The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-14
TAFTs MESSAGE.
tcontinued from page Ed

opened the markets of America to the
products OF the Philippines and has
opened the Philippine markets to
American manufactures.
Pannna Canal.
At the inste:ice OF Colonel Goethals,
the army engineer officer In charge OF
the work OF the Panama canal, Z have
Just made a visit to the isthmus to In.
spect the work done and to consult
With hlm on the ground as To certain
problems which are likely to arise IN
the near future. The progress Of the
work Ii most satisfactory III no un.
expected obstacle presents itself the
canal VIII be completed well within the
timo fixed by Colonel Goethals-to wit.
Jan 4, 1915-and within the estimate
Of cost. s3T5.0OoO00.
Among questions arising for present
solution Is the decision whether the
canal shall be fortified. have already
stated to the congress that I strongly
favor fertilization. and I now reiterate
this opinion and ask your consideration
OF the subject in the light OF the report
already before you made by n compe.
tent board.
III In our discretion we believe mod.
ern fortincations to be necessary to the
adequate protection and policing of The
canal. then II Is our duty TO construct
them. We have built the canal. II Is
our property. BY convention we have
Indicated our desire for ano indeed un.
dertaken It's universal ana equal use
ft h also well known that one OF the
chief objects IN 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
60 enforce and which could never In
any other way be absolutely safeguard
ed against a desperate and irresponsl.
BILE enemy.
In determining what the tolls In the
canal should be we certainly ought not
TO Insist that for a good many years
20 come they shon.a amount to enough
OF $4O0.0O0.0O0 which the United
States has made In the construction
of the canal. We ought not to do this,
nrst. because the BENEFITS to be derived
BY the United States from this ex-
pendirure are not TO be measured solely
by return upon the investment.
ally own impression Is that the tolls
ought not to exceed 81 per net ton. On
Jan. I. 1911. the tolls In the Suez canal
are tn be francs and % centimes for
one net tou by suez canal measure
ment which Is modification Of
Danube measurement. A dollar ton
will secure under the figures above a
gross annual income from the Panama
canal OF nearly $7.0OO.000. The cost
OF maintenance and operation is estl.
mated to exceed S3.0O0.O00.
The next question that arises Is as
TO the maintenance. management and
general control Of the canal after Its
completion IL should be promised
thar IL Is an essential part OF our navy
establishment to have the coal. oil and
Aher ship supplies, drydock and
repair shops conveniently located with
reference to naval vessels passing
through the canal Now. IL the govern
ment for naval purposes Is 20 under
take 10 furnish these conveniences to
the navy. and they are conveniences
equally required by commercial YES
sels. there would seem 10 be strong
reasons why the government should
take over and include In its 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 lock canal OF
this enormous size I'm 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.
I cannot close this reference TO the
canal without suggesting as wise
amendment TO the interstate commerce
inw a provision prohibiting interstate
eommcr,e railroads from owning or
controlling ships engaged I'm the trade
through the Panama canal I believe
such provision may be needed 10
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 10 say ihat under the ap-
preparations made for the department
OF justice the attorney general has so
improved its organization that a vast
amount Of litigation OF civil and
criminal character has been disposed
OF during the current year This will
explains the necessity for slightly In.
creasing the estimates for the OK
penses OF the department. His report
shows the rpcoVerie4 modo nm bohoIP