The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-13
Secretary to Be Asked Why
Panama Ship Interests
Are StiHed.
RAILWAYS OPPOSE
WATER ROUTE PLAN
Senate May Relieve Shippers From
Alleged Monopoly of Trans
continental Roads.

The prolonged fight Of the trnscon-
unental railroads, controlled by The
Hartman and HiIl interests, To prevent
competition in the movement Of freight
between the two coasts. by steamship
lines operating TO Panama or one side
and TO Colon on the other, is coming TO
a head before Congress
The Senate Committee on InterOceanic
Canals promises TO probe the situation
70 the bottom and 10 determine why ali
such steamship enterprises have been
stifed by the Government itself
To this end, the committee viii next
week call before II Secretary Of War
Dickinson. who is the official head Of
the COvernment-0wned Panama rail-
road. The Secretary viii be asked why
he has opposed all movements tending
TO break the grasp OF the rail lines on
the East and West tonnage and why
the Government should not operate the
Panama raiIroaC 10 promote the com
merciaI interests of the country IN adj
dItion to its use in the construction Of
the canal
Taft Approves Plan
These questions viii he asked on ac-
count Of the testimony given before the
committee by 3. y Baker, Of Baltimore,
TO the effect that after former President
Roosevelt, former Secretary OF Var
Is right and President Taft himself had
approved of the plan 10 develop this
water route as a competitor TO the rail
lines. Secretary Dickinson declined 70
entertain the proposition and by his op-
POSITION forced the promoters 10 aBan-
don their scheme
relief Of the shippers from the praCEl-stl
MONOPOLY Of the tTanScOuJlnentdl ROADS
was detailed by 1IT- Baker before ne
committee. He showed that an oIiel
was made 90 take over the pTeNelil
Panama Steamship Company. d gov
eminent property 10 replace us anu
ouzteG ships with handsome steamers
OF modern TYPE 10 pe ll' - o'. -. - y.
connect with the Panama railroad Tor
transfer Of freight across the IStnmuS
pending the comp Teton o. lae canal
ON the Pacific coast a feet of steam
erS similar TO those on the east coast
would operate between Seattle San
Francisco, san Diego and proHaplS
Portland on the north and Panama
City in the Canal zone
50 far advanced became the plans
that M Baker made two trips TO the
Pacific coast and one to Panama LpI
the purpose o. cousummatinE details
Negotiations Ended.
All went Wen until lIr. Dickinson,
former counsel for a Hartman rail-
road, came into the Cabinet Then
according TO the testimony before the
committee. negotiations with the Gov
eminent were Immediately broken OF
Ivy the receipt OF a letter from lht
Secretary M Mr. Baker. saying tna'
the War Department did not feel justl-
fed IN proceeding further with JHf
matter. as the question was one foI
Congress 70 act upon
In the meanwhile the HaTriman-oWneC
Pacific Mail Steamship Company, theT
OueTaTi1E a few steamers between the
west coast and Panama, threatened %
discontinue its service altogether Un'
less the division of freight charges 10y
the Pacific Mail and the Panama rail-
road was readiuStCd. giving the steamer
line the larger proportion This fright
eTed the shippers on the west coast
who We're selling supplies for canal
construction and they brought pres
sure TO heag upon the War Department
To accede TO the demands CT the HaV-
rirrau people The demands were met
and the service maintained