Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-12-06

banks Of the cut the slide problem will
be practically solved and ar ample sta
bility assured for the Culebra cut.
Although the official date Of the open
Ing has been set for Jan. I, 1915. the
canal will In fact, from present indica-
orns % opsnsG for shipping during
the latter half Of 1913. No fixed date
can al yet be set, but shipping interests
will be advised as soon as assurances
can BIO given that vessels can pass
through without unnecessary delay.
Recognizing the administrative prob
lem In the management Of the canal,
congress In the act Of Aug. "a. 1912,
has made admirable provisions for ex-
ecutive responsibility In the control Of
the canal and the government Of the
canal zone. The problem Of most eff
Gent organization is receiving careful
consideration, SO that q scheme OF or
~ganization and control best adapted to
the conditions Of the canal may be
formulated and put In operation as e1-
peditiously as possible. Acting under
luc uut4OLlly NShlGIlCo VII AAV W NOA
gress I have by executive proclamation
promulgated the following schedule Of
tolls for ships passing through the ca
nal, based upon the thorough report Of
Emory R. johnson, special commission
or on traffic and tolls:
First. - On merchant vessels carrying
passengers or cargo, N.0 per net vessel
ton-each 100 cubic feet-of actual earning
capacity.
Second-On vessels in ballast without
passengers or cargo, 40 per cont less than
the rate OF tolls for vessels with passsn-
sers or cargo.
Third.-Upon naval vessels other than
transports, GOLFERS. hospital ships n
supply ships, 80 cents per displacement
ton.
Fourth.-Upon army and navy trans
ports. colliers, hospital ships and supply
ships. $40 per net ton. the vessels to be
measured by the same rules as are en-
ployed In determining the net tonnage of
merchant vessels.
Rules for the determination Of the
tonnage upon which toll charges are
based are now in course of prepara-
ton and will be promulgated In due
season.
F0n&md lanai IVc0tys
The proclamation which I have is
sued in respect to the Panama canal
tolls is In accord with the Panama ca
nal act passed by this congress Aug.
"a, 1912. We have been advised that
the British government has prepared
a protest against the act and its en-
torcement in so far as it relieves from
the payment Of tolls American ships
engaged In the American coastwise
trade on the ground that 1t violates
British rights under the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty concerning the Panama ca
nal. When the protest Is presented 1t
will be promptly considered and an ef-
fort made to reach a satisfactory ad-
justment OF any differences there may
be between the two governments.
Promotion For Colonel Goethals.
AS the completion Of the canal grows
nearer and as the wonderful executive
work Of Colonel GOethals becomes
more conspicuous in the eyes OF the
country and Of the world it seems to
me wise and proper to make prov1-
sion by law for such reward to him az
may be commensurate with the serv-
ice that he has rendered to his coun-
try. l suggest that this reward take
the form Of an appointment OF Colo
mel Goethals as a major general In the
army Of the United States and that the
law authorizing such appointment be
accompanied with a provision per
hitting his designation as chief OF en-
gtneers upon the retirement OF the
nresent incumbent of that Office.
Navy Department.
The navy Of the United States Is In
a greater state Of efficiency and II
more powerful than 1t has ever been
before. but in the emulation which ex-