Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-12-07

Philippine lsisnda
During the last summer at my re
quest the secretary Of war visited the
Philippine Islands and has described
his trip In his report He found the
islands In q state Of tranquility and
growing prosperity. due largely to the
change In the tariff laws which has
opened the markets Of America to the
products OF the Philippines and has
opened the Philippine markets to
American manufactures.
Panama Canal.
At the instance Of Colonel Coethais,
the army engineer oficer In charge Of
the work on the Panama canal. I have
just made q visit to the isthmus to In
spect the work done and to consult
with him on the ground as to certain
problems which are likely to arise In
the near future The progress Of the
work b most satisfactory. II no I'M
expected obstacle presents itself the
canal win be completed well within the
time fxed by Colonel Goethais--to wit.
Jan. !, 1915-and within the estimate
Of cost, $375.0o0.0Oo
Among questions arising for present
solution II the decision whether the
canal shall be fortified. have already
stated to the congress that I strongly
favor fertilization. and now rciterate
this opinion and ask your consideration
Of the subject In the light Of the report
already before you made by q compe-
tent board
n In our discretion we believe mod
ern Notifications to be necessary to the
adequate protection and policing Of the
canal. then II IL our duty TO construct
them. We have built the canal II b
our property. BY convention we have
indicated our desire for and indeed un-
dertaken its universal and equal use.
II IL 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 oh
legations which we should be poweriess
to enforce and which could never In
any other way be absolutely safeguard
ed aGninst q desperate and irresponsi-
BILE enemy.
In determining what the tolls In the
canal should be we certainly ought not
to insist that for good many years
to come they should amount to enough
to pay the interest on the investment
Of $40O, 00o. 600 which the United
States has made In the construction
Of the canal We ought not to do this.
first, because the benefits to be derived
by tie United States from this en-
pendlture are not to be measured solely
by a return upon the investment
My own impression 10 that the tolls
ought not to exceed 81 per net ton. On
Jan I, 1911, the tolls In the Suex canal
are to be = francs and . cendmes for
one net ton BY Suez canal measure
ment. which 10 q modification Of
Danube measurement. A dollar ton
will secure under the figures above a
gross annual income from the Panama
canal OF nearly 100000. The cost
Of maintenance and operation 10 esti-
mated to exceed 100000
The next question that arises II rs
to the maintenance. management and
general control Of the canal after Its
completion. II should be promised
that It 10 an essential part Of our navy
establishment to have the coal. oil and
other ship snppiies. . drydock and
repair shops conveniently located with
reference TO naval vessels passing
through the canal Now. II the govern
ment for naval purposes b to under
take to furnish these conveniences to
the navy. and they are eonveniences
equally required By commercial YES
sels. there would seem TO be strong
reasons why the government should
take orer and include In its manage
ment the furnishing not only to the
navy, but to the pubic. drydock and
repair shop facilities and the sale OF
coal oil and other ship supplies.
The maintenance Of = lock canal OF
this enormous size In . sparsely popu-
lated, country and In the tropics. where
the danger from disease IL always
present. requires a large and complete
and well trained organization with
full police powers. exercising the ut.
most care.
I cannot csose this reference to the
canal without suggesting as q wise
amendment 10 the interstate commerce
law a provision prohibiting Interstate
commerce railroads from owning or
controlling ships engaged in the trade
through the Panama canal believe
such a provision may be needed to
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
oepartasrt Of Justice.
I am glad to say that 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