Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-22
WILL CANAL De MADE TO
PROMOTE COMMERCIAL GROWTH
Il Railroads Have Their Way Heavy
Tolls vii. 20 Exaetsd in Order TO
Prevent Composition in Transeenti-
nsotai Frsisht-canal One Means to
Crest Good to Industrial Interests.
Especial Correspondence

whether II Is gong 10 De so FeSuialeN
as to be 4 useless. profitless. and mere
~ ornamental investment is just now
sQuarely before congress.
The house has been debating the
matter for days, while the subject Of
canal regulations, with especial refer
ence to tolls. has been before the sem
ate interoceanic canals committee for
weeks. The Indications are that be-
fore the adjournment of the session
will have been enacted
which viii make provision for the canal
and the tolls which will be
charged to shipping.
Railroad Influence at Work.
3 More or less covered up in an mum
dation of language in the house. the
real question tina, is involved In the
whole business is whether the Panama
canal 10 going to be so regulated as
to bring about an increased and quick
ened traffic, domestic and foreign, for
the United States and a reduction in
freight rates. Plain efforts are being
made to obscure this question by ad-
the argument that the canal
must be made to pay the cost of its
operation and maintenance. and that,
thru the tolls exacted; tine government
must get back what it has paid out
to build the canal.
That railroad influence is at work
to minimize the importance of the
canal and to prevent its operation
from having any effect in compelling
q nf ira nYa1 iOhs &c
il freely charged about the capitol and
active, among other things, to prevent
would compel the railroads to divorce
themselves from the steamship bust
ness and would prevent railroad owned
ships from using the canal.
Competition 10 Wanted.
Out OF the conflict and controversy
over the matter. it is possible there
will come legislation which will throw
wide open the gates to competition and
which will result. first. in real COM
petition in shipping between the At
lantic and Pacific coasts: second in the
lowering Of transcontinental freight
rates by reason of a lively coastwise
shipping business. under competitive
conditions, thru the canal. .s>
Congressman Sims, Of Tennessee. one
OF the leading democratic members OF
the house. Is urging proposition
which. II II prevails in the bill as fin
ally shaped up, will no doubt have
much effect On the freight situation in
this country. His proposition is to
supplement the provision for free tolls
for American vessels in the coastwise
trade by another provision that foreign
ships shall be permitted to engage in
the coastwise trade.
No Composition Now.
Regardless Of the house action on
Judge Sims proposition, it is newt
able that much will be heard Of 1t be-
fore the Panama canal problem is A.
hally settled. He contends that II is
the only way to bring about a max
imum OF use of the canal for building
up coastwise trade Of the United
States and at the same time bringing
about lower freights to the American
people. Judge Sims holds that free
tolls for American ships in the coast
wise trade alone would not be Of any
benefit to the country for the reason
that the steamer lines now existing.
that is the American lines, which are
the only ones the law now allows in
the coastwise trade, do not compete
and are either actually or in effect in
combination, since they have carefully
arranged not to tread on each others
toes and are careful to ply between
different ports. But he holds that II
the tramp steamers Of the world are
allowed TO use the canal for carrying
goods between New York and other
eastern ports and the Pacific coast,
then there will be real benefit to the
country. This will result in COMPETE
ton in shipping and at the same time
will result In such low rates OF freight
by sea % to compel the transconti-
mental roads to hold down their
freights. At the same time. Judge
Sims would give American ships the
best of II by allowing them to use the
canal free, while charging tolls to for.
eign ships.
Means to Grsat Good.
Judge Sims is proceeding on the
theory that. apart from military con-
siderations. the canal must be consid-
cred primarily from the standpoint of
how best to use it to make it a great
engine for the promotion Of American
trade and commerce at low rates Of
freight He would have 1t at once
force expansion of traffic while reliev-
ing the public in some mea sure from
the heavy burden Of high transconti-
mental feright rates. The question of
what return in tolls the government
gets IL. ms Judge Sims sees it. Sec
ondary consideration. One reason why
Is is secondary. he says. is because the
canal perhaps never will pay the cost
Of its operation and maintenance thru
tolls and there are much bigger phases
Of the question which nave 10 be con-
sidered.
Troubles Just Beginning.
The indications are that congress y
Just at the beginning Of Its troubles
over the Panama canal Many mem
bers Of the house and senate are con-
WINGED that this il matter A. to
which the public will not tolerate blum
dering and that IL the opening Of the
canal does not speedily result in quick
ened business and moro advantageous
freight rates. the issue viii break into
politics ana will bring disastrous re-
suits to. any party that shows Itself