Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-05-08
TOLL QUESTION
IMPORTANT ONE
POndexter FavOrs Legisla-
ton Regulating Pana-
ma Canal Traffic

Washington. u G.. Way From
all Indications IL Will be but q little
more than q year when the dream OF
the centuries viii boz realized in
waterway ready for the passage Of
ships across The lthmus OF Panama.
said Senator Miles Polndexier Of
Washington In the course OF an inter.
view today on the Panama toll qucs-
ton II Is OF primary importance
that Immediate legislation should Dee
enacted fixing the rate OF tolls for
PASSAGE OF ships through the Canal
and other essential regulations for
its use and operation There Is no
more than enough time intervening
to enable those who are promoting
lines Of ships to ply through this
canal TO make and carry out their
plans. These plans must be based
20 some extent az least upon the
amount Of tolls that viii be charged
and other needed regulations Of the
canal.
Considering the two great essen.
tia interests which will be virtual,
affected Boy the opening Of the canal
and 'ho amount Of tolls CHARGED.
there is no more important question
pres ng for immediate solution by
Congress than this. The two great
interests which are directly involved
are, first trans'ontinental transpor.
.taiior rates, and second. tho deyclor-
men' of an American merchant ma
rinc o! course after tho ,xpendi-
ture of the millions which have been
invested in this great work. n would
easily an 20 for naueht. so far as lis
benefit is concerned. IL wisdom should
not bc used In fixing rates for the
passage Of ships II can be readily
seen that the beneficial effect Of this
new transportation line can easily be-
destroyed by rates which are cithor
prohIbitive or excessive The issue
.ot free passage through the canal ror
American ships has been acrtoly rails
ed hy the minority report filed hy
CONGRESSMAN Knowland Of California
and others from the Committee ON
Interstate and Foreign Commerce Of
the House of Representatives hsth In
the interest of getting the best re-
.sulis from the canal as q competitive
transtontincntal route. and for the
purpose OF assisting in the building
.oI an American merchant marine
Free passage through the canal
NDild be gwen 10 an American ships
Hrei Is no treaty with any foreign
fcnntrv which will be involved or
violated bv this course and if there
we're such treaty IN q matter of
great vital policy Of the notion i'm
mediate steps should be taken 10 mod
ify or lbr0gate n
The transcontinental railroads for
years notorio, sly have obstruotod
and DELAYED the building of this great
waterway and now that its connie
ton is assured the same interest. of
course. will attempt 10 modify or dc.
siroy its competitive effects through
the rates which will he CHARGED. tho
ownership OF lines OF vessels lv the
railroads and various other means.
Several hundred millions of the peo.
pies money have been invested I'm
This work both as q commercial ami
a military necessity 10 is not only "a
wise policy tnow that the work Is
about Completed 10 pot tho fullest
possible benefit from 10, but II is the
duty Of those u authority. 10 the
american people whose money has
been invested there. 10 take that
course IN every respect with relation
20 the canal which will insure the
llrgest possible returns 10 them.
II is obvious that free passage
through the canal for the American
people. their ships. goods and pas
sengers, so FAR as the commercial
aspects Of It are concerned. ana Sc.
be- entirely free from the fatal de-
fccts of a subsidiary system There
is no other single agency which our
government could employ 10 enoour-
age and develop the American mcr-
chant marine dpon perfectly Latu-
raj and substantial basis than By Civ
ing II this advantage In tho use Of
what is 10 all intents and purposes a
domestic waterway Such course
viii tend 10 stimulate especial, FIRES
OF American vessels between the At
lantic and Gulf ports with 'hr west
coast Of Mexico and South and Cen
trail america and rs a natural result
3I1 also In tho development Of or
trade with those countries.
This Is a matter of great import
.snce and calls for immediate attcn-
'fion "