Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-02-03
AMERICAN SHIPS
MAY PASS FREE
Question Of Panama Canal Tolls
Deeply Interesting to Coast
Cities.
WOULD AMOUNT TO SUBSIDY
Frye Thanked by Revenue Cutter ON
eers-Demoerat Fear Party cau-
cus VIII Develop piseord-
Much Expectod From
.- - Frkee Win cansia.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES HAS OCAoiO
II a question which upon its face per-
haps may not seem Of great import
ant. but the answer to 1t, an answer
which must come in legislative form' !
is being awaited anxiously In every
coast city of the United States which
boasts an ocean trade.
The chairman of the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce has
had several conferences with Presi-
dent Taft on the subject OF the tolls
which are to be charged for allowing
ships to pass through the Panama
canal. The question, which Is OF
great interest to the American ship
ping cities, is whether the United
States government itself shall bear
the expense Of paying the tolls OF
vessels which fly the American flag.
In a way such paying of the tolls
by the government would amount to
ship subsidy, but 1t is held that
the vessel owners themselves can
make a return to the government by
agreeing to hold their ships in readi-
ness for Uncle Sans service in case
he ever becomes involved in trouble
with other nations of the world.
Arguments on Both Sides.
One ship subsidy bill, although 1t is
not SO called, is now before congress.
Possibly it may pass at the present
session, but there is strong opposition
to its enactment This bill provides
| .t.-,f-- 49, ~. r,o--a~rx,onf Shall nav
good sums for the transportation OF
its mail in American ships to South
American, Australian and Oriental
ports. If this bill becomes law. and
free passage also Is given to American
ships through the Panama waterway.
the argument is that the American
Gag once more viii be seen with some
frequency on the high seas.
There are plenty OF opponents to
both measures. 1t Is urged by those
who object to both forms of legisla-
ton that the course suggested is pa
ternalism' of kind which should not
be tolerated in a republic. There are
other opponents who say that ship
building trust viii be created and that
the United States win be put in the
position Of fostering another evil
which one day it win be obliged to
combat in the courts. Both matters
are full of public interest and in a
measure they are sectional matters.
for the inland districts are to con-
siderable extent opposed to legislation
for which the coast districts have
full heart.
Revenue Cutter Men ThaRk Frye.
Writing of shipping matters makes
conformable" little story about Sen
ator William P. Frye of Maine who
after the retirement of Senator Hale
In March, will be the dean Of the
senate of the United States. A day OF
two ago all the officers of the United
States revenue cutter service who are
stationed within comparatively easy
| journeying distance Of Washington
called In a body upon the senator te
extend to him their congratulationi
upon his long length OF service in the
! senate and, as they expressed 1t, Il
| show him that they were grateful fol
! what he had done on behalf Of th'
officers and men in the revenue CUTIE
line of duty.
I Senator Frye comes from a "sea-go
Z ing state" and when he first entere.
, congress he found that the revenh
, cutter service was IN e neglected
4 state, that its duties were not wei
| defined, that there was little prospec
of promotion for the officers and mel
| and that there was no retired list TO
: them as was the case in the army an
navy.
1 The senator's callers the other da,
!. told him that everything he had trfe
! to do for the good of the service ha
been DONE That discipline was goot
that the duties were defined. that tn
men of the service had an incentiv
to good work in the knowledge ths
|. In their old age they would be care
:or, and that appreciation of the d.
!. partment since its rehabilitation ha
J. been shown by the government on
: cials and by the country at large. Th
revenue cutter service today is
small navy department in itself.
might be said here that the acts {
heroism which are performed ever
year on the sea fall in large share
: the revenue cutter men.
Democrats Are Apprehensive.
Since congress came together aftt
: the holiday recess some quiet EXPIRE
sions of fear have come from mel
bers of the Democratic party In II
house lest, irreconcilable difference
may arise IN the party caucus whit
Is called for January 10. Thus Il
: the Democrats OF the house ha'
II maintained apparent absolute ha
: mony Of purpose, and the leade
today are trying to guard against d
:. cord In the caucus. but some concel
q Is expressed by the party membe
lest their efforts shall fail.
III Republicans OF the house would III
Is nothing better than to have the Del
sr ocrats disagree when they meet
- discuss the legislative program Al
v that matter OF prime importance. d
taking Of the committee-appointil