Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-07

| ment. If II were tnen the cohs,fuc-
! ton might well have been leit 10 prl-
vate enterprise. 1t was because an
! adequate return upon the money in
vested could not be expected imme-
: diatelv. or in the near future, and be-
| cause there were peculiar political ad-
: vantages to be derived from the con-
struction of the canal that II necess-
I arily fell to the government to ad-
vance the money and perform the
work.
In addition to the benefit to our
naval strength the canal greatly in
creasee the trade facilities of the
United states II viii undoubtedly
cheaper the rates of transportation in
all freight between the Eastern and
western sea board, and II will greatly
increase that trade by reason OF the
reduction in IT'S cost. Then. II we are
to have 2 world canal, and if we are
anxious that the routes of the WORLDS
trade shall be through the Panama
canal, we must recognize that we have
en- active competitor in the Suez canal.
Then, too. there are other means of
crossing the Isthmus-by the Tehuan-
tepec railroad and by other railroads
and freight routes in Central America
to the Atlantic side.
In all these cases the question
whether the Panama canal is to be
! I
he determined mainly by the charge
fer its use. My own impression Is
that the tolls ought not to exceed 81
7 per net ton. on January l, 1911, the
, tolls in the Suez Canal are to be I
francs and 25 centimes for l net ton
by Suez canal measurement. which is
i | a modification Of Danube measure
ment. "A dollar ton will secure un-
der the figures above a gross income
| IDfav, af M ri
1000, 600. The cost of maintenance
and operation is estimated to exceed
$4,000, 900. Ultimately, of course.
: with the normal increase in trade, the
income will approximate the interest
, charges upon the Investment. On the
whole | should recommend that with
in certain limits the president be au-
thorized to fix the tolls of the canal
: and adjust them to what seems to be
commercial necessity, The inquiries
: already made Of the chief engineer of
the canal show thet the present con-
sideration of this question Is necess-
| airy in order that the commerce of the
E world may have time to adjust itself
= to the new conditions resulting from
the opening of this new highway
! The new question that arises is as tc
! the maintenance, management and
general control of the canal after its
, that II Is an essential part of our navy
| esta blishment to have the coal, oil
and other ship supplies, dry dock
and repair shops, conveniently located
with reference to naval vessels pass
: ing through the canal. Now, II the
!. government, for naval purpose, is to
y undertake to furnish these conveii-
!, | ences to the navy, and they are con
veniences equally required by ON
mercial vessels, these would seem to
/, be strong reasons why the govern
= ment should take over and include ir
T. its management the furnishing, not
~ only to the navy but TO the public
. dry-docks and repair-shop facilities
e and the sale of coal, oil and other
i ship supplies.
;, The maintenance of q lock canal O.
- this enormous size in sparsely popu
\, lated country and in th- tropics
where the danger from disease is al
| waNs present, requires a large and
- complete and well-traned Oh ganiz't.
L. ton with full police powers, eXercls'
q ing the utmost care. fine visitor =
" the canal who is impressed with thf
n wonderful freedom from tropica
" diseases on the Isthmus must not be
N misled as to the constant vigilance
20 that is needed to preserve this condi-
n ton The vast machinery OF the locks
~ the necessary amount of dredging
a the preservation Cf the banks of the
q canal from slides. the operation and
l. the maintenance of the equipment OF
Is the railway--will all require a force
l. not, Of course, to be likened in any
n way to the present organization for
n construction, but a skilled Nody of men
.e who can keep in state of useful
l. ness this great instrument cf com
70 merce Such an organization max es
o ii easy TO include within its functions
~ the furnishing OF dry-dock, fuel, re
pairs and supply facilities TO the trade
Il of the world. These will be more es-
II sential at the Isthmus of Panama
l. than they are at Port Said or Suez, be
e. cause there are no depots for coal
n supplies, and other commercial ne
n cessties within thousands Of miles OF
" the 1sthmus.
Is Another important reason why
ie these ancilarv duties may well be un-
dertaken by the government is the OPP
& portunity for discrimination between
n patrons Of the canal that is offered
e where private concessions are granted
/ for the furnishing of these Facilities
" Nc.hing would create greater prcJu-
lr dice against the canal than the suspi-
le cion that certain lines of traffic were
"a favored i'm the furnishing of supplies
or that the supplies were controliec
g by any large interest that might have
" !
= the use of the canal. II may be added
y that the termini are not ample enough
e to permit the fullest competition in
l. respect to the furnishings Of these fact
e tiles and necessities TO the world 6
J. trade even if il were wise to invite
II such competition and the granting OF
n the concession would necessarily, un-
n der these circumstances. take on the
IS appearance Of privilege or monopoly.
/ can not close this reference to
II the canal without suggesting as wise
ie amendment TO the interstate com
y merce law n provision prohibiting
: Interstate commerce railroads
n from owning or controlling
y ships engaged in the trade
'- through the Panama canal. | believe
Such q provision may be needed to
save to the people of the United
n states the benefits of the competition
H. in trade between the eastern and
e western seahoards which this canal
? was constructed to secure.
b DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
@ The duties of the department of
% Justice have been greatly increased by
q legislation of congress enacted in the
II interest Of the general welfare OF the
n people and extending its activities