The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-12-06

During the last summer at my re-
quest the secretary Of war visited Tie
Philippine Islands and has described
Bis trip in his report He found the
islands M a state Of tranquility and
E growing prosperity. due largely 10 the
I change ia the tariff laws which has
opensl the markets Of America 20 the
products Of the Philippines and has
( opened the Philippine markets to
4 American manufactures
Panama Canal.
Z AT the Instance Of Colonel Goethals
the army engineer officer In charge of
the wcyk on the Panama canal, haye
{ Just made d visit to the isthmus 10 In
sPect tho work done and 20 consult
with him on the ground as to certain
problems which are likely TO arise IA
the near future. The progress of the
work il most satisfactory II 10 I'M
expected obstacle presents. itself the
canal win De completed well within the
time fixed by Coi0pel Goethals-to wit.
Jan l9i5-ana within the estimate
Of cost, s3T5.Do0000
Among questions arising for present
solution Il the decision whether the
canal shall be fortified ! have already
stated to the congress that ] strongly
favor fertilization. and / now reiteratc
this opinion and ask your consideration
Of the subject ii the light Of the report
already before you made by compe-
tent board.
If IN our discretion we believe mod
ern Notifications 20 be necessary to the
adequate protection and policing Of the
canal, then it is our duty to construct
them We have built the canal. 1t Is
our property. BY convention we have
indicated our desire for and indeed I'M
sleldaken its universal and equal use.
II is also we'll 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 Ia the position OF rights and OBJ
legations which we should be powerless
10 enforce and which could never In
any other way be absolutely safeguard
ed against 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 S40O, 100000 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 the United States from this ex
penditure are not to he measured solely
bv a return upon tho investment
NY own impression is that the tolls
ought not TO exceed 81 per net ton. On
Jan. ], 1911, the tolls in the Snez canal
are to be Z francs and Is centlmes for
one net ton BY Suez canal measure
ment. which Is modification Of
Danube measurement. A dollar ton
will secure under the figures above
gross annual Income from the Panama
canal Of nearly S7,OO000O- The cost
OF maintenance and operation is esti-
ulHtEn 10 EAAftu FD.'RbspNts
The next question that arises Is MS
to the maintenance, management and
general control Of the canal after its
completion. It should be promised
that it is an essential part Of our navy
establishment 70 have the coal, oil and
other 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 to under
take to furnish these conVenienees to
the navy. and they are eonYeniences
equally required by commercial yes
sells. there would seem to 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 a lock canal or
this enormous size ia sparsely popu
lated country and in the tropics, where
the danger from disease is always
present requires a large and complete
and well trained organization with
full police powers. exercising the ut-
most care
/ cannot close this reference to the
canal without suggesting as q wise
amendment to the interstate commerce
law provision prohibiting interstate
commerce railroads from owning or
controlling ships engaged in the trade I
tllroagb the Panama canal. | believe I
s1eh a provision may be needed TO
save 10 the people Of tile United States
the benefits of the competition in trade I
between the eastern and western sea 4
boards which this canal was construct 4
cd 10 secure
Department Of Justice.
/ am glad to say that under the ap I
preparations made for the department 4
of justice the attorney general has ~
improved It's organization that yast
amount Of litigation of civil and /
criminal character has been disposed 4
Of during the current year. This win
explain the necessity for slightly in