Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-12-06

canal, then 1t is our duty TO construct
them. We have built the canal 1t Is
our property. BY convention we have
indicated our desire for and indeed IN
dertaken its universal and equal use.
II is also well known that one OF the
chief objects In the construction OF the
canal has been TO increase the military
effectiveness OF our navy.
Failure to fortlfy the canal would
leave the attainment of both these
aims In the position Of rights and OBJ
legations which we should be powerless
to enforce and which could never In
any other way be absolutely safeguard
ed against a desperate and irresponsl-
bic enemy.
In determining what the tolls In the
canal should be we certainly ought not
to Insist that for good many years
to come they should amount to enough
TO pay the interest on the investment
of 500, 100000 which the United
States has made In the construction
of the canal. We ought not TO do this,
first. because the benefits to be derived
by the United States from this ex-
penditure are not TO be measured solely
by a return upon the investment.
My own impression is that the tolls
ought not to exceed 81 per net ton On
Jan. /, 1911, the tolls in the Suez canal
are TO be Z francs and % centimes for
one net ton by Suez canal measure
ment, which Is modification OF
Danube measurement. \ dollar ton
will secure under the figures above a
gross annual Income from the Panama
canal of nearly ST000o0O TIE cost
OF maintenance and operation b eSii
mated TO exceed S3.O00.0C0.
The next question that arises IS as
TO the maintenance. naaa@eiff,f 'h'
general control OF tlie c,iaal aiirr 80
completion II should iH' i'~'n''-''.'
that il Is an essential anri OF cur na''
establishment 10 haze The cJal. o'' go +
other ship supplies. az. go ';"'
fepalr shops convcIlienilt ~ - - ~ i''
reference 60 nasal ye,-,i . ~' ~
through III ,an.l NON i:fH'-r"''fn
ms.i FOR nlrai lnf.'tft, o. %" 81
take 10 furnish ii;r,r can'r.fr.l'f'' ."
the navy. and ,ar! are coiis"iieiir's'
equally required ly comnlrrriai rr'
sells. there would seem IL ie sir'iE
reasons why the goyernmrrI sa'lAi
take over and include IN Us El-.aa'.''
ment the furnishing not oG!y Ia ~
navy. but 10 the ruh!ir. dryGcs Z ai'''
repair shop facilities and tli" SALE g.
coal. oil and other ship supplies
The maintenance OF Il lock rHna' a.
this enormouS sizc In q SlHFs'''iy i","
lated country and IN The tropics "'i.i'
tho danger from diScasc Is 1l"'';s
nrcsant requires Iarcc end roAi '"lr
and wei trained oi~9mzaia'i' SGD
full poIire powers rV,r'i-'.~ 'i'" 81
most care
tnnGn' -Ins, ;l'- rTf . 80 'i'
canal wi;;.aui >wg.-tsiine - Vi;'
amcrdn.rn. 80 tie Interstate commerce
law l9r,. .na Prohibiting interstate
commerce ra:.loAG> from owning 81
copiroll,r. s,fps engaged in the i';'l'
tl,ronch iiir l'umlna canal lR'ii'vF
such provision may I've needcc IL
save TO the people Of the United STATES
the benefits Of !hc competition in trade
between the eastern and western *@H
boards which this canal was constr" :
ed to secure
Department of Justice.
am glad 10 say that under 'bc mp
propriations made for the dcpariae n
Of Justice The attorney general his 81
improved IFS organization that vaf'
amount OF litigation OF civil and
criminal character has been dispose
Of during the current year This VIII
explain the necessity for slightly IA
creasing the estimates for the TX
penses Of the department. Ills rcrcFi
shows the recOveries made on brhal'
of the government. Of duties fraudh
lently withheld, public lands impro.
erly patented. fines and penalties fo'
trespass, prosecutions and convictions
under the antitrust law and proseru
tons under interstate commerce law
I invite especial attention to The
prosecutions under the federal law OF
the so called bucket shops" and Of
those schemes TO defraud in which the
use of the mail Is an essential part
of the fraudulent conspiracy, proSecu
tons which have saved ignorant and
weak members of the public and are
saving them millions OF dollars.
The violations Of the antitrust law
present perhaps the most important
litigation before the department. anc
the number Of cases filed shows the
activity Of the government in enforc
ing that statute.
judicial Procedure.
One great crying need in the Unitet
States Is cheapening the cost Of litiga
ton by simplifying judicial procedure
and expediting final judgment Under
present conditions the poor man Is a
a woeful disadvantage in a legal con
test with a corporation or a rich op
ponent. The necessity for the reform
exists both In United States courts
and in all state courts. In order t
bring 1t about, however, it naturally
falls TO the general government by 1t:
example TO furnish a model to al
states. A legislative compassion ap
pointed by joint resolution of congress
to revise the procedure in the United
States courts has as yet made no re
port