messages,., not Speaking naturally and with - his own t voice, ; that he is a human; being trying to "co-operate, with - other. human v beings in a com mon -service. -. After, this.- pleasant . ex perience I shall feel quite normal in all '".our. ..dealings with one. another." ' I . have called the , Congress together in- extraordinary session because a duty was laid upon the party; now in power at ; the recent elections which it-ought-to perform promptly, in or der -that- the . burden , carried . by the people :under-- existing law may be lightened v as soon as possible and in order, also, that- the business interests of Jthe country may not, be kept too long 'in suspense as to what rthe fisca changes are to be . to which .they will; be ..required to adjust themselves. . It is clear to . the whole country that the tariff ; duties must be altered. . They, must be changed ' to meet :the radical alternation in the ,-conditions of rour economic life which the, country has Witnessed within .thelast generation While the whole face and. method ofd our uiuuauiai iiiu ' tuuuiciuuki' n6, were being changed beyond " recogni tion the tariff schedules.vhave; remain edwhat they were before the change began, or .have "moved- in the direc tion they wei'e , given' when no i large circumstance 1'bf biir' industrial devel opment was what it r is ' todays Our tasks to square' them' with the actual faqts f The sopneiv that 'is . done -the j sooner : we snau esc aperirpm sunenns f rin V'the Sfdctsiland t the sooirer. our men of business will ,be; free to' thrive by - the law of nature (.tne .nature oi free' business) Instead1 of by the law of legislation and : 'artificial arrange- xnenS&':- il."S,Wr'v"; "'' .:Past Expence. yAJv.. I We! hayeseej tariff legislatipnwan- der vei;y f arf Seld" in burdayTyery f ar indeed . from " the v fielct in which our: prosperity, might have. had a nor -, "''--" ' t r - mal -growth yaudvstiuialon. No one who looks the, facts "squarely in the face -or knows anything that lies be neaththe surface of acttoYI can fail to perceive the principles . upon-:': which recent tariff legislitidn has been based. We long . ago passed -beyond the modest, notion of protecting'' the industries of the country and moved boldly forward to the idea that they were entitled to; the direct patronage of the Government.. FPrv a long time - a- time so long that men now active in public- policy hardly remember the conditions that' preceded it we have sought in our tariff schedules to give each group; of-manufacturers or pro ducers what' they themselves . thought that they needed in order "to 'maintain a practically exclusive market7- as against the rest ,',of the . world. Con sciously or unconsciously "we have built up' a set' of privileges; and ex emptions ' from 'competition" behind which it was easy,:byf any;even the crudest, forms of combination to or ganize monopoly;" until at. last nothing is normal, '""nothing is obliged to stand the tests of ,'emciency and. economy, in our . world . of ibig business,; but , every thing thrives 'by concerted; arrange ment Only new principles of action will save us from a finalhard crystal lization of mpndpplyand a ''.complete loss of the influences.. that quicken en terprise ' and keep independent energy alive. :' .,.. ;' ' ,"- It is plain , whatl -those principles must 'be.' ' We must abolish everything that bears "even" the semblance r of privile'ge'or of. any kind .of; artificial advantage,-and puC our business men and pdoducers under the- stimulation of a cpnstant necessity" to 4be efficient, economical and enterprising, masters of competitive supremacy, better workers and" merchantsjthan any In the world. Aside, from tne duties iaia upon articles which we ' do not, and probably can hot, produce, therefore, and, the duties, laid upon luxuries and merely, for the. sake" of the revenues they yield, -the obpjedf; -of the tariff duties henceforth laid1 must be effec tive . competition,, the whetting of American wits by- contest with the wits of the refst of . the world. - Make Haste - Slowly. ; .'It would be . unwise, to mbve to ward this end head! Pngr with reckless haste, or with strbkes; that cut at the very roots of w'hat-lias '.-.grown up ambngpt us by; long , process and at our own invitation. It', does not alter a thing to upset atandbreaScitand deprive it of a cTiaoe to change. li destroys it. -.We must'make changes in- our fiscal . laws, in - our fiscal system,' Whose object . is;, deveiopmehtr a mofe" freehand wholesome development, hot "revolution or upset. r. "confusion We must5 build 'up 'trade'eepecialy Vf or- eignT ttade.? "vfe need; the; outlet ':and the, enlarged- field of .energy more ihah wepeyer .did before. We must build up' industry ai Well, and. mxist adopt freedom ija the .pla'ciepf artificial stim ulation conlyso far -asitwlll build," not pull down. In dealing j with . the. tar iff" the method by -which! this . may. be done will be amatterof ;' Judgihient, fxciseditem by ; itej&-T Sjomeno (Continued .pn-Pagewo. . " Ratification Of The Seventeenth - Amendment,. Ttr.Tbe Feiorc! i - Constltntlon By Cdnnecflcnt Legislature Today ElaKes " The Measnre Pari Of ENDS FIGHT BEGUN NEARLY! A CENTURY VAGO Long Campaign Renewed by Aiiirew Johnson When a Member of the Senate Finds Its Culmination-in Sue cess by Action of General Assembly of New England : State Taken Today. v , : 4 WASHINGTON, April i 8. Direct election of United States Senators be came one of the provisions of the Con stitution -today, by 'Connecticut's ratifi cation of the amendment to that ef fect. ' Thirty tsIx States, the requisite three-fourths of all in the Union, now have approved the change. It remains only f or the Governor's of all States which have acted favorably - to for mally notify Secretary Bryan and for him to issue a proclamation announc ing the change. . The amendment to the constitution is the second within the ' last few months. :1 ' ' ' HARTFORD, Conn., April 8. The proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution providing for popular election of United States Senators was ratified by the General Assembly to day. It was approved in the House 150 to 77 and passed the Senate unan imously. . The Amendment. The new amendment to the Consti-, tution, for the popular election of United States Senators, is the " seven teenth to be adopted. It reade: ;The Senate of the United States shall be -composed of twb Senators fromf each 'State, elected .by- the peo ple thereof,' for six yearsj ' and each " r- :..y-A.--..rr-A"U Sedator shall have one vote.:.The eled-f I tbfs iheh'Staie tliaii have" the quali fications: requisite c for electors ot the most numerous branch "of the State legislatures. ' ; . . j !--' - ' "When vacancies happen in the rep resentation of .any 'State in ,the J3en-' ate, the executive"; authority of such State shall Issue writs of election to fill such, vacancies, provided, that, the Legislature of any State may, empower the Executive thereof - to make tern-', porary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the Legislature may direct." xne amenameni primarily iransiers the power of electing Senators from the State Legislatures to the people at the polls. To effect this change it was necessary to alter the machinery for the filling of vacancies in the Sen ate. ' - . ; For more than 60 years proposals have been made to'.change the Consti tution so as to provide for the direct election of Senators. It was not, how ever, untir June 24, 1911, that the Senate was induced for the-first time in Its history to give its consent to the change. , Ons that day it voted to submit to the States the proposed amendment. The resolution, to submit had already .' passed the House - In a somewhat -different form. Before ad journment of, the. session, both houses agreed to the language to be employed and the resolution was deposited with the. Secretary .of State ..May 16, .1912 for distribution among the States 1 ; 'Theory of Choice : -.. The-originai theory in establishing the choice of Senators was that they, represented the States, whereas .the members of the House represented the people of their districts ; It waS because this theory of the State as a unit "that all States, large and small; were given equal representation in the Senate, Rhode Island having-the same number as New .York or Pennsylva- nia In the theory of the Constitution framers this entity' of the State was thus! made .more distinct under "the Federal system' and the .State Legis lature was regarded as the 'suitable medium. for t expressing the .State en tity.' Later it was c6ntehded that State entity would still be preserved, if the people of the entire; State," instead of the Legislature, chose., the. Senators, and this view has now bee. naccepted as the basis of the f hew? system. ' 4 In'1826 the first action waa taken in Congress looking to a .; change. In that vyear Representative Storrs" of New Torli 'introduced" 'a 4 resolution making Senators 1 elective by - the peo ple. Another resolution of eimilar im port was introduced by Representative Wright of Ohio Int 8 9.) In 18 50. Sen ator ClemensPf ;Aahaina produced the first senatorial direct election Res olution in the Senate, Npthnig result ed frW these movemenlsiv ) It was Andrew ' Johnson who f re vived1 congressional agitatipn for the irect election of Senators. As a mem ber: of : the rHoiise of .'Representatives, he introduced' two'.resolutlons for the, change, and 1 86 0 renewed the agi tation a. a . member of , the Senate. In U86 8' President he c sent ..a.ipe- ciai message; -.16. Congress a4vpcatlng . '. - . - ' The Country's Law 7' the measure, ancj then repeated his. recommendations in his annual mes sage. rf " ' . The subject was revived '-in '1873. 1876, 1886 and 1888, but without sue-' cess.' In-1893 the House agreed to the proposition, as it did in the succeeding Congress, and still agai ni ni 8 9 8, 1000 and 1902. The proposed change on none of these- occasions yjrori a favor able report from -committees in the Senate, " " , ;,: "pjyl ','H'4vC With the House thujr arayed year after year in favor of the r change, the Seriate became the battleground Senator Brlstow - of - Kansas- took the lead in advocacy ' of ' amending., the Constitution , along ,thie line, t In, De cember, 1909, he introduced; his first resolution. A' year later he v obtained a report from the committee,' but a feature had been ta'cked . onto f his proposal : which ' brought , on , a ' fight In the Senate, threatened .to ' kill the entire proposition. .This interposed feature wis to amend other 'provi-: eions of the Constitution so ;as .to de prive -. the Federal , Government of power to Supervise - the4 State 'regula tions as to 'the timeand - manner 'of election.1 The votes of Southern Sena-' toss threatened to defeat '.the-;; main proposition if he;: Federal . ; .Govern ment wis given; this power. S enat or Hpo-rnade5 aapeech; in";whlch , h - Vcriticieed ; by Southern States itteprivingnegro e s of Jthe right-of suffrage.-'Senator Ba-. con - replied that "the . Federal Govern ment was being given the ' power once"- more . to enact . "forced billB" and send armies and marshals into -South-, ern States . to Intimidate, voters. - -On February 28, just before the -end of the session, the .resolution was def eat ed by four, votes. '-,-. vit;.:- 'M . Resolution Comes Again. , ' . Senator Bristow reintroduced. .li, the (resolution in the special session lm- .mediately following.. The fight of the preceding session was . ref ought, . but this time the friends of the resolution won by a vote of ; 61 to. ",24,Vor five more than the required twp-thlrda The House had passed a resolution which made It clear the Federal Gov ernment was not ; to-' Interfere '. .with senatorial elections in-the States. ' Fi nally the House conferees receded 'and the ' House agreed to th ' Senate meas uer by a vote of 237 to SO. l: : previous to this time, the several States had" taken the bit In ' their teeth by enacting laws' which" in -effect did hot wait for a constitutional amend ment on the subject..";. Fro bably the most ' successful ' of these was adopted in Oregon. ' It virtually directed the members . of. the Legislature to , . elect the person who received vthe ; majority vote, at the regular election," when tho placing of the name of. a' candidate for United States ' Senatorupon 'the tick ets was authorize d. ..i.;- The control of Legislatures by grat corporations was; assigned by 'Senator7 Bristow as one . pf the main reasons for the demanded change. "With the development - during -, recent ; times of the great corporate - interests of the countryt" said he'and tWilhcreased Importance of legislation ; relating to their affairs, they have . tenaciously sought to control the election of Sena tor friendly to' their 'interests. The power' of these gret financial ind in dustrial institutions , can kbe Very ef fectively used in the election of Senators- by Legislators,' and they .have many times during- recent years Use I that power in a' most reprehensibi - and scandalous manner. They have spent enormous amounts oiTmoney i r. corrupting. Legislatures to elect' to the , -..:;r'N.-.v,"i ". (Continued on Page Ttro) " TODAY IN CONGREC i:'mr"'yy ; sexate; ";''''.' v " Went to " House chamber for nt.Jse96lon.'C-..)5- . ... Senator Shafroth Introduced till to change time : for- beginning of Congress to first Monday, in Janu ary after national 1 elections rand Inauguration of ? President to sec ond Monday in January. ' - m&yy house.'-1' '.-,: V Received members of ' Senate and In -joint session 'listened- to President Wilson , deliver s tolg fir? t message to Congress. : '. , ' Republican ..' leader Bfann sub -mitted, to ways and means com mittee his recommendation , for Republican-. members, of j impor tant wmnxlttees. s . ' , i Representative Sims rv reintro duced ;bill to abolish '; commerce court and a bill to repeal "Ameri can' coastwise shipping - toll ex emption clause of- the Panana ac:. , .