The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-11-14
FOREIGN SHIPPING
RATES FOR PANAMA
President Taft Issues Proclamation Fix
ing the Charges for Passage
Through the Canal

! Washington, ID. c., Nov. l4.-President
Taft last night issued a proclamation
fixing the rates that the foreign ship
ping of the world shah pay for passagc
through the Panama canal. The procla-
nation, made under authority of the
canal act, passed by Congress in Au-
gust, establishes merchant vessel rate
OF Sl20 per net ton of actual carrying
capacity, with reduction of 40 per
cent. on ships in ballast. The provisions
of the proclamation are as follows:
| |. On merchant vessels carrying pas
sengers or cargo, Sl.20 per net vessel
ton, each 100 cubic feet, of actual earn
ing capacity.
2. On vessels in ballast without pas
sengers or cargo 40 per cent. less than
the rate of tolls for vessels with pas.
sengers or cargo.
3. Upon naval vessels other than
supply ships, 81 30 per net ton, the ves-
sells to be measured by the same rules
as are employed in determining the net
tonnage of merchant vessels.
"The secretary of war will prepare
and prescribe such rules for the measure
ment of vessels and such regulations as
may be necessary and proper to carry
this proclamation into full force and
effect
American coastwise shipping was ex-
empted from toll payment by Congress.
1t was to this provision of the act that
Great Britain automatically protested,
but no reference to the incident was
made in the presidents proclamation,
American naval vessels are exempted
without specific mention either in the
act of Congress or the proclamation, be-
cause the authorities believed II unnec-
essary to explain the uselessness of pay |
ment from its navy department pocket |
to-, the one belonging TO the treasury
department.. The rates named in the |
proclamation are practically the same as
those which will be in force at the Suea
anal next year.
The president based declaration of |
'ates upon the report and investigation
# Professor Emery johnson of the uni
versity OF Pennsylvania, an expert des
gnated by executive order for the task
According to Professor Johnson's re-
'ort to the president, also made public
asst night, the Panama canal should be
Ipon a self sustaining basis in 90 years.
{ should compete successfully with the
'uez route for the traffic OF Europe with
'outh America west coast points, and
fith New Zealand, but cannot be ex-
ected to compete successfully for Eu.
ope's trade with the far East.
Taking the estimates of the canal ,
for expenses of operation
nd maintenance of the canal and for I,
he improvements held to be necessary :
{ the end of decade, Professor John
IN figures that the rate per net ton !
IN be reduced Mt the end of 10 years !,
) 81, Even with this rate, which he
ays probably will correspond closely .
18th the rate that may then be en-
,rced through the Suez canal, the Unit
| States will obtain enough revenue
'om foreign vessels to pay all Txed :
iarges, provide a sinking fund or one :
ar cent. to retire the Panama canal (
,nds and still find yearly balance
The johnson report shows that for !
gn traffic of about 100000 tons may :
, expected through the canal during its !,
st two years OF operations traffic I
more than 100000 tons in 1912, !
Id l4,000,000 tons in 1925. Although )
It maintaining that his estimate is y
lal Professor johnson declared that !,
/ increase of 60 per cent. decade in :;
image could be looked for, and that !.
is would make the canal self-support- !,
& in 20 years.