The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-12-13


2 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. golfers. hospital ships. and supply
ships so cents per displacement ton
f. Upon army and navy transports. col
ne-s, hospital ships, and supply ships
s. 20 per net ton. the vessels to be meas
used by the same rules as 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 I 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 q protest
against the act and its enforcement IN so
far as 1t relieves from the payment of
tolls American ships engaged in the Amer
lean coastwise trade on the ground that
1t violates British rights under the Hay
Pauncefote treaty concerning the Panama
Canal When the protest is presented. II
will be promptly considered and an eff
fort made to reach G satisfactory adjust
ment OF any differences there may be be-
tween the two governments.
Workmen's Compensation Act.
The PRONUNCIATION of an efficient work
mems compensation act, adapted to the
particular conditions Of the zone, Is
awaiting adequate appropriation by con-
gress for the payment of claims arising
Hereunder I urge that speedy provision
be made in order that we may install up
on the zone a system Of settling claims
for injuries In best accord with modern
humane. social and industrial theories.
Promotion for Col. Goethals.
AS the completion Of the canal grows
nearer, and as the wonderful executive
work of Col. Cocktails becomes more con-
spicuous In the eyes of the country and
OF the world it seems to me wise and
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 a provision permitting his
designation as chief Of engineers upon
the retirement Of the present incumben
Of that office.
Navy Department.
The navy Of the United States is In
a. greater state OF efficiency and is
more powerful than it has been be-
fore but II the emulation which eA-
lists between different countries In re-
spect to the increase of naval and
military ornaments this condition is
not a permanent one. In view of the
many improver ents and increases by
foreign 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.
A year ago congress refused TO APP
propriate for more than one battleship
Tn this 7 think great mistake OF
policy was made. and I urgently rec
ommend that this congress make ur
for the mistake Of the last session by
appropriations authorizing the con-
struction 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-
ton In respect to the navies Of the
world which requires US. II we would
maintain our navy as an insurance OF
peace to augment our naval force by
at least two battleships year and by
ba tile cruisers, gunpoats, torpedo de-
stroyers and submarine boats In
proper prorotfon. 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
lantfc our defense of the Panama ca
nal. together with our enormous worlc
trade and our missionary outposts or
the frontiers Of civilization. require
cif
the foremost in the family OF nations,
and to clothe ourselves with suff1cier'
naval power to give force to our rea
sonable demands and to give weight
to our influence in those directions OF
progress that powerful Christian ma
ton should advocate.
Department Of Justice.
This depa rtment has been very active
in the enforcemen of the law. 1t f.@s
been better organized and with
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-
pa rtment work.
The prosecution OF trusts under the
Sherman antitrust law has gone on
without restraint or din1inutfon, anc
DEGREES similar to those entered in the
been entered In other suits, like the
suits against the powder trust and the
ba tn tub trust. am verv strongly con-
vinced that a steady. consistent course
in this regard, with continuing OF
Supreme court decisions upon the new
phases of the trust question not already
finally decided. is going to offer q
solution of this much discussed and
troublesome issue In a quiet. calm and
judicial way, without any radical leg
islation changing the governm entail
policy In regard to combinations now
denounced by the Sherman antitrust
law I have already recomm ended as
an aid in this matter legislation which
would declare unlawful certain we'll
known phases Of unfair competition In
interstate trade, and I have also advo-
ca ted voluntary national incorporation
for the larger Industrial enterprises
with provision for a closer supervision
by the bureau of corporations. or a
board appointed for the purpose, so as
to make certain compliance with the
antitrust law on the one hand and to
give greater security to the stock
holders gainst possible prosecutions
on the other. I believe however, that
the orderly course Of litigation in the
courts and the regular prosecution of
trusts charged with the violation of the
antitrust law Is producing among
business men clearer and clearer
perception of the line of distinction be-
tN cen business that is to be encour-
aged and business that Is to be con-
demned and that in this quiet way the
question of trusts can be settled and
competition retained an economic
force to secure reasonableness in
prices and freedom and independence
in trade WILLIAM H. TAFT.
TWO Of EN-.