The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-12-07

purlng the last summer Mt my re
guest the secretary OF war visited the
Philippine Islands and has described
his trip in his report He found the
Islands in u 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 Cocktails.
the army engineer officer in charge of
the work on the Panama canal, / have
Just made a visit to the lsthmus to In.
'pect 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. II no un.
expected obstacle presents Itself the
canal VIII be completed well within the
time fixed by Colonel Goethals-to Wit,
Jan. /, %19l5-and within the estimate
OF cost, S3I5.oOo.0oo.
Among questions arising for present
solution is the decision whether the
canal shall be fortified. | have already
stated to the congress that | strongly
favor fertilization. and 1now relte=.se
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 10 be necessary TO the
adequate protection and policing OF the
canal. then it is our duty 10 construct
them. We have built the canal. 1t is
our Property. By convention we have
Indicated our desire for and indeed I'm.
6ertakcn its universal and equal use.
1t 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 U 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 V In
any other way be absolutely safeguard
ed against q desperate and lrresponsi-
bic enemy.
In determining what the tolls in the
canal should be we certainly ought not
to insist that for n good many years
to come they should amount 10 enough
TO pay the interest on the Investment
Of s40o.ooo.o0o 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-
penGlture 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 on. On
Jan. l. 1911, the tolls in the Suez canal
r to be : francs and IS confines for
one net ton by Suez canal measure
ment. which is q modification OF
Danube measurement. A dollar u ton
viii secure under the figures above a
gross annual Income from the Panama
canal Of nearly S7.0O0.G00. The cost
Of maintenance and operation is esti-
mated to exceed 100000.
The next question that arises is as
to the maintenance. management ard
general control OF the canal after It's
completion. 1t should be promised
that 1t is III essential part OF our navy
establishment TO have the coal. oil and
other ship supplies. a drydock ana
repair shops conveniently located with
reference to naval vessels passing
through the canal. Now. II the govern
meEt 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 It's manage
maft the furnishing not only to the
navy. but 10 the public. drydock and
repair sl:op facilities and the sale of
coal. oil and other ship supplies.
The maintenance Of n lock canal Of
this enormous size In a 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 are.
l 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 or
controlling ships engaged in the trade
through the Panama canal. l 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.
Department of Justice.
l am glad to say that under the ap-
preparations made for the department
of justice the attorney general has so