The San Francisco call., 1905-03-29
THE CANAL INQUIRY.

- ENERAL BRIsToW as executive commissioner, con-
very ssanng P0 e Panams
San being the lead
of the and having the largest business by land
water, greatly interested in this inquiry
The Panama railway built originally under
Colombian Government by which fixed that other
transportation railway canal should be built through that
territory the When the French
sought Panama canal found buy
majority of the Panama railway order avoid this
of the original Holding both the railway and
canal that independent OF the terms OF the
When acquired the rights of the French
by purchase became necessary buy the railroad and the line Of
by the French connecting Colon and New
York and run in connection with the railroads.
The United States therefore finds itself the of line
OF and railway and engaged the business
ca transportation land and competition with its own
necessary incident to the acquisition OF the canal he ques-
ton what to do with this commercial property and this gong
Business which the Government compelled acquire General
sow trying to find out the views OF the people OF this coast
On that subject and getting very varied lot of opinions
mpnged upon the subject the existing between the
railroad Mail Steamship Company by which
the latter has exclusive privilege of through bill of adng from
versy There those who think has been of trade
deprived
New York Atlantic eaboard points There are others
who believe that only that has enabled the maintenance Of
steamship line shmus and has opened and
city and all Central America under the American flag These two
conditions OF opinion be irreconcabe is admitted how
that throwing open through bill of ading will the
carrying trade foreign bottoms unless the United States owning
the line of the Atlantic side and the railway, shall also
establish business enterprise OF the Government line of
steamers this side from Panama San Francisco and also to the
Puget Sound ports.
This situation reveals the complexities of the Government stu
its being compelled buy the railway and steamer line
OF the French The Secretary of War; advance OF the
conclusions reached Brstows inquiry already given
notice OF the termination of the with the Pacific Mail Com
Whether General Brstow report will change that intention
be If the OF the their
opposition be the the ground that the Gov
should the transportation business ITSELF and
garde OF profit ITSELF should by competition drive its
citizens of that business their weakened The people
will stand anything rather than plunge the Government headong
ocaistc experiment OF that kind the United States
citizens off the Pacific Ocean why off the Atlantic also,
IA of n that lies be
1t discuss the question whether the Pacific
Mail Panama this
the alternative be Government line. The United
relieve itself OF the difficulty by selling its Colon and New York line
and having little do with commercial transportation
possible while the canal is under construction When that
finished and all issues the Panama railway will be
obsoeed.
But suppose when the canal finished the United
itself with Atlantic and Pacific line of hand shall
then continue do all the the canal between the
Government enterprise? If why If such
prospect agreeable the investors shipping property they
their from destruction by their
by protesting against the first step the process Let
the Government keep its hands off commercial transportation