The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-14
TAFT WILL SAIL FOR ISTHMUS OF PANAMA Trip Will Be Made on an Arm
 ored Cruiser VISIT WILL BE SHORT Colonel G0efhaIs Has Told the Presi- dent About the Problems Which Must Be Solved in Digging
 the Canal
VISIT WILL BE SHORT

Beverly. Mass, October 1S.-President Taft will sail for the Isthmus of Pan ana November 10 from Charleston, s. C. He will make the trip on the armored cruiser North Carolina and will be conveyed by the sister ship Montana. These are the same ves- sells used by MT. Taft in his Panama trip just before his inauguration. The President will be gone about 12 days. The North Carolina and Montana can make the journey in each direction in four days. This will give MT. Taft about four days on the isthmus.
 The President had practically given up all idea of visiting the canal this year until Col. George w. Goethals, chief engineer of the canal, spent two hours with him this afternoon. At the end of that time MT. Taft had been convinced that the problems confront ing the officials at Panama require hla presence on the isthmus. Although his visit will be a flying one the Presi- dent expects to be able to secure first hand information regarding a num- Der of problems with which he will call upon Congress to deal at it's next ses sion. Some of the problems to be dealt
  lows
 Future Problems
 "The extent and character of the for tifications; the fixing of tolls for the passage of vessels through the canal a proposed increase in wages; the fu- ture management of the Panama raii- road; the form of permanent govern ment for the canal zone and the regu- lation of the sale of coal at the ter minus points.
 The government may go into the business of selling coal itself in or der to prevent the possibility of ex- tortion or monopoly.
 MT. Taft had thought that several of these questions would not require set clement for year or more but Colonel Goethals put matters in a different light. The question of tolls which it was thought could wait until the canal is much nearer completion was ex- plained by Colonel Goethals to be one of the most pressing for Congress to meet. An International conference of shipowners and shipping interests is to be held in Berlin in the summer of 1911. It Is believed to be highly inn portant that Congress should have fixed the rates of toll by that time. The au- thorities believe that the influence that the canal will have upon shippin E should be felt and discussed at this conference. The canal must be made to attract shipping and at the same time an effort will be made to have the toll charges meet the interest on the $400,oO0,000 investment which the canal will represent.
 The date for opening the Panama canal has been set for January II, 1915. President Taft and Colonel Goethals believe that it will be completed and open long before that time.
 Early Opening Date
 The proposed early opening of the canal is already having an effect upon the shipping interests and especially in the Pacific. and inquiries are coming in as to the estimated rates of toll.
 President Taft was informed today that one line plying the Hawaiian trade will have 45 ships in commission by the time the canal is opened. This line now has It's freight transferred across Mexico by rail- If the rate of toll through the canal will make the cost of shipping less the company will use the waterway, oth- erwise it will continue its present method. The canal, first of all, 1t is declared, is a business proposition, and must be so treated. Colonel Goethals reported to the President today that the higher classes of workmen employed on the canal, the engineers and machinists in particular, are asking for an increase in pay in keep Ing with increases recently granted their fellow artisans In the United States. President Taft wants to look into the sit uation personally before acting.
 Sale of Coal on Isthmus
 The question of regulating the sale of coal on the isthmus is an interesting one. Colonel Goethals believes, 1t is said, that if private interests are allowed to build pockets, opportunity will be offered for extortion and monopoly in supplying the ships which may arrive in want of fuel.
 Mr Taft will go to Cincinnati to vote on November 8, and will proceed from Cincinnati to Charleston to take shir for Panama He may stop over in Wash ington a few hours on the way.
 No specific form of government having been prescribed for the canal zone, Pres ident Taft in his executive capacity is the supreme authority.
 AS such he was appealed to to go tc the isthmus The outlay of money and human effort Is so great that the Pres ident feels he cannot afford to neglect the canal if by a personal visit he can hell to solve the problems that have arisen. It will be for Congress to determine whether the canal zone shall have a mil itary or civil form of government. Int authorities on the isthmus at the presen I