The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-12-13

be practically solved anu TN ample sta 1
bilitv assured for the Culebra Cut.
Although the official date of the open
ing has been set for January !. 1915. the
canal will, In fact, from present indica-
lions, be opened for shipping during the
latter half OF 1918 No fxed date can as |
yet be set, but shipping interests viii 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, 1872 has |
made admirable provision for executive |
responsibility In the control of the canal |
and the government of the Canal Zone. J
The problem OF most efficient organiza- |
ton Is receiving careful consideration 50 |
that a scheme OF organization and con
troll best adapted to the conditions OF the |
canal may be formulated and put in OPP
GRAFTON as expeditiously possible Act
ing under the authority conferred on me
by congress. I have. by executive procla
nation. promulgated the following SEIZED
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:
l. On merchant vessels carrying pas
sengers or cargo. $12O per net vessel
ton--each 100 cubic feet-of actual capac-
ity.
2. On vessels In ballast without pas
the rate OF tolls for vessels with passen-
gers or cargo.
s. Upon naval vessels, other than trans
ports, golfers, hospital ships. and supply
ships 30 cents per displacement ton.
4 Upon army and navy transports. col
liers, hospital ships, and supply ships,
sl2O per net ton, the vessels to be meas
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 have issued
| in respect to the Panama Canal tolls Is
| In accord with the Panama Canal act
| passed by this congress August "a 1872
| We have been advised that the British
| government has prepared a protest
/ against the act and It's enforcement In so
far as 1t relieves from the payment OF
| tolls American ship engaged in the Amer
| team coastwise trade on the ground that
| It violates British lights under the Hay
| Pauncefote treaty concerning the Panama
/ Canal When the protest Is presented. 1t
/ will be promptly considered and an eff
| 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 Cocktails becomes more con-
| spicuous in the eyes OF the country ana
| OF the world, II 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 or 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 ms
designation as chief OF engineers upon
the retirement OF the present incumbent
of that office
Navy Department.
The navy of the United States is In
a greater state of efficiency and Is
more powerful than 1t has been be-
fore, but In the emulation which ex-
lists between different countries In re-
spect to the increase of naval anc
military ornaments this condition Is
not a permanent one. In view or tbs
many improvements and increases by
foreign governments the slightest hall
on our part in respect to new construc'
| ton throws us back and reduces vs.
from a naval power of the first rank
and places us among the nations OF th'
second rank
A year ago congress refused to aD'
propriate for more than one battleship
In this I think a great mistake o.
policy was made. and urgently rec
ommend that this congress make VI
FOR the mistake 9f 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 genera
| board We are confronted by condt
ton In respect to the navies OF thu
| III rxrtat0 Z
maintain our navy as an Insurance o
peace to augment our naval force b,
at least two battleships a year and b!
battle cruisers. gunboats, torpedo de
stroyers and submarine boats In
proper prorotion. We have no desir'
for war We go as far as any nation
in the world to avoid war. hut we ar
world power. Our population, on
| 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 worl'
| trade and our missionary outposts OF
the frontiers of civilization, requir
, | us to recognize our position as one o
, | the foremost in the family OF nations
, | and TO clothe ourselves with sufficien
| naval power to give force to our rea
. sonable demands, and to give weigh
| to our influence In those directions o
| progress that a powerful Christian ma
! ton should advocate.
Department of Justice.
This department has been very activ
| in the enforcement OF the law. 1t ha
. | been better organized and with
{ | larger force than ever before in tn
: | history of the government The prose
| cutions which hSve been successfun
, | concluded and which are now pendin
: testify to the effectiveness of the de
y | partment work.
: The prosecution of trusts under tn
2 | Sherman antitrust law has gone o
J | without restraint or diminution. an
; DEGREES similar to those entered in tn
Z Standard OIL and Tobacco cases hav
I been entered in other suits. like tn
suits against the powder trust and tn
: bath tub trust l am very strongly con
I WINGED that steady, consistent cours
Z in this regard. with a continuing G
Z Supreme court decisions upon the ne'
I phases of the trust question not afread
finally decided. is going to offer
, solution OF this much discussed an
. troublesome issue in quiet. calm an
I judicial way, without any radical leg
islation changing the governments
! policy in regard to combinations no.