Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-12-13

been finally adjusted and the growth oe
vegetation will minimize erosion in the
banks of the cut, the slide problem will
be practically solved and an ample sta
bility assured for the Culebra Cut.
Although the official date of the open
ing has been set for January l, 1915, the
canal will, in fact, from present indlca-
tions, be opened for shipping during the
latter half of 1918. No fixed date can as
yet be set, but shipping interests will be
advised as soon as assurances can 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-
tion is receiving careful consideration, so
that scheme of organization and con-
troll best adapted to the conditions of the
canal may be formulated and put in op-
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-
uel of tolls for ships passing through the
canal, based upon the thorough report
of Emory r. johnson, special commits
sioner on traffic and tolls:
/. On merchant vessels carrying pas
sengers or cargo, s120 per net vessel
ton-each 100 cubic feet-of actual capac-
ity.
O. 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. collers, hospital ships. and supply
ships. 90 cents per displacement ton.
a. Upon army and navy transports. col
lers, hospital ships, and supply ships,
n
used by the same rules 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 1 have issued
In respect to the Panama Canal tolls Is
In accord with the Panama Canal act
passed by this congress August "a. 1912.
! We have been advised that the British
government has prepared protest
| against the act and Its 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
It violates British rights under the Hay
Pauncefote' treaty concerning the Panama
Canal. When the protest Is presented, II
| Will be promptly considered and an ef-
fort made to reach 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. Goethals becomes more con-
| spicuous in the eyes of the country and
OF the world, Ii seems to me wise ana
| 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.
The navy of the United States is in
| n greater state of efficiency and Is
/ more powerful than IL has been be-
fore. but in the emulation which ex-
| lists between different countries in re-
| spect to the increase of naval and
military armaments this condition is
| not n permanent one. In view OF the
many improvements and increases by
foreign governments the slightest halt
on our part in respect to new construc-
tlon 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-
| propriate 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 by
appropriations authorizing the con-
| structlon 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-
tion in respect to the navies OF the
/ world which requires us. III we would
maintain our navy as an Insurance OF
peace to augment our naval force by
| at least two battleships year and by
battle cruisers. gunboats. torpedo de-
| stroyers end submarine boats in a
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
| lantic. 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 lnHuenCe IN tnOSe ulTeCtiOuS Ol
progress that powerful Christian ma
tion 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-
vinced that a steady, consistent course
in this regard, with a continuing OF
Supreme court decisions upon the new
phases of the trust question not already
finally decided is going to offer n
solution of this much discussed and
troublesome issue In quiet. calm and