The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-11
WHAT BRISTOW FOUND.
Report on Panama Canal Investigation
Is Made Public.

a special commissioner to investigate
trade conditions and other matters af-
fecting the Panama Railroad and
Steamship company, has been made
public The report discusses from sew
eraI points of view the question of what
policy should be pursued by the govern
ment in the management of the railroad
and makes a number of important rec
concentrations.
Among the recommendations are: The
continuance of the railroad as COM
mercial line with improved facilities for
handling commerce, including double
tracking and re-equipping the line with
modern rolling stock, the enlargement
OF its port facilities, the retention OF
the steamship line between New York
and Colon, the cancellation OF the con-
tracts with the Pacific Mail Steamship
company and the South American lines.
and the opening of the ports of Colon
and Panama to all steamship lines on
equal terms; and in certain contingent
cies the establishment by the railroad
OF steamship lines between Colon and
gulf ports and Panama and important
United States Pacific coast ports. 1t is
recommended that in traffic connection
American steamship lines be favored as
far as consistent with the treaty obli-
cations of the United States.
Complaints in Detail.
After reviewing the history of the
railroad Mi. Bristow says in the re-
port:
cat the time this investigation began
complaints had been made that the
railroads local freight and passenger
charges were excessive; that it had
traffic contracts with the Pacific Mail
Steamship company, and with two
South American lines, that were mOnOp-
olistie in their character. and Injurious
to commerce; that it had maintained
monopoly for its own steamers on the
Atlantic side; that shipments via Pan
anna were carelessly handled, resulting
r1-,1
owing to lack of facilities there was a
congestion of freight on the isthmus;
that commercial business was made
secondary to canal business, greatly to
the injury of commerce.
Local rates were formerly excess
sive, but a new schedule, adopted
February 1, 1905, appears to be rea-
sonable, and has relieved, in great
measure, the cause Of this COM
plant.
''The contract with the Pacific
Mail Steamship company gave it the
exclusive privilege of through bills of
lading to and from all Pacific ports
north of Panama, and that company
agreed to give through bills of lading
only by the Panama route. Both
parties agreed to cooperate in the
making of rates and in protecting
each against competition from other
steamship lines
Representatives of the Central
American countries of Costa Rica,
Nicaragua and Guatemala complain
that the Pacific Mail charges excess
sive rates; that the contract is an
impeachment to commerce between
their respective countries and the
United States, and that there is dis
elimination in rates in favor of
Europe as against the United States.
after carefully considering the in
conveniences and delays IN RECEIVING
and discharging cargo at the Central
American ports, the rates charged
and facilities furnished by the Pacific
Mail, it appears that the service of
that company has been good, the
rates reasonable, and that the COM
plants of, the Central American rep
resentatives are not we'll founded"
Traffic Congested.
Concerning other complaints, Mr..
Bristow says:
1.-THE Panama Railroad company
operates a steamship line between
Colon and New York and has re-
fused to allow the use of the isthmus
to any competing line on the Atlantic
side. These gulf ports complain Bit
terly of the refusal of the Panama
of the isthmus and state that as a re-
suit their commercial development
has been greatly. injured.
Complaint is made as to careless
handling of goods on the isthmus, re-
sulting in loss by damage and theft.
u r
| fed, but can be remedied by an i'm
provement in the facilities for hand
| ling freight and more strict dis
cipline over the laborers.
Complaints as to the congestion of
business and the injury to commerce
resulting therefrom also appear to be
| justified. While I was at Colon and
Panama a larger amount of freight
was being handled there than the
| railroad could properly handle, and at
the same time attend to the pressing
work of the canal commission. Since
that time the congestion seems to
have increased and within the last
month there has been bitter COM
plant"
Policy of Management.
Mr.. Bristow says of the policy for
the management of the Panama rail-
road:
1.-THE question as to what policy
should be pursued bw the government
in the management of the railroad
should be considered from three points
of view:
.First-Should the railroad be
closed to commerce and be used as a
construction road for canal work?
| Second-Should it be used as con-
struction and commercial road, max
ing commerce incidental and second
airy to canal work?
'Third-Should it be used not only
as a construction road, but also as g
commercial line to its fullest capacity
Referring to the first proposition
this railroad has been operated as g
commercial line for fifty years. 1t has
served as a link connecting the com.
merce of the two oceans, and during
that time hundreds of thousands o.
tons of merchandise have been annual.
ly transported across the isthmus. anG
it would be of great injury to the com.
merce. not only of our country, bu
of Central and South America and OF
Europe, to close this route, and 1 dc
not think such a policy should be
given consideration.
THE second roposition-namely
that its commercial status be main
tanned, and that commerce be handled
only incidentally-has many adherents
They state that it is not the bushes:
of the United States government to en-
gage in commercial enterprise or tt
conduct a transportation company, bu