Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

the tonnage using the Panama canal, DR..
johnson calculates that 1t will be a con.
servative estimate to expect an increase
every decade OF 60 per cent. This will
bring the traffic of 1925 UP to 17,00O,0N
tons net register which, though a larg.
figure, will be considerably less than tho
expected traffic through the Suez canal
The Suez canal traffic in 1915 should be
100000 and in 1925 35.r"0ro tons.
In conclusion DR.. johnson takes UP thu
question of free passages for American
shipping and the prohibition of the use
! of the canal to vessels owned by rail.
road companies. He has this to say Of
these problems:
THE coat-wise steamship interests and
many persons who are unselhsh advocates
Of government aid to American shipping
are urging the United States to allow
American ships to use the Panama canal
without payment OF tolls. 1t Is recognized
| that the exemption Of our shipping en-.
gagged In the foreign trade from the pay
ment Of Panama tolls would be viola.
ton Of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. There
is a difference Of opinion as to whether
this and our treaties with other nations
than Great Britain make It possible to
exempt our coast-wtse shipping from the
payment Of Panama tolls.
SUBSIDY OF DOUBTFUL ADvIs-
ABILITY.
at is probable, however. that the
United States could pay to American
ships using the canal a subsidy equal to
the tolls collected for the use Of the
waterway. The wisdom Of this policy Is,
however, subject to serious question, Our
coast-wise trade is open only to American
ships. The Panama canal will greatly in
crease the demand for our vessels. and
will thus be Of great benefit to the ship
building and coast-wise shipping inter-
ests There Is need for government aid TO
our shipping engaged in the foreign trade,
but the exemption or remission OF Pana-
ma tolls on our shipping registered for
the foreign trade would be Of no appreci-
q BILE assistance. On the whole, It would
seem wiser for the United States to coll
lect the same tolls from all ships. Ameri-
can or foreign. and to adopt effective
measures for the promotion Of the Amert-
hecan ma ine.
1T Is feared by many people that Il
the railroad companies are permitted to
own or control vessels using the Panama
canal 1t will be difficult or Impossible for
steamship companies independent of rail-
road affiliation to engage in successful
competition with the lines under railroad
control. 1t Is apparent that the United
States must either prohibit the use OF
the canal by vessels under railroad con-
troll or must so regulate carriers using
the Panama canal az to prevent railroad
lines from monopollzlng or limiting the
boards. Probably regulation will be wiser
than limitation OF traffic
1T Is imperative that the United states
government should have full knowledge
Of the relation OF rail and water carriers.
The business should be carried on pub
lcly. and not secretly, Kali and wate
lines should he required to make physical
connection. and should be obliged to ex.
change traffic with each other without
unfair discrimination as between carrier
or SINNERS II will also be found wise
for the government to keep Informed re.
garding the relation of steamship lines
with each other in order TO prevent them
from combining TO restrict services or &c
raise rates 1t viii probably not be neces-
sary for the United States government
actually to regulate the rates Of steam
ship lines, but II Is. however. advisable
for the government to adopt without de-
lay the policy of requiring publicity In
water as we'll as Of carriers by rail.