Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-07

LlAt NlllAGu oldAoht OF 81 per cent OF the
1903.
Philippine imports for fiscal years 1908
1910 exclusive OF gold and silver and gov
eminent supplies):
United Other
1908 ......".s 5'079,4s7 S25,ssss7o Sso9iSs57
i iSS '''''.'.. dd%glMO 5$lO06 6 2592$95
Note-Latest monthly returns show im-
ports for the year ending August 1910,
from the United States S1l,6 S92, or 80 per
from the United States, or is per cent Of
the SSg4S,Oll total for the year ending Au-
gust 1902
Porto Rico.
The year has been one of prosperity and
progress in Porto Rico. Certain political
changes are embodied in the bill ITO pro-
vide a civil government for Porto Rico
and for other purposes" which passed the
house Of representatives on June Is. 1910
at the last session of congress, and is now
awaiting the action Of the senate.
The Importance OF those features Of this
bill relating to public health and santa
ton can not be overestimated.
The removal from politics of the ju-
dietary by providing for the appointment
of the municipal judges is excellent. and
l recommend that step further be taken
by providing therein for the appointment
of secretaries and marshals of these
courts
1 believe that the provision in the bill
for a partially elective senate, the number
of elective members being progressively
increased, is unwise and that the COM
position of the senate as provided in the
bill as introduced in the house far better
meets conditions existing in Porto Rico.
| This Is an important measure and rec
ommend it's early consideration and pas
sage.
Rivers ana HarbOrs.
I have already expressed my opinion TO
congress in respect to tile character Of the
river and harbor nills which should be en-
acted into law; and l have exercised as
much power as I have under the law in
directing the chief of engineers to make
his reports to congress conform to the
needs of the committee framing such a
bill in determining which of the proposed
improvements is the more important and
ought to be completed first and promptly.
Panama Canal.
At the instance of Colonel Goethals, the
army engineer officer in charge of the
work on the Panama canal, have just
| made a visit to the isthmus to inspect the
work done and to consult with him on tho
ground as to certain problems which are
likely to arise in the near future. The
progress of the work is most satisfactory
! II no unexpected obstacle presents itself.
the canal will be completed we'll within
the time fixed by Colonel Goethals, to-
wit, January 1, 1916. and within the esti-
mate OF cost, $S75,OOO,OOO.
Among questions arising for present so
luton is the decision whether the canal
| shall be fortified. / have already stated
TO the congress that / strongly favor forth
fication and / now reiterate this opinion
and ask your consideration Of the subject
in the light OF the report already before
you made by a competent board.
Canal Tolls.
Another question which arises for con-
sideration and possible legislation Is the
question OF tolls in the canal. This ques-
ton Is necessarily affected by the probable
tonnage which will go through the canal.
II is all a matter of estimate, but one OF
the government commission in 1900 investi-
gated the question and made report He
concluded that the total tonnage Of the
vessels employed in commerce that could
iuse the Isthmian canal n 1914 would amount
10 G.Sl9.sO5 tons net register and that this
traffic would increase 251 per cent per
decade; that II was not probable that all
commerce included IN the totals would at
once abandon the routes at present followed
and make use of the new canal, and that
IL might take some time, perhaps two
years. 10 readiost trade with reference to
the new conditions which the canal would
establish. lie did not include, moreover,
the TONNAGE OF war vessels, although II Is
10 be inferred that such vessels would
make considerable use Of the canal In
the matter Of tolls he reached the eonclu-
sion that dollar a net ton would not
drive business away from the canal but
that a higher rate would do so.
In determining what the tolls should be
We certainly ought not 20 insist that for a
good many years TO come they should
amount TO enough 10 pay the interest on
the investment OF S4O0O0oOOO which the
Limited states has made in the construction
Of the canal We ought not 20 do this,
nrst because the benefits to be derived
Inv the United states from this eXpendi-
t,ire As not 10 be measured solely by re-
turn upon the Investment. II IL were then
the construction might well have been left
10 private enterprise. II was because an
ADEQUATE return upon the money invested
could not be expected immediately or In
the near future, and because there were
peculiar advantages 70 be derived from the