The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-20

The chamber OF coynrr,erce AZ sh~ rr.~.
Ing OF the board OF trustees Tuesday
accepted memorial 70 congress reuue<s-
Ing legislation securing oonstructiov, o..
the Nicaragua canal The Legislative.
coruntttss also submitted a draft Of n
blu To be presented 20 the Legislature
renewing state and municipal taxzrtox,
from vessels OF the United States en-
gagged In foreign trade. The memorial
reaGs as follows.
That We earnestly urge that TIE hGll
now pending before your honorable body
or a similar one. which viii assure Ire
early construction OF the Nicaragua canal.
De passed a; this session OF corzgress.
That Tire lefhaxgy OF Indifference here
nofore manifested by congress upon this
custom OF transcendant Importance TO The
commercial supremacy OF the I;nsted
States. Is TO the people Of the Pacific
coast subject OF continued etasaprsosnt-
ment and regret. They are convinced
that the people Of the United States de-
mani the construction OF this great WA
ter-way ard feed that the possponeruent
OF federal legislation upon this subject IN
particular injustice 10 the people OF, and
fetters ths development OF the Imperial
domain embraced within the area of the
Pacific coast states.
IN the state OF Washington the pro-
ductive eaparity OF its cereal lands In
zoo.0oo.ooo bushels. and It's 28eO0. coo acres
OF timber lands upon the western slope Of
the Cascade range h estimated To con-
tain 1000 0oo.o0o feet OF lumber. These
two great staples Iarsguish In this state
chiefly because the rates OF transporta
ton exclude them from an Eastern mar
ket; and Oregon and California suffer
from Ike conditions
The construction Of the canal is sar,-
ported by the demands OF. and Is neces-
sary 10 the commercial progress OF our
country, and all questions surrounding
the contamination OF the enterprise are
repiete with sound government policy.
1T Is supported by the demands of com
nlerce, because IL lessons the distance of
water communication between the port OF
New York and the Pacific coast states
over lo,ooo miles. and would be a saving OF
20.0oo miles on the round trip. and the dis
lance from that pet TO the Pacific ocez n
would be over 500 miles less than any
transcontinental railroad nov in opera
ton. while the distance from that great
commercial center to tina ports OF China.
Japan and India rs lessened by several
thousand miles. Whom We consider that
the difference between the rate OF trans
portation by water and rail Is estimated to
be Of the proportion to in favor OF wa
ter. the above facts establish It's necessi-
ty. Because. also, the ocean rs as free
as the air, and open to all. and over which
there can be no combine or transcontin-
entail traffic association TO arbitrarily fix
and control rates and the ocean carrying
trade would build up the shipyards OF the
Pacific coast. and further because. 1t Is
the grandest progressive stride in favor
OF the commercial supremacy OF America
now open 90 our country
''As sound government policy We unhes-
tratlngiy ensiorse II either in Its political
attitude or as an Investment England
seeks to- dispose Of the riches of the
world. and the United States in time will
be the only Formidable rival which can
wrest from her the proud position she now
holds of commercial prtmacy.
Lake Nicaragua offers stratagicaIy an
Incompatible harbor for uAassIng ships of
war TO protect commerce and our mer-
cantiie marine engaged IN the trade OF
the Orient, and its construction and man
agement Under American control histori-
caliy and practically emphasizes the doc
trine that we consider any attempt on
the part OF foreign powers ito extend
their system to any portion Of this hemis-
phere az dangerous TO our peace and safe
~" The feasibility and cost OF the con
strliction OF the canal has been ascertain
ed. and the oonstitutionality OF the invest
ment conceded. and as safe business
oonchsiveiy places IL beyond eavil En-
gland refused to aid the construction Of
that great maritime roadway, but n SO
soon became one OF the controlling fac
tors In the commerce Of the British en-
pire. that Lord Beaconsfleld purchased
from tho khedlve Of Egypt certain shares
OF stock for the sum OF Aeao.oo pounds
sterling. which in 1872 was declared by
the chancellor OF the exchsquer 20 ne
worth 20. oooo oa. The estimated tonnage
TO pass through the Nicaragua canal
Shows that the history Of the profits as,-
crulng TO the Suez canal would be repeat
Ell by the construction OF tie former wa
ter-way.
Your memortaiist therefore earnestly
urges your honorable body to promptly
take such action as will bring 70 an early
contamination THIS great work Of vital
Importance 70 the commercial progress Of
the United States and the development
Of the resources OF the Pacific coast
states and We VIII ever pray. etc"
The draft OF the hIl wh8eh Is to be pre-
scented 10 the state legislature. ~ as fol-
lows;
AN act - exempt from taxation All
vessels registered az any port IN this
state owned BY any American citizen. as
sociation or corporation. tncorporafaed
under the laws OF iris state. engaged IN
foreign commerce between PORTS in the
United States ana foreign ports, also THE
capital stock. franchises ana earnings OF
such corporations whose vessels are en-
psoyei between such ports
BE IL enacted BY the legislature % the
state Of Washington;
section / That al vessels registered
AZ any port IN this state and owned BY
any American citizen. Or association. or
BY any corporation. Incorporated under
the laws Of the state ef Washington. en-
gagged In ocean commerce between any
port IN TIE uaite3 States and any for
esgn port, are exempt from all taxation
IN this state. for state and iocal ruTpo-
ses: and al such corporations, al OF
whose vessels are employed between for
etsn ports ard ports IN the Unitet States.
are exempt from al taxation 81 this state
fer state ard local purposes upon their
CAPITAL stock. franchises and earnings Tor
TIRE period 81 - years"