The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-07
Taft Opposes Disturbing Business by Tariff Tinkering;

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vide a ciyil government for Porto Rico
and for other purposes" which passed the
at the last session OF Congress. and is now
nw Tha the action Of the senate,
GARY by providing for the appointment OF
tho municipal judges is excellent. and j
bbs y tina, q step further be taken
OF secretaries and marshals or these
courts. go
! belieye that the provision in the BIZ
or elective members being progressively
Increased, is unwise, and that the com.
b b9s OF the Senate as provided In the
ter meets conditions existing In Porto Rico
This is an important measure and / recon-.
tnend Its early Consideration and passage.
Rivers and 1Inrbofs.
l have already expressed my opinion> IN.
Congress IN respect 10 the character OF Tho
enacted into law. and l have exercised
as much power as I have undcr the law
= d'reGtins the chief OF engineers to mako
needs OF tho mi framing such n iii
IN which OF the proposed i'm.
proyotnents Is the more important and
~. u.s. ana prompt
Panama Canal.
AT the Instance OF Colonel Gocthals. I'M
army engineer officer in charge Of the work
vlsit 10 the Isthmus to inspcc, tho WORK
done and to consult with him on the ground
as to certain problems which arc likely 10
arise In the near future. The progress, Of
the work Is most satisfactory. II no I'm.
expected obstacle presents Itself. the canal
VII pc completed wen within the time
nxed by Colonel Gocthais. TO wit. January
l. lslb. and within the estimate Of sosi
$50, coo.0co. " sst
Among questions arising for present ,olu.
s o is me decision whether the canal shat
ne fortihcd. l have already stated to TN
Congress that I strongly favor fortiaeation
and i nov %reitorate this opinion and s.t
your consideration of the subject in the
light of tho report already before Won mad
by a competent board.
~ In our discretion. We believe modern
notifications 10 be necessary TO the AIDE.
then 1t Is our duty 10 construct them W.
ave built the canal. II liz our property
5y convention we have indicated our de.
sire for. and. indeed, undertaken n. m
yersal and equal use. It is also vel, tnnnn
that ono OF the chief objects in tho con.
stfuetion or tht cana! has been to lnrrca,s
psai m,r.,s ~ ensetiyene's Of our navy.
the attainment OF both these aims IN In.
position oil rights and obligations which We
e en,id ps pqwerle's TO enforce. and which
soula never In any other way he absoIutoay
satesuardcd against a desperate ana IRE
sponsibI. enemy.
another question which arises for con.
sideratlon and possible legislation 4. ,bo
question OF tolls In tho canal. ThI. o,,cs.
tion Is necessarily affected by the probabIo
'ohhage which viii 20 through the canal.
IN determining what the tolls should be
we certainly ought not to insist that FOR =
good many years TO come they should
amount 10 enough TO pay the interest Oh
tho Investment OF sioo.cco.0o. which the
United States has made In the cons,rue-
ton Of the canal. We ought not TO do
this. nrst. because the bcnaft TO be dc.
rived by the United states from this cx-
pcndtturo il not to be measured soieiy by
a return upon the investment. II 1t were,
then the construction might we'll have been
lett 10 private enterprise. 1t was because
an adequate return upon the money in
vested could not be EXPECTED immediately.
or In the near future. and because there
were peculiar political advHnta gees Ia be de-
rived from the construction OF the canal.
to advance the money and perform the
work.
In addition to the benefit TO our naval
strength. the canal greatly increases the
trade facilities OF the unltea states. 1t wifi
undoubtedly cheaper the rates OF transpof-
tation in all freight between the Eastern
increase that trade hy reason of the reduc-
ton In Its cost. Then, 10 we are to have a
world canal, and. II We are anxious that the
routes OF the worlds trade shall. he
through the Panama Canal, vs. must recog-
nize that we have an active competitor in
the suez Canal. Then. too. there arc other
IlsdHs Oh NEosS.HB lee tStbTlus-Dy F.. inc
Tehuantepec Railroad and by other rail-.
roads and freight routes in Central Amer.
lea. to the Atlantic side
In all these cases the question whether
the Panama Cana is 10 be used. and Its
tonnage increased, VIII be determined
mainly by the charge for its use. Ny own
Impression is that the tolls ought not 10
exceed 81 per net ton.
The next question that arises is as to
the maintenance. management and general
control OF the canal after Its completion.
II should be promised that IL is an ex-~
sentiai part of our navy establishment TO
have the coal. oil and other ship sup
plies. a dry.doek. and repair shops, con-
vessels passing through the canal. Now, II
the government. for naval purposes, is 10
undertake to furnish those convenience.
to the navy, and they are conveniences
equally required by commercial vessels. there
would seem to be strong reasons why The
government should take over and include
in its management the furnishing. not only
and repalr-shop facilities. and the sale OF
coal. oil and other ship supplies.
Another important reason why these
the government is the opportunity for dis
elimination between patrons of the canal
that is offered where private concessions
are granted i9r the furnishing of the.e
prejudice against the canal than the sus-
ptcion that certain lines of traffic were
favored in the furnishing OF supplies or
ENN - hChS GOultOl1cQr by ally -
large interest that might have a motive
for increasing the cost of the use OF the
canal. 1t may be added that the tern,ini
are not ample enough to permit the flli,es.
competition In respect TO the furnishing OF
these facilities and necessities TO the
worlds trade. even if 1t were wise to in
yite such competition, and the granting Of
the concession would necessarily, under
these circumstances take on the appear.
ance OF privilege or monopoly.
| cannot close this reference to the canal
without suggesting as a wise amendment
10 the interstate commerce law a provi-
sion prohibiting Interstate rail-
roads from owning or controlling ships en-.
gagged In the trade through the Panama
Canal. believe such I provision may be
needed to save to tho people OF the United
states the benefits of tho competition In
trade between the Eastern and Western
seapoards which this canal was constructed
to secure.
DEPARTMENT Of Justice.
The duties Of the Department OF Justice
have been greatly increased by legisla-
ton OF Congress enacted in the interest of
the general welfare of the people and ex-
tending its activities into avenues plain,y
within its constitutional Jurisdiction, hut
which 1t has not been thought wise or nece.
essary for the general government hereto
fore to occupy.
l am glad to say that under the appro.
nriations made for the department., the