The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-12-11

| bility assured Tor the Culepra Cut
Although the official date Of the open
ing has been set for January 1, 1915. the
canal will, in fact, from present indica-
tons, be opened TOR shipping during the
latter half of 1913. No fixed date can as
yet be set, but shipping interests will be
advised as soon as assurances can De
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, 1917, has
made admirable provision for executive
responsibility in the control OF the CAM
and the government Of the Canal Zone.
The problem Of most efficient ~organiza-
ton 10 receiving careful consideration. 30
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 as possible. Act
ing under the authority conferred on me
by congress, I have. by executive procie-
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:
l.. On merchant vessels carrying pas.
g or cargo. $1.D per net vessel
ton-each 100 cubic feet-of actual capac-
ity.
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.
s. Upon naval vessels, other than trans
ports, c~olliers, hospital ships. and supply
ships. 80 cents per displacement ton.
4. Upon army and navy transports, col
Hers, hospital ships. and supply ships'
$40 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 ano
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 ac'
passed by this congress August "a. islz
We have been advised that the BRUSH
government has prepared a protest.
agaIrst the act and It's enforcement IN DO
far a. It relieves from the payment OF
tolls American ships engaged In the Amer.
lean coastwise trade on the grouno tha'
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 el-
fort made to reach a satisfactory ADJUST
ment OF any differences there may De Dc
tween the two governments.
Promotion for Col. GoethaIs'
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 ano
of the world. 1t seems to me WISE ano
proper to make provision by law TOT sucn
reward to him as may be commensutate
with the service that he has rendered 70
h,s country. I e 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 Ia"
authorizing such appointment be accom-
panied with a provision permitting NE
designation as chief Of engineers upon
the retirement Of the present
of that office.
Navy Department.
The navy of the United States IL IN
a. greater state Of efficiency n IL
more powerful than It has been De-
fore. but in the emulation whicn e*-
lists. between different countries IN re,
spect to the increase OF navai anu
military ornaments this condltion 10
not a permanent one. In we" Oh ~
many improvements and increases oy
foreign governments the slightest nal
on our part in respect to new construe-
tion throws nd back and reduces us
from a naval power Of the first ranH
and places US among the nations OF tne
second rank.
A year ago congress refused TO ep-
propriate for more than one battieshlp
In this I think a great mistake Oh
policy was made. and / urgently rec
ommend that this congress make up
for the mistake Of the last session by
concentrations authorizing the con
struction Of three battleships. IN al.
dition to destroyers. fuel ships, ano
the other auxiliary vessels as sno".
in the building program OF the genera
hoard. We are confronted by a condl-
ton in respect to the navies OF tne
world which requires US. II we Woulo
maintain our navy as an Insurance. "
peace, to augment our naval 1orce oy
at least two battleships a year ano py
battle. cruisers, .Runboats. torpedo de-
strovers. end submarine boats In q
nroner prorotion. We ave 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-
.nonsibilities in the Pacific and the At
1antic our defense Of the Panama ca.
nal. together with our enormous Worio
trade and our missionary on
the frontiers Of civilization. require
us to recognize our position as one o.
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 weigh,
to our influence In those directions o,
nrooress that a powerful Christian ma
ton should advocate.
Department OF Justice.
This department has been very active
IN the enforcement Of the law. It hat
beer better organized and with
larger force thar ever before In tho
history of the government. The prose
cutions which have been successruli5
concluded and which are now pending
testify to the effectiveness OF the de-
partment work.
sherman antitrust law has gone or
without restraint or iminution. anc
decrees similar to those entered In the
standard OIL and Tobacco cases have
been entered in other suits, like the
s,,its against the powder trust and TIT
hath tub trust. I am very strongly con
yinced that a steady, consistent course
in this regard. with a continuing o.
Supreme court decisions upon the new
nhases of the trust question not ALREADY
snaIIy decided, Is going to offer 9
solution of his much-discussed ant
troublesome ISSUE in a quiet. calm ane
judicial way, without n radical leg
islation changing the governmental
policy in regard to combinations now
denounced by the Sherman antt-trus'
law. I have already recommended a:
an aid in his matter legislation whicf
would declare unlawful certain we'll
known phases of unfair competition II
Interstate trade, and I have also advo'
Gated voluntary national incorporation
for the larger industrial enterprises