East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-12-07

would prevent the necessity for the
discussion of new legislation and the
delays incident to It's consideration and
adoption. l earnestly urge the pas
sage of this volunteer bill.
1 further recommend that congress
establish a commission to determine,
early as practicable, a comprehensive
policy for the organization, mobiliza-
ton and administration of the regular
army, the organized militia and the
volunteer forces in the event of war.
/ have directed that the estimates
for appropriation for the improvement
of coast defenses in the United States
should be reduced to a minimum.
while those for the completion of the
needed Notifications at COrregidor in
the Philippines and at Pearl Harbor
IN the Hawaiian islands. should be ex-
pedited as much as possible. The Pa
cific naval base has been transferred
to Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian is
lnds.
This necesstates the heavy for
tifications of the harbor and the es-
tablishment of an important military
station near Honollu l urge that all
the estimates made by the war de-
partment for these purposes be ap-
proved by congressional appropria-
ton.
The president refers to the prosper
ity and growing trade of the Philip
pines and Porto Rico, especially rec
ommending the speedy enactment Of
1 gnt.
ment of the latter island.
Panama Canal.
At the instance of Colonel Goethals,
the army engineer officer in charge
of work on the Panama canal, l have
just made visit to the lsthmus to
inspect the work done and to consult
with him on the question of certain
problems which are likely to arise in
the near future. The progress of the
work is most satisfactory. If no un-
suspected obstacle presents itself, the
canal will be completed well within
the time fixed by congress, to-wit
January l. 1915, and within the esti-
mated cost of 1915, 100000.
Among questions arising for presen;
solution is the decision whether the
canal shall be fortified / have al
ready stated to the congress that ]
strongly favor fortification and l 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.
} If. in your discretion, we believe
! modern Notifications to be necessary
: to the adequate protection and polio
: ing of the canal, then it is our duty
J to construct them. We have built
the canal. 1t is our property. 1t il
also well known that one of the chief
objects in the construction of the ca
nal has been to increase the military
effectiveness of our navy. Failure tc
fortify the canal would leave us in
the possession of rights we would be
powerless to enforce.
In determining what the toll,
should be. we certainly ought not tC
insist that. for a good many years tC
come, they should amount to enough
to pay the interest on the Investment
of $400, 100000 which the United
States has made in the construction
of the canal. The benefit to be deriv
:
! is not to be measured so.ely by re
turn upon the investment.
, In addition to the benefit to our ma
val strength, the canal greatly in
creases the trade facilities of III,
United States. 1t will undoubtedl,
cheaper the rates of transportation
: in all freight between the eastern anC
western seaboard and it will great!
, increase that trade by reason of tn,
reduction in its costs.
In all these cases the question
! whether the Panama canal is to bt
used and its tonnage increased will
be determined mainly by the charg,
for its use. My own impression i.
that the tolls ought not to exceed s.
per net ton. on the whole, l shoulC
recommend that within certain linn.
its, the president be authorized to fl,
the tolls of the canal and to adjust
them TO what he believes to be com.
mercial necessity.
The president recommends that
owing to the Importance of the cana
to the United States navy, the govern.
ment should take over the furnish.
ing. not only to the navy but to the
public, of drydock and repair shor
facilities and the sale of coal, oil and
other ships supplies.
He adds:
I cannot close this reference to the
canal without suggesting as a wise
amendment to the interstate commerce
law a provision prohibiting interstate
commerce railroads from owning OIL
controlling ships engaged in the trade
through the Panama canal. I believe
; such a provision may be needed tc
save the people of the United State!
the benefits Of the competition 1,