New-York tribune., 1911-12-04
FOR FREE PANAMA CANAL
John Barrett So Urges on Behat
Of Pan American Union.

Washington. Dec 5-A plea for the frs
use by all nations Of the completed Panami
Canal is made BY John Barrett, directs
general Of the Pan-American Union, in {
statement 20 he published tomorrow in tn,
official bulletin of the Pan-Americsl
Union.
Mr.. Barrett has made a study Of the cans
situation in its relation to all the republic
in North and South America. He urges
that Congress make the canal free 70 al
commerce In care such a plan Is no
favored, he urges a minimum toll rate no
TO exceed 30 or IS cents net ton for for
egn trade and free passage for all Amert
can ships in coastwise trade. Mr.. Barrett
says:
A free canal, in addition TO increasing III
commerce OF the United States In ten year
TO fiftv times the cost of operation, main
tenance and interest. viii accomplish othe
results IL will absolutely destroy all posi-
bility. I'm any shape or manner, OF monop
oly i'm nteroceanic traffic IL will encoUr
age every ship owning, operating or char
tering company or individual In the wOrit
10 build, operate or charter vessels 10 u.s.
the canal II VIII keep rates between tn
two coasts of the United States AZ mint
mum and develop an immense traffic be
tween the Atlantic and Gulf ports and thos
OF California. oregon and Washington. I
VIII improve TO the largest degree tire r0Set
bilities Of trade between the United State
and the west or Pacific coast OF the twelV
Latin American countries reaching viii
vast potential resources for 5000 miles from
Mexico 70 Chilli. II will bring to the port
Of the United States and Latin America Yes
sells Of every flag, providing them witf
abundant shipping facilities and sddni
greatly n their prosperity. II will inaugU
rate = new commerce between the AtlantI,
and GUlf coasts OF the United States ant
The ports of Asia and Australia, whici
otherwise would use the Suez Canal or no
exist ~ all
II will encourage our sister republic. :,
, develop their merchant marine and max.
| them feel that the canal is for their good 3,
well that Of the United States n vii
be the only effective influence 70 take awsy
considerable proportion Of the traffic o,
/ the Suez Canal which ought 70 come n
/ Panama and of that trade which otherwis.
never WIZ take the Panama route in pref
erence 70 Suez. r. will settle immedately
the treaty Issues with foreign countries 2,
70 discrimination in tolls against them n
trade between the United states and for.
eign lands and still allow every adyantas.
I 70 American vessels in the Goa astwisA trad.
between the Atlantic and Pacific ports Of N,
United states. II will, in short mean IN,
difference AZ the very start between busy
canal doing great business, with conse.
quent profit 70 the industries OF the Unite,
States, and dull canal doing q small husi.
ness, with disa ppointment everywher, in
the United States that so little good IS he.
ing derived from a waterway costing 500.
100000
AS 10 the railways, the argument that A
free canal will seriously inture their bust.
ness is not we'll founded. II Is as illogical
as the contention of bygone DAYS that they
could not stand the competition OF the
rivers. the lakes and seals. The transconii.
mental railways. according 10 the prece-
dents OF economic evolution and the history
and tendency OF transportation conditions
and influences. should favor free canal In
stead OF opposing It. In ten years they viii
wonder why they were so unwise as 10 an
tagoniZe the canal and will rejoice AZ the
new prosperity and filing UP OF the country
which will result from the canal