The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
tContinued from page lU.)

lions, be opened for shipping during
the latter half OF 1913. No fixed date
can as vet be set, but shipping interests
will be advised rs soon as assurances
can be given that vessels can pass
through without unnecessary delay.
Recognizing the administrative prob
lem In the management OF the canal,
congress In the act of Aug. "a, 1912,
has made admirable provisions for ex-
ecutive responsibility in the control of
the canal and the government of the
canal zone. The problem of most eff
Client organization is receiving careful
consideration, so that scheme of or
ganization and control best adapted to
the conditions of the canal may be
formulated and put in operation as ex-
peditiously as possible. Acting under
the authority conferred on me by con-
gress have by executive proclamation
promulgated the following schedule of
tolls for ships passing through the ca
nal. based upon the thorough report of
Emory r. johnson. special commission
er on traffic and tolls;
First. - On merchant yespeis carrying
passengers or cargo, sl.20 per net vessel
ton-each 100 cubic feet-of actual earning
capacity.
Second. -Oa vessels In ballast without
passengers or cargo, 40 per cent less than
the rate OF tolls for vessels with passen-
gers or cargo.
Third.-Upon naval vessels other than
ev.ov T. 49, Sl-S.s 49,
supply ships 50 cents per displacement
ton.
Fourth.-Upon army and navy trans
ports, GOLFERS, hospital ships and supply
ships. N.2o per net ton, tho vessels to be
measured by the same rules as are en-
plcyed in determining the net tonnage Of
merchant vessels.
Rules for the determination Of the
tonnage upon which toll charges are
based are now in course of prepara-
ton and will be promulgated in due
season.
Panama Canal Treaty.
The proclamation which I have is
sued In respect to the Panama canal
tolls is in accord with the Panama ca
nal act passed by this congress Aug.
"a, 1912. We have been advised that
the British government has prepared
protest against the act and its en-
forcement in so far as it relieves from
the payment of tolls American ships
engaged in the American coastwise
trade on the ground that it violates
British rights under the Hay-Paunce-
fote treaty concerning the Panama ca,
| nal. When the protest is presented II
will be promptly considered and an eff
| fort made to reach a satisfactory ad,
| justment of any differences there may
be between the two governments,
Prometien For Colonel Goethals.
AS the completion of the canal grows
nearer and as the wonderful executive
work of Colonel Cocktails becomes
more conspicuous in the eyes Of the
country and of the world it seems te
me wise and proper to make proyi.
sion by law for such reward to him as
/ may be commensurate with the sery-
ice that he has rendered to his eoun
try. / suggest that this reward take
the form of an appointment of Colo
i utl NfUetndlS tls y llldJ1i sSShSi 81 ~ LAY
1 army OF the United States and that the
law authorizing such appointment bt
accompanied with provision per
/ hitting his designation as chief of en-
1 gineers upon the retirement of the
present incumbent of that office.
Navy Department.
The navy of the United States is In
greater state of efficiency and Il
/ more powerful than 1t has ever beer
1 before, but in the emulation which ey
lists between different countries In re
| spect to the increase of naval and mil
| itary ornaments this condition is moi
/ a permanent one In view OF the man!
j improvements and increases by for
elgn governments the slightest halt OF
our part In respect to new construe
ton throws us back and reduces Us
from a naval pawer of the first RAM
and places us among the nations OF thu
second rank In the past fifteen years
the navy has expanded rapidly and ye
far less rapidly than our country.
From now on reduced expenditure:
In the navy mean reduced military
strength, The worlds history ha'
shown the Importance of sea powel
\ both for adequate defense and for thu
4 support of important and definite poll
cies.
/. i had the pleasure Of attending thi'
autumn n mobilization of the Atlantic
fleet and was glad TO observe and not
the preparedness of the feet for IN
slant action. The review brought be
fore the president and the secretary o
the navy greater and more powerful
collection of vessels than had eve
been gathered in American waters
4 The condition of the feet and of tn
officers and enlisted men md of tn
equipment of the vessels entitled fhos
in authority to the greatest credit
again commend to congress the civ
ing OF legislative sanction to the nj
pointme,lt Of the naval aids to the sec
retary of the navy. These aids and tn
council of aids appointed by the secre
tary OF the navy to assist him In tn
conduct of his department have prove
to he of the highest utility. They hay
tel, two n