The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-12-11
Continued from PAGE Six

Tue id.:eF HaiI OI 1910. NO 1XeO Oat
can as yet be set. but shipping interest
will lie advised as soon as assurance
can be given that vessels can pas
through without Unnecessary delay.
Recognizing the administrative prot
lem in the management of the canal
congress in the act Of Aug. "a, 1917
has made admirable provisions for ex
ecutive responsibility in the control O
the canal and the government of tn
canal one The problem of most eff
Gent organization is receiving careful
consideration, so that a scheme Of or
ganization and control best adapted t,
the conditions of the canal may b,
formulated and put in operation as ex
peditiously as possible. Acting under
the authority conferred on me by con
gress l 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
er on traffic and tolls:
First. - On merchant vessels carrying
passengers or cargo. s1.0O per net vessel
ton-each 100 cubic feet-of actual earning
capacity.
Second.-On vessels in ballast without
passengers or cargo, 40 per cent less than
the rate of tolls for vessels with passep-
gers or cargo.
Third.-Upon naval vessels other than
transports, Golfers, hospital ships and
supply ships. so cents per displacement
ton.
Fourth.-Upon army and navy trans
ports. GOLFERS, hospital ships n supply
ships, $1.O 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.
Panama Canal Treaty.
The proclamation which l 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
q protest against the act and its en-
forcement in so far as it relieves from
the payment Of tolls American ships
engaged in the American coastwise
trade on the ground that it violates
British rights under the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty concerning the Panama ca
nal. When the protest is presented it
will be promptly considered and an eff.
fort made to reach a satisfactory ad-
justment of any differences there may
be between the two governments.
Promotion For Colonel Cocktails.
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
wise and proper to make provi-
sion by law for such reward to him as
may be commensurate with the serv-
ice that he has rendered to his coun-
try. I 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 rs chief of ell
gineers upon the retirement of the
present incumbent Of that office.
> Navy Department.
The navy Of the United States Is in
q greater state of efficiency and Is
more powerful than it has ever been
before, but in the emulation which e X
lists between different countries in re-
spect to the increase of naval and mil
itary ornaments this condition is not
q permanent one. In view OF the many
improvements and increases by for
eign governments the slightest halt 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. In the past fifteen years
the navy has expanded rapidly and yet
far less rapidly than u country.
From now on reduced expenditures
in the navy mean reduced military
strength. The worlds history has
shown the Importance Of sea power
both for adequate defense and for the
support of important and definite poll
cies.
1 had the pleasure Of attending this
autumn a mobilization Of the Atlantic
feet and was glad to observe and note
the preparedness of the fleet for in
slant action. The review brought be-
fore the president and the secretary of
the navy a greater and more powerful
collection Of vessels than had ever
been gathered in American waters.
The condition of the fleet and Of the
officers and enlisted men and Of the
equipment of the vessels entitled those
in authority to the greatest credit.
l again commend to congress the Civ.
ing Of legislative sanction to the ap-
pointment of the naval aids to the Sec
rotary Of the navy. These aids and the
council of aids appointed by the secre-
tary of the navy to assist him in the
conduct of his department have proved
to be Of the highest utility. They have
furnished an executive committee CT