The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-12
PANAMA FREIGHT RATE FIGHT
LATIN RBPUBLICS PROTEST 10
he LOOKED INTO.

Bristow Reports en- TheiF Charges That
Panama Railway IL WOriCing With
American steamship unes-Thk
Of starting q New Paclho Service.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE executive
committee Of the Isthmian Canal Com
mission, consisting Of Theodore p. Shonts'
chairman Of the committee and the ad-
ministratiVe head Of the canal; Chief En-
gineer John +. Wallace and Judge Charles
+. Magoon. recently made Governor OF
the Canal Zone. viii hold its first meeting
tomorrow In the ONCE Of Secretary Taft.
The meeting was 70 have been held to-day,
but Mr. Shonts was unable 10 reach Wash
ington In time.
Many matters Of importance will be dis
oussed, including the practicability and
necessity Of double tracking the Panama
Railway; the question Of the policy Of
freight rates on the railway, and from
Colon 10 New York via the steamships
now owned by the Government; the estab-
lishment Of a Government line Of steamers
on the west coast in order TO produce COM
petition: the feasibility Of putting the Wash
| inRton ofice Of the commission under the
bureau Of insular Affairs Of the War De-
partment the system OF Bookkeeping in
the Canal Zone, and many other admins
| trative details.
The report Of Joseph J.. Bnstow, the
special commissioner SAINT by the Govern
ment 20 investigate freight rates and ship
ping interests on both sides Of the Isthmus
and up and down the west Ooast, win have
much 10 do with the decisions relative TO
the shipping questions. Mr. BristoW con-
ferred with Secretary Taft to-day and
1 orally outlined what he had learned during
his two months trip.
! He was instructed to make TO the Depart
ment full confidential report on the mat
ter. This report will probably contain
much that has not been known concerning
the workings Of the Panama Railway and
the connecting steamship lines TO the West.
A vigorous complaint, alleging combina-
ton Of three Pacific steamship lines and the
Panama Railway, has bean made by dip
lomats representing seven South and Cen
tral American republics.
Mr.. BristoW has gone over the memoir
andum laid before Secretary Tart by the
body Of diplomats, embodying In detail
the causes for their complaint and charges.
The report made by Mr.. Bristow TO Score
tary Taft to-day throws a somewhat diher-
emit light on the complaints and will proba-
o.. bly, cause a change In the policy Of rate
lowering which has been practically de-
cided upon.
some complaining republics maintain in
situations Of their own, which charge ex-
cessive rates. One Of the steamship lines
In the combination Is a Chilean concern,
and Chile is one Of the complaining coun-
tries.
IL is also said that the port dues and
wharfage taxes OF some Of the countries
are excessive. II Is not probable that this
Government viii attempt TO fix full sched-
ule Of rates, but will adopt some general
tentative plans which will be elaborated
according 90 the needs as demonstrated
by actual contact with the conditions 1t is
also probable that this Government will
insist that the countries involved DO rea-
sonable in their own rates
The United States now owns the Panama
Railway and the steamship Line running
from the Isthmus TO New York, There are
three steamers belonging TO the line and
| one OF two chartered vessels. 1t Is the In
tention Of the Government TO continue 20
operate these steeInships, and the prac-
tfcabIlity Of establishing a similar line
running up the Pacific coast Is an open
question. The Pacific Mail Steamship
Company now has the only line running
north from Panama on the Pacific side.
The Pacific Mail has indirectly informed
railway and preferential rates must De
| awarded TO American, made vessels only
or the company will withdraw all Of its
vessels now plying between Pacific Coast
ports and Panama. This puts a serious
phase TO the question, and II the threat
should be put IN execution the United states
Government would have to establish a
line, unless some other steamship company
did 80, -
The double tracking Of the. Panama
Railway h regarded as one OF the neces-
stiles Of the situation. The cost would
be great and 1t would take long time
10 build the road, but it Ia figured that,
not only would the intrinsic returns be
large, but that the work Of Transporting
material for use on the Canal would be
Greatly facilitated. The problem will be
discussed thoroughly tomorrow.
II Is quite probable that the Washington
Office Of the Canal Commission viii be placed
In charge OF Col. Clarence X. EDWARDS,
chief Of the Bureau Of Insular Affairs. The
ofioe now is an institution separate from
any Of the departments. 80,
Mr.. BristoW as soon as he has completed
his report to Secretary Taft viii 60 TO New
Orleans and other points In the South "a
| make further Investigation.