The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-12-01
Mr. M0ran'S Solution
Of Panama Problem

10 the editor: The principal sea-
port cities of the Pacific coast have
elaborate plans in progress to provide
adequate shipping facilities for the
increased commerce expected to re-
suit from the completion of the
Panama canal. two years hence. To
my mind. dock and warehouse
facilities. while very necessary, are
not the most important problems
that confront the business interests
Of this coast.
A short time ago, B. N. Baker,
representing the Atlantic & Pacific
transportation Company, visited
Seattle. seeking subscriptions to the
capital of his $15, ,OOe 900 company.
which proposed to build and operate
sixteen-knot passenger and freight
ships between New York and other
coastwise cities Of the Atlantic coast
through the Panama canal, calling
at San Diego. San Francisco and Sc
attic.
Subscriptions were to be made
conditional on the company securing
a ten-year mail contract from the
United States government. If we
are to believe the statement Of Mr..
Baker to the President q few days ago
which was to the effect that his
efforts to finance an independent
American steamship company for
operation n connection with the
Panama canal had been blocked SO
effectually by the money trust"
that shipbuilding companies had
been prevented from offering bids,
then it wonld seem that other
things besides building docks and
warehouses will be necessary, if we
of the Pacific coast are to reap the
full benefit that may come from the
canal.
One thing is quite certain. if the
money interests. which are, Nf
course, also the railroad interests,
decide that such company as Mr..
Baker proposes shall not be success
full. no great American ship-operat-
ing company free from transconti-
mental railroad dictation will ever
materialize.
We of the Pacific coast all know
of the complete control which has
always been exercised by Pacific
railways over water transportation
to the Pacific coast by the Panama
and Tehuantepec routes, and if the
railways and their allied interests
are to have their way. that control
will not cease upon the completion
of the Panama canal, unless there
are some changes made in the navi-
cation laws of this country.
The present laws prohibit a for
eign ship from entering more than
one American port after clearing
from foreign country; that is to say,
a foreign ship cannot cast from
port to port in this country, neither
can foreign ship load cargo at one.
United States port and discharge
such cargo in another port of this
country, SO that our laws will
effectually prevent foreign ships
engaging in the Panama trade be-
tween ports of the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts. The only two large
American steamship companies now
existing are the International Mer-
camille Marine, Morgan's pet baby,
and the American Hawaiian Steam
ship Company. They are both un-
der the domination of the railway
interests, SO that. with tho financial
and railroad interests against the
American teamship. and our laws
against the foreign ship, how are we
to get relief that will give us the
full benefit of the completion Of this
great artificial waterway! Some
have proposed that the gov ernment
operate q steamship line from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. To my
mind, that would be bad prece-
dent for this government to estab-
lish. It would not be business; it
would be paternalism. and / do not
believe the people Of the United
States want that yet. There is .
much more direct and businesslike
way to do it.
First Congress should repeal all
laws that will prevent q foreign
built ship, whether owned and op-
Grated by foreignres or Americans,
from loading cargos or passengers
at Atlantic coast points destined for
delivery at American ports on the
Pacific, or from entering and dis
char ging such freight or passengers
ut American ports on the Pacific.
Second Give free passage
through the canal to all such vssellt
carrying American commerce.