The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-12-09
should be expedited as much as pose
Philippine islands.

Philippine lsIands.
1 During the last summer at my 70
quest the secretary Of war visited the
Philippine Islands and has described
his trip In his report. He found the
islands In state of tranquility and
growing prosperity, due largely to the
change in the tariff laws which has
opened tho 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 Goethals,
the army engineer officer In charge of
the work on the Panama canal, I have
| Just made a 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 Is most satisfactory. If no un-
expected obstacle presents itself the
canal will be completed well within the
time fixed by Colonel Goethals-to wit,
Jan. !, 1915-and within the estimate
or cost, $3I0,OOO,OOO.
Among questions arising for present
solution Is the decision whether the
canal shall be fortified. l have already
stated to the congress that l strongly
favor fertilization, 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 compe-
tent board.
II In our discretion we believe mod
ern Notifications to be necessary to the
adequate protection and policing of the
canal, then 1t 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
dertaken its universal and equal USE
1t Is 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 OBJ
legations which we should be powerless
to 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 a good many years
to come they should amount to enough
to pay the interest on the investment
Of $40O,000000 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 be measured solely
by a return upon the investment.
My own impression is that the tolls
ought not to exceed 81 per net ton. On
Jan. 1, 1911, the tolls in the Suez canal
are to be francs and % centimes for
one net ton by Suez canal measure
ment, which Is a modification Of
Danube measurement. A dollar a ton
will secure under the figures above a
gross annual income from the Panama
canal OF nearly 100000. The cost
of maintenance and operation is esti-
mated to exceed $3,000,000.
The next question that arises is as
to the maintenance, management and
general control of the canal after its
completion. 1t should be promised
that it is an essential part Of our navy
establishment to have the coal, oil and
other ship supplies, a drydock and
repair shops conveniently located with
reference to naval vessels passing
through the canal. Now, If the govern
ment for naval purposes is to under
take to furnish these conveniences to
the navy, and they are conveniences
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 lock canal or
this enormous size In sparsely popu-
lated country and in the tropics, where
the danger from disease is always
present, requires 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 wise
amendment to the interstate commerce
law a provision prohibiting Interstate
commerce railroads from owning or
controlling ships engaged in the trade
through the Panama canal. l believe
such 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.
Department Of Justice.
I am glad to say that under the APP
preparations made for the department
Of justice the attorney general has so
improved its organization that vast
amount of litigation Of a civil and
criminal character has been disposed
Of during the current year. This will
explain the necessity for slightly in
creasing the estimates for the ex-
penses of the department. His report
shows the recoveries made on behalf
of the government, of duties fraudu-
lently withheld. public lands improp-