The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-21
PEOPLES FORUM
Railroad Opposition TO Canal BIN.


sir--The Act to provide for the opening.
maintenance protection and operation OF the
Panama canal" III. r. 21,969) is In some re-
spects, the most vitality important piece or
legislation which has been before the con-
gress OF the United states in the past thirty
years.
There is sent you under another cover a
copy Of the bill which shows both the form in
which it passed the house and the many I'M
portant amendments added by the commit
zee on interocearc canals before 1t was ,e-
ported to the senate, which now has It under
Consideration Sect on 5 of the bill -axalnEis
from the payment OF tolls vessels engaged in
coastwise trade of the United States, vessels
of American registry engaged in foreign trade,
provided that the owners allow such vessels
to be taken and used by the United States in
of war other public emergency, and
vessels belonging to the government OF Pana-
ma.
It is Of the highest Importance that the pro-
vision giving free passage to American sh{Ds
In the coastwise trade should be retained be-
cause of Its effect upon freight rates both by
water and rail, The opposition of the trans
continental railway lines is based upon a mis-
apprehension. Waterways have Invariably
been benefit and not an injury. to competing
railways, and there Is reason to believe that
the Panama canal will prove exception to
the rule
commerce the protest Of the British govern
ment seems TO violate the comfy of nations
since that is matter Of exclusively domestic
concern.
There may be room for an honest 4trararca
OF opinion as to our right to exempt Americas
ships engaged In foreign commerce from the
payment of tolls, but are we obliged to accent
any Interpretation which Great Britain may
place upon the treaty? Is # not also the
right of the congress of the United States TO
interpret the provisions of the treaty, and It's
duty to iegfslate in accordance with that in
depreciation?
Section II has been radically changed for
tne worse. The vitality important provision
OF the house bin which prohibits railway com
troll of competing water carriers has been
struck entire
Railroad controlled boats are prohibited
from passing through the Panama canal n
doing purely coastwise trade, but are al
lowed to pass and to handle coastwlse trade
to the extent of half their cargo if on the way
10 or from orienunal European ports
Would the sole and inevitable effect OF this
amendment be TO give the transcontinentaI
lines a monopoly OF oost-to-coast traffic both
by water and rall? Il such result desirable
from the standpoint of public interests? The
Of ships boats to extend the lines OF a
railway is entirely unobjectionable, but there
can be no genuine competition between boats
ana railways operating or parallel lines and
under tho ownership control
One of the most important features OF the
bin is contained in the latter part OF section
II, which gives the Interstate commerce conf
mission authority.
(a) To order the construction of tracks
connecting railways with the docks Of water
carriers and to determine the terms and con-
ditions on which such tracks shall be operated:
(b) To establish through routes and max
imum joint rates between and over rail and
water lines;
(c) To establish through proportional rates
by rail TO and from the ports to which traffic
IS brought or from which 1t IS talSen by water
carriers: and
(d) To require railways to give equal treat
ment to all steamship lines engaged in for
egn trade.
These provisions, ii adopted Will 60 far To-
wards establishing the needed coordination Of
rail and water transportation and would ex-
tend the benefits of the Panama canal and of
other waterways and harbors far and wide
the country.
We believe that thu portion of the bin
providing
First, that tolls shall be charged at the
coastwise trade. and
Second, giving the interstate commerce
commission authority to regulate the relations
between carriers by water and carriers by rail
should be retained;
And that the portion prohibiting the own
ershp or control of water carriers by COM
peting railways should be restored.
We earnestly request that you urge tho
senators from your State to worG for the
passage of tho bill in the form Outlined above.
and that you act at once, since consideration
of the bill has already begun.
NATIONAL, RIVERS AND HARBORs CON
FERENCE.
JOSEPH E. RANsDELL,
S. A. THOMPSON,