Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-12-22


act expeditiously
am very confident that the United
States Las the power TO relieve from
the payment of tolls any part of our
shipping that congress deems wise.
We own the canal. 1t was our money
that built 1T. We have the right to
charge tolls for its use Those tolls
must be the same to every one. but
when we are desaing with our own
ships the practice of many govern
ments of subsidizing their own Iner-
chant vessels is so well esta blished in
general that subsidy equal to the
tolls, an equivalent remission of tolls
cannot be held to be 4 discrimination
| IN the use of the canal The practice
| in the Suez canal makes this clear
The experiment in tolls to be made by
the president would doubtless disclose
| how great a burden of tolls the coast
wise trade between the Atlantic and
the Pacific coast could bear without
preventing its usefulness in competi-
ton with the transcontinental rail-
roads. One fof the chief reasons for
building the canal was TO set up this
competition and 10 bring the two
shores closer together as a practical
trade problem.
The Philippine Islands.
In respect to the Philippines, l
urgently join In the recommendation
OF the secretary of war that the act
of Feb. 6, 1905, limiting the indebted
ness that may be incurred by the
Philippine government for the con-
struction of public works, be increased
from $5.OO0Ooo to $15,OOO,o 900. The
finances of that government are In ex-
celent condition. The maximum sum
mentioned is quite low as compared
with the amount of Indebtedness of
other governments with similar re-
sources, and the success which has at
tended the expenditure OF the $1,000
600 in the useful improvements of the
harbors and other places In the islands
Justifies and requires additional ex-
penditures for Ike purposes.
] also join in the recommendation
that the legislature of the Philippine
Islands be authorized to provide for
the naturalization Of Filipinos and 9TH
ers who by the present law are treated !
as aliens, SO as to enable them to be !
come citizens of the Philippine Islands. |
Pending an investigation by congress
at its last session through one of its
committees into the disposition of the |
friars' lands Secretary Dickinson IL |
rected that the friars' lands should !
Tot be sold in excess of the limits fix |
ed for the public lands until congress |
should pass upon the subject or should |
have concluded It's investigation. This /
order has been an obstruction to the |
disposition Of the lands, and l expect |
TO direct the secretary of war to re-
turn to the practice under the opinion
of the attorney general which viii en-
able US to dispose of the lands much
more promptly and to prepare sink
ing fund with which to meet the ST.
100000 of bonds issued for the pur-
chase of the lands.
Rivers and Harbors.
The estimates for the river and har-
Dor improvements reach $32,00o.000 for
the coming year. wish to urge that
whenever a project has been adopted
by congress as one to be completed the
more money which can be economical
~ expended in its construction in each
year the greater the ultimate economy.
This has especial application to the i'm
provement of the Mississippi river and
its large branches. 1t seems to me that |.
now being annually expended in the
Improvement Of the Ohio river which
has been formally adopted by congress
would be In the interest of the public
A similar change ought TO be made
during the present congress in the
amount TO be appropriated for the Mis-
souri, river. The engineers say that the
cost Of the improvement of the Mis-
rs D. |
Louis In order to secure six feet as q
permanent channel will reach $40, Ooo,-
coo. There have been at least three
from the chief of en-
gineers that If the improvement be
adopted 100000 should be expended
upon it annually. 1 urgently recon-
mend that the appropriation for this
be increased from $780,
600, as recommended now in the com
pletion Of a contract, to 100000 an 1
nually so that the work may be done
In ten years.
Waterway From the Lakes to the Gulf.
The project for a navigable water
way from Lake Michigan to the mouth
of the Illinois river and thence via the
to the gulf of Mexico is
Dne Of national Importance. In view
Of the work already accomplished by
the sanitary district of Chicago, an
agency OF the state of Illinois, which =
has constructed the most difficult and
costly stretch of this waterway and
made it an asset of the nation, and in
view of the fact that the people of I'LL I
nois have authorized the expenditure {
Of $20OOo,000 to carry this waterway :
sfxty-two miles farther to Utica, feel
that 1t is fitting that this work should
be supplemented by the government I
and that the expenditures recommend ]
ed by the special board of engineers I
IN the waterway from Utica to the I
mouth of the Illinois river be made {
upon lines which, while providing a 1
waterway for the nation, should other I
wise benefit that state to the fullest I
extent. 1 recommend that the term of 8
service of said special board of en-
yineerS be continued and that it be | I