Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-12-08


1t is also well known that one OF the
chief objects I'm the construction of the
canal has been TO increase the military
effectiveness Of our navy.
Failure TO fortify 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 irresponsi.
BILE enemy.
In determining what tse 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 40O000.O00 which the United
States has made i'm 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 return upon the investment
1 My own impression is that the tolls
/ ought not to exceed 81 per net ton. On
( Jan. l, 1911, the tolls in the Suez canal
are to be francs and 2S centimes for
one net ton by Suez canal measure
ment, which is a modification Of
Danube measurement A dollar a ton
will secure under the figures above a
gross annual income from the Panama
canal of nearly $7OOO,OOO. The cost
of maintenance and operation is esti-
mated to exceed S3.0O0,0O0.
The next question that arises is as
to the maintenance, management and
general control of the canal after its
completion. 1t should be promised
that it Is an essential part Of our navy
establishment to have the coal, oil and
other ship supplies, a drydock and
repair shops conveniently located with
reference to naval vessels passing
through the canal Now, II the govern
ment for naval purposes Is to under
take to furnish these conveniences to
the navy, and they are conveniences
equally required by commercial YES
sells, there would seem to be strong
reasons why the government should
take over and include in it's manage
ment the furnishing not only to the
navy, but to the public, drydock and
repair shop facilities and the sale of
coal, oil and other ship supplies.
The maintenance of a lock canal OF
this enormous size In sparsely popu
lated country and in the tropics, where
the danger from disease is always
present. requires large and complete
and well trained organization with
full police powers, exercising the Ut
most care
| cannot close this reference TO the
canal without suggesting as a wise
amendment 10 the interstate commerce
law a provision prohibiting interstate
commerce railroads from owning or
controlling ships engaged in the trade
through the Panama canal. I 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 sea
boards which this canal was construct
ed to secure.
Department of Justice.
am glad to say that under the ap-
Of justice the attorney general has so
improved its organization that a vast
amount of litigation of a civil and
criminal character has been disposed
OF during the current year This will
explain the necessity for slightly in
creasing the estimates for the ex
penses of the department His report 4
shows the recoveries made on behalf
OF the government, of duties fraudu-
lently withheld, public lands improp |
erly patented, fines and penalties for |
trespass prosecutions and convictions !
under the antitrust law and prosecu
tions under interstate commerce law.
1 invite especial attention to the
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.
lions 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. and
the number Of cases filed shows the
activity of the government in enforc-
ng that statute.
Judicial Procedure.
One great crying need in the United
states is cheapening the cost of litiga-
in by simplifying judicial procedure
md expediting final judgment Under
present conditions the poor man is AT
| woeful disadvantage in a legal con
est with corporation or a rich op-
,onent The necessity for the reform
'xists both In United States courts
md in all state courts. In order %
,ring it about, however, it naturally
alls to the general government by its
to furnish model to all
tates. legislative commission ap
'ointed by Joint resolution of congress !
o revise the procedure in the United !
states courts has as yet made no re :