The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-12-12

eengers or cargo. 20 per cent. less than
the rate OF tolls for vessels with passen-
gers or cargo.
8. Upon naval vessels, other than trans
ports, colliers. hospital ships. and supply
ships. 30 cents per displacement ton.
Upon army and navy transports, col
Hers, hospital ships. and supply ships.
N.so 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 a protest
against the act and its enforcement in so
far as IT relieves from the payment of
tolls American ships engaged in the Amer
lean coastwise trade on the ground that
II violates British rights under the Hay
Pauncefote treaty concerning the Panama
Canal When the protest 10 presented. II
will be promptly considered and an ef-
fort made to reach q satisfactory adjust
ment of any differences there may be be-
tween the two governments.
Workmen's Compensation Act.
The promulgatIon OF an efficient work.
mems compensation act. adapted TO the
particular conditions Of the zone, 10
awaiting adequate appropriation by con-
gress for the payment OF claiHns 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. GosthalS.
As the completion Of the canal grows
nearer, and as the wonderful executive
work of Col. GoethaIs becomes more con-
spicuous in the eyes OF the country and
OF the world. II seems to me wise and
proper to make provision by law for such
reward to him as may be commemorate
with the service that he has rendered to
his country. suggest that this reward
take the form Of an appointment OF Col
GoethalS as q 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 incumbent
OF that office.
navy OSpNEtm0nt.
Tho navy Of the United States Is in
a greater state of effciency and Is
more powerful than it has been be-
fore. but in. the emulation which ex-
lists between different countries in re-
spect to the increase OF naval and
military armaments this condition is
not a permanent one. In view OF the
many improvements and increases by
foreign governments the slightest halt
on our part in respect to new conStruc-
tion throws us back and reduces us
from a naval power Of the nrst rank
and places us among the nations OF the
second rank.
A year ago congress refused to Ap-
propriate for more than one battleship.
In this I think a great mistake OF
policy was made. and I urgently rec
ommend that this congress make UP
for the mistake Of the last session by
appropriations authorizing the con-
struction Of three bAttleshirG 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 4 condi-
tion In respect to the navies OF the
world which requires us. II we would
maintain our navy as an insurance or
peace. to augment our naval force by
at least two battleships year and by
battle cruisers, gunboAts. torpedo de-
stroyers. and submarine boats in
proper prorotion. 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
lantic our defense of the Panama ca
nal together with our enormous world
trade and our missionary outposts on
the frontiers OF civilization. require
MS to recognize our position as one of
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 weight
to our influence in those directions Of
progress that a powerful Christian ma
tion should advocate
Department Of Justlee.
This department has been very active
In the enforcement OF the law. IT has
been better organized and with a
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-
partment work
The prosecution of trusts under tie
dHll-lTuSI INV mas bOH0 Oh
without restraint or diminution and
DEGREES similar to those entered in the
Standard Oil and Tobacco cases have
been entered in other suits. like the
suits against the powder trust and the
bath tub trust. am very strongly con-
vinced that a steady, consistent course
in this regard, with a continuing of
Supreme court decisions upon the new
phases of the trust question not already
finally decided. Is going to offer a
of this much discussed and
issue in quiet, calm and
judicial way, without any radical leg
slation changing the governmental
policy in regard to combinations now
denounced by the Sherman antitrust
law. I have already recommended as
an aid in this matter legislation which
would declare unlawful certain we'll
known phases Of unfair competition in
Interstate trade. and have also advo-
"a 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
10 make certain compliance with the
antitrust law on the one hand and to
give greater security to the stock
holders against possible prosecutions
1n the other. I believe, however. that
The orderly course of litigation in the
courts and the regular prosecution os
trusts charged with the violation of tho
law is producing among
business men q clearer and clearer
of the line of distinction be-
.ween business that Is to be encour-
aged and business that Is to be con-
lemned and that In this quiet way the
question of trusts can be settled and
retained az an economic
.orce to secure reaSonableness IN
prices and freedom and independence
n trade. WILLIAM H. TAFT.