The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-12-09
the Philippine islands and has

the Philippine islands and has de-
scribed his trip In the report He
found the islands In q state Of tran.
guilty and growing prosperity. due
largely TO the change in the tariff
laws, which has opened the markets
OF America to the products of the
Philippines, and has opened the Phil
lppine markets to American manu-
features.
- he year has been one of prosper
ity and progress in Porto Rico.
Panama Canal.
AT the ms .ance Oh Co.onel Goeth-
ais, the army engineer oLucer IN
charge OF the WORK on the Panama
cana. | have just made a visit to
the ls,hmus to inspect the work lone
and 10 consult with him on the
ground as TO certain problems when
are llke-y TO arise in the near tu-
ture. The progress OF the work is
most satisfactory. Ii no unexpected
oDs.ac-e presents itself, the canal
will be completed we'll within the
tlme nXed by Co.onel Cocktails, to-
wit, January l. 1915, and within the
estimate OF cost. SJ15, 10000.
Among quesuoAs arising for pres
ent solution is the declslon whether
the ANA shall be fortified. | have
already stated to the congress hat
| strong y favor tortifcauon and |
now rel,erate this opinion and ask
your consideration OF h subject in
I the ivht Mt tho rprnrI already hp~
tore o mad by a competent board.
Another question which arises for
consideration and possible legislation
is the question Of tolls in the canal.
This question is necessarily affected
by the probable tonnage which will
go through the canal.
In determining what the tolls
should be We certainly ought not to
insist that tor a good many years to
come they should amount to enough
to pay the interest O. the invest
ment of $400, 00O, 900 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
LIiS GA IA NV w w Y
ured solely by a return upon the in
vestment. If 1t were then the con
struction might well have been left
to private enterprise.
MY own impression is that the
tolls ought not to exceed 81 per net
ton. and | should recommend that
within certain limits the president be
ot,+hnrjynI To Nv tho tnilC nf tho canal
and adjust them to what seems to
be commercial necessity.
Il cannot close this reference to
the canal without suggesting as a
wise amendment to the interstate
commerce law a provision prohibiting
interstate railroads from
owning or controlling ships engaged
in the trade through the Panama
canal, ! believe such a provision
may be needed to save to the people
of the United States the Benefits of
the competition in trade between the
eastern and western ~seaboards which
this canal was constructed to secure.
Department of Justice.
Discussing the affairs of the de-
partment Of justice, the president
says:
Il 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,
prosecutions which have saved ig-
1,.x. orl r,oDl, -, ~ hnrc cf tho p,Ih-
lie and are saving them hundreds of
millions of dollars. The violations OF
the antitrust law present perhaps the
most important litigation before the
DEPARTMENT, and the number of cases
fled shows the activity of the govern
ment In enforcing that statute.
"In a special message last year l
brought to the attention of congress
the propriety and wisdom Of enacting
a general law providing for the in
corporation of Industrial and other
companies engaged in interstate COM
merce. and ! renew my recommen-
dation in that behalf"
The crying need IN the United
States of chearenirg the cost OF liti-
cation by simplifying judicial proceed
ure and expediting final judgment Is
pointed out and action looking to cor
rection Of these evils Is urged.
The president recommends an IN
crease in the salaries OF federal
judges.
Postal Savings Banks.
AT its last session congress made
D revision for the establishment Of
savings banks by the r%ostofice de-
nartment OF this government by which
under general control Of trustees, con
sisting of the postmaster general, the
secretary Of the treasury and the at
torney general, the system could be
begun in a few cities and towns, and
enlarged 10 cover within its opera
tons as many cities and towns and as
large a rart OF the country as seemed
wise. The initiation and establish