Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-12-11

been finally adjusted and the growth or
vegetation will minimize erosion in the
banks of the cut, the slide problem wiz
be practically solved and an ample sta
bility assured for the Culebra Cut.
Although the official date of the open1
ing has been set for January l. 1915, the
canal will, in fact. from present indica-
lions, be opened for shipping during the
latter half of 1913 No fixed date can as
yet be set but shipping interests will be
given that vessels can pass through with
out unnecessary delay.
Recognizing the administrative problem
in the management of the canal, con-
gress in the act of August "a, 1912, has
made admirable provision for executive
responsibility in the control of the canal
and the government of the Canal Zone.
The problem of most efficient organiza-
ton Is receiving careful consideration, SO
that a scheme OF organization and con-
troll best adapted to the conditions Of the
canal may be formulated and put in OPP
Grafton as eXpeditiously as possible. Act
ing under the authority conferred on me
by congress, I have. by executive procla-
nation, promulgated the following sched-
ueI of tolls for ships passing through the
canal, based upon the thorough report
sioner on traffic and tolls:
l. On merchant vessels carrying pas
sengers or cargo. S1.20 per net vessel
ton-each 100 cubic feet-cf actual cagsac-
ity.
g. On vessels in ballast without pas
sengers or cargo, 40 per cent. less than
the rate of tolls for vessels with passen-
gers or cargo.
g. Upon naval vessels, other than trans
ports golfers, hospital ships, and supply
ships 30 cents per displacement ton.
4. Upon army and navy transports. col
hers, hospital ships, and supply ships,
$l2O per net ton, the vessels to be meas
used by the same rules as are employed
in determining the net tonnage of mer-
chant vessels.
Rules for the determination of the ton
mage upon which toll charges are based
are now in course of preparation and
will be promulgated in due season.
Panama Canal Treaty.
The proclamation which I have issued
in respect to the Panama Canal tolls Is
in accord with the Panama Canal act
passed by this congress August "a. l9l2
We have been advised that the British
government has prepared protest
against the act and it's enforcement in so
far as it relieves from the payment of
tolls American ships engaged in the Amer
lean coastwise trade on the ground that
1t violates British rights under the Hay
Pauncefote treaty concerning the Panama
Canal. When the protest is presented, IL
will be promptly considered and an eff
fort made to reach a satisfactory ADJUST
ment of any differences there may be be-
tween the two governments.
Promotion for Col. Goethals.
AS the completion of the canal grows
nearer, and as the wonderful executive
work Of Col GoethaIs becomes more con-
spicuous in the eyes of the country and
of the world, it seems to me wise and
proper to make provision by law for such
reward to him as may be commensurate
with the service that he has rendered to
his country. I suggest that this reward
take the form of an appointment OF Col.
Goethals as a major general in the army
of the United States, and that the law
authorizing such appointment be accom-
panied with provision permitting his
designation as chief of engineers upon
the retirement of the present incumbent
of that office.
Navy Department.
The navy of the United States is IN
a greater state of efficiency and is
more powerful than it has been be-
fore but in the emulation which ex-
lists between different countries In re-
spect to the increase of naval and
military ornaments this condition Is
not a permanent one In view OF the
many improvem and increases by
foreign governn: ents the slightest matt
on our part in respect to new construc-
ton throws us back and reduces us
from a naval power of the first rank
and places us among the nations of the
second rank.
A year ago congress refused to ap-
proprate for more than one battleship.
In this I think a great mistake OF
policy was made. and I urgently rec
ommend that this congress make up
for the mistake of the last session pF
appropriations authorizing the con-
,struction of three battleships. in ad-
dition to destroyers fuel ships. and
the other auxiliary vessels as shown
in the building program of the general
board We are confronted by condi-
ton in respect to the navies of the
world which requires US. If we WoulC
maintain our navy as an insurance OF
peace. to augment our naval force by
at least two battleships a year and by
battle cruisers, gunboats. torpedo de-
stroyers, and submarine boats in
proper prorotion. We have no desire
for war. We go as far as any nation
in the world to avoid war. but we are
a world power. Our population our
wealth our definite policies our re-
sponsibilities in the Pacific and the At
1antic our defense of the Panama ca
nal together with our enormous world
trade and our missionary outposts on
the frontiers of civilization, require
us to recognize our position as one Of
the foremost in the family of nations
and to clothe ourselves with sufficient
naval power to give force to our rea-
sonable demands. and to give weight
to our influence in those directions OF
progress that a powerful Christian ma
ton should advocate.
Department of Justice.
This department has been very active
in the enforcement of the law. 1t has
been better organized and with a
larger force than ever before in the
history of the government. The prose-
cutions which have been successfully
concluded and which are now pending
testify to the effectiveness of the de-
partment work.
The prosecution of trusts under the
Sherman antitrust law has gone on
without restraint or diminution, and
DEGREES similar to those entered in the
Standard Oil and Tobacco cases have
been entered in other suits, like the
suits against the powder trust and the
bath tub trust I am very strongly con-
WINGED that a steady. consistent course
in this regard. with a continuing of
S11nreme court decisions upOn the new