The Ordway new era., 1910-12-09

scribed his trip In tho report He
found the islands In . state OF tran
luillity and growing prosperity. due
largely to the change In the tar1n
laws. which has opened the markets
Of America to the products OF the
Philippines. and has opened the Phil
ippine markets to American manu-.
factures.
THE year has been one Of prosper
ity and progress in Porto Rico.
Panama Canal.
AT the instance Of Colonel Goeth.
ais. tho army engineer oficer In
charge Of the work on the Panama
canal. have Just made Q visit to
the Isthmus to inspect the work done
and to consult with him on the
ground as to certain problems which
are likely to arise In the near fu-
ture. The progress Of the work 10
most satisfactory. II no unexpected
obstacle presents itself. the canal
will be completed we'll within the
time nxed by Colonel Goethals. to-
wit. January l. 1915. and within the
estimate of cost. 100000.
Among questions arising for pres.
ent solution 10 the decision whether
tho canal shall be fortified. have
already stated to the congress that
strongly favor fertilization and !
now reiterate this opinion and ask
your consideration Of the subject In
tho light Of the report already be-
fore you made by a competent board.
Another question which arises for
consideration and possible legislation
10 the question of tolls In the canal.
This question Ia necessarily affected
by the probable tonnage which will
60 through the canal.
I'm determining what tho tolls
should be we certainly ought not to
insist that for a good many years to
come they should amount to enough
to pay the interest on the invest
ment 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 expenditure is not to be meas
ured solely by q return upon the In
vestment. II 1t were then the con.
struction might we'll have been LEFT
to private enterprise.
my own impression Ia that the
tolls ought not to exceed 81 per net
ton, and should recommend that
within certain limits the president be
authorized to fix the tolls OF tho canal
and adjust them to what seems to
be commercial necessity.
II cannot close this reference to
the canal without suggesting a 2
wise amendment to the interstate
commerce law a provision prohibiting
interstate commerce railroads from
owning or controlling ships engaged
In the trade through tho Panama
canal believe such a proVision;
may be needed to save to the peopls
of the United States the benefits %
the competition In trade between ths
eastern and western seaboards which
this canal was constructed to-. secure y
Department q; ;lu:tied.
Discussing the affairs Of the de;
partment OF Justice. tho president
says:
II invite especial attention to the
prosecutions under the federal law
Of those schemes to defraud In which
the use Of the mail Is an essential
part of the fraudulent conspiracy.
prosecutions which have saved is-
norant and weak members Of the pub
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
filed shows the activity Of the govern
ment in enforcing that statute.
In a special message last year
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 l renew my recommen-
dation in that behalf"
The crying need In the United
States OF cheapening 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
revision for the establishment of
savings banks by the postofiice de,
partment of this government by which
under general control of trustees. con
sistinE 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 to cover within its opera
tions as many cities and towns and as
large a part Of the country as seemed
wise. The initiation and establish
ment of such a system has required
great deal of study on the part of