The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-20
Senate May Settle Questions
When Ocean Mail Bill
Comes Up.
NECESSITATED BY
OPENING OF CANAL
Congress Realizing That Many
Problems Are TO Be
Solved.

When the ship subsidy question is
raised in the Senate after the holt
days. as il VIII be by the efforts OF
Senator GaIl1nEeT 10 get his ocean
mail bin passed, the indications are
there viii be a general stirring up Of
the question Of Overhauling Ameri-
can navigation laws. with a view not
alone TO strengthening the merchant
marine, but also Of getting ready for
the opening OF the Panama canal
Congress is beginning to realize that
II Is getting rather close up toward
the opening OF the canal. and that
there ere many questions TO be solved
If the canal IS going to be made use
full 70 American commerce.
President Taft pointed out in his
message that the tolls for the canal
ought to be fixed. He urged an
amendment TO the interstate com
merce law prohibiting interstate COM
n1erce railroads from owning or con-
trolling ships engaged in the trade
through the Panama canal But there
are numerous other phases Of naviga-
ton Of the canal 10 be disposed Of
Many believe that Il the canal is to
be made efficient for the building up
Of American commerce, a Government
Z
between the Pacific and the Atlantic
coast Others think that IL viii be
necessary to discriminate IN favor Of
American ships BY allowing them a
refund OF the canal tolls
Under Present Law.
Under the present law, it viii be
impossible for foreign ships to par
tioipate in the business OF Shipping
goods through the canal from New
York 70 San Francisco. and other
points on the Pacific coast Of the
United States; that is. II the ship
ments are made as through business
and there IS no rebilliug. The uavf-
gadoq laws as 10 cOastwise shipping
would have TO be amended
Many take the view that the canal
will be OF little value TO this country
unless the laws are relaxed enough so
mat there VIII be plenty OF vessels
IN the trade, and that this cannot Be
brought about without putting on a
Government deet Of boats or opening
the business TO the tramp steamers
Unless there are rigid restrictions
u Is the belief OF many far-seei1z
OFFICIALS and members Of Congress
Inat the uansconGnental railroads
VIII put the canal out OF business so
Tar as the handling OF American goods
between the east and west coasts of
the country is concerned.
Best Results.
This whole question Of getting the
best results for American commerce
out OF the canal is intimately related
to the ship subsidy question for the
reason that the navigation laws have
10 e considered in connection with
each. and when development OF South
American commerce BY this country Is
considered the question OF the eject
OF the canal. and the possibilities of
n -
count And those who believe what
are frequently denounced as our san
uquateo navigation laws" are at the
bottom Of the decay OF the Amerfcan
merchant marine. are the more 2nx-
ious to see these laws revised in an
efTort TO build ND the merchant ma
rfne- because they think that If there
Is proper legislation the canal can he
made OF large beneht to United
States commerce
Many members Of Congress think no
subsidies would be necessary If YES
sells built anywhere were admitted 70
registry under the American flag. and
II American ships were allowed to OBJ
tain their crews from anywhere in
stead OF being compelled to have
mem allan erican- Those holding
this view generally think no subsidy
is needful
Tolls and Regulations.
The question OF canal tolls and the
regulations 70 be imposed on vessels
using the canal viii be considered by
the Committee on Interoceanic Canals
Of which Senator Flint is chairman
senator Flint has got the canal gov
eminent bill rec0mmitted to his com
ra1ttee with this in mind he viii
nave hearings upon the question OF
canal tolls, and on the whole subject
or canal regulations and IegfslaTfon,
made necessary BY the Opening OF me
canal to commerce.
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