The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-07-25
THE CANAL TOLL PROBLEM.

Almost any American is ready to
pass adversely, without a moments
%hisitation, upon the protest lodged
by Great Britain against the propos-
II by congress to permit free passage
If American vessels through the
Panama canal. In the first place, he
s sure to resent any attempt by
Treat Britain to tell us what to do,
even if the attempt is based upon a
realty with the United States. That
s because his notions of Great Bri-
ain are largely historical. Again, he
reasons forcefully that if We build
he canal at our expense, we surely
ought to be allowed to use it without
paying for the privilege; and, col
literally, the other nations, having
contributed nothing toward the eX-
oense of it's construction, should eX-
oect to pay for it's use. With these
sentiments, The Republican is in
hearty accord. However, there is a
good deal more in the question than
was at first apparent, ever to mem
+ bers of the United States Senate.
AS for the Interpretation to be
| placed upon our treaty agreement to
reat "all nations impartially in the
| regulations of the canal, that could
either include the United States or it
could mean only the rest of the
world. These two interpretations be-
'ng easily possible. the question will
be determined by congress without
much reference to the treaty.
A Washington dispatch to the New
York Journal of Commerce discusses
the effect of free passage of the Pan
una canal upon rates made by Am
erican vessels. The dispatch states:
"Of course nobody believes that
the few American ships which are in
condition to carry the trade through
he canal would fix the rates giving
The shipper the benefit of such re
auctions as they might be able tic
offer through not having to pay the
toll. That would be possible only
N case there were al abundance OF
American ships to do all the bust
ness Offering, so hal they woulc
compete with one enother. There is
no prospect of any such conditions
and that fact has been fully admitted
ny witnesses before Congressional
committees"
The truth of this is perfectly OBJ
vious. All are familiar with the prac
tees of large American corporation.
md so would not respect any reduc
lion in rates because of exemption
from Panama. canal tolls. The Re
publican remarked several days age
hat the concession would amount to
4 subsidy for American vessels.
A much more serious phase of thu
question is suggested, however, il
The probability that the concession
to American vessels would be EN-
ployed to save tolls for foreign ship.
md thus seriously impair the gov
ernment's revenue from the canal
We quote again from the above nam
I'd correspondent:
ut is assumed. as least nominally
by advocates of free tolls that there
would be no effect on the amount o,
business passing through the cana
N foreign bottoms, but that this
would be the same that would &c
through in such bottoms if a uniform
ate of toll were charged all around
But some of the members who have
made the closest study of what is
low being planned assert that moth.
!ng of the kind is true, but that hard.
proposed basis. They point out that
~ Aoob oo ta SllDo Sdu| w
Quilt to go through the canal the
business of taking goods through
here will be transferred to them
such goods being unloaded from for.
ign ships either al some point or
he Atlantic coast or perhaps near
he mouth of the canal. Coming tn,
other may, a similar scheme will be
worked. Evidently with tolls at $1.OC
ger ton, a ship of 5000 net tonnage
sould make $4,000 on tolls by go.
ng through the canal and coming
back again with full cargo. This
would be independent of any freight
hat might be paid and would be
more than ample to the cost OF
Unloading at either end of the
anal"
1t is evident that the government
must beware lest it be led by a spirit
If patriotism into betrayal of the
governments income to those who,
shough Americans, would not be