Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04
An Opposition View.

Opposed to this view. primarially. must
be the construction OF treaties between
the United States and Great Britain and
other nations in which it is expressly
agreed that the vessels of commerce and
war of all nations should receive terms
of entire equality. without discrimination
as TO conditions or charges for trafflc.
During the past century, in more than
forty treaties, similar language has in
variably included the United States coast
wise trade and vessels, and when it
has been intended to except the coast
wise trade words to that effect have
invariably been employed. More than
that, in the consideration and ratification
of the very canal treaty such a clause
was expressly rejected. So II coastwise
ships secure free tolls the other nations
would have a right to claim exemption
and thus prevent the collection of any
tolls for use of the great project. Many
have advocated that free canal should
be the policy of tie United States
''TEe canal will cost. when completed
and fortified. about s40O. 10000 The cost
of operation maintenance, regulation and
protection, including interest on the in
vestment, will be approximately $2s.OOO,-
cation and sufficient defensive force.
military and naval. may in the future
cost indirectly s40.O00,000 per annum.
mo one seriously asserts that this
last annual expenditure lIohi Jul
ury should be donated to the world. The
worlds commerce does not seek or need
such donation. On the contrary, every
sensible person realizes that the com
merce which Is so much benented Dy this
great canal should bear its full share
of the expense of operating and main
tanning it, and ultimately In paying for
it. This would not require rate or
tolls which would be at all burdensome
to traffic, drive away any commercs
from the canal or prevent any develop
ment of commerce or revenue In the
United States. The rate would be about
81 per net ton at first, which would be
about 40 to 60 cents per cargo ton, OF
. or 3 cents per hundred pounds, railroad
measurement.
Reduction of Freight Rates.
'.It is also estimated that the canal will
reduce the average freight rates between
the two coasts between % and 30 per
cent: and some plan even greater re-
ductions, and the tolls would be about
) per cent of the freight rate and pro-
ba bly, 10 per cent of the saving of the
canal.
Nobody has testified SO far that this
slight sum would cause the construction
of one single vessel for the merchant
marine and would only be one slight fac
tor In it's upbuilding. This small sum
could not reduce the price to the coll
sumner on either coast, and certa My
would not affect the market prices IL
the interior of the country. This snail
toll would be practically absorbed by the
vessel owners and the immediate shippers
benefited, and the freight burden would
not reach the consumer at all. Only one
witness thought that there might be a
reduction of 25 cents per thousand feet
on lumber in New York from the Pacific
coast on this account.
..It became evident I'm the testimony
that the real basis for the struggle for
free tolls was the contest between the
mercantile and industrial interests Of the
two coasts against those of the Mississip.
pi valley for the rich trade of the inter
mountain and surrounding territory. The
lower the freight rate through the canal,
the farthvE could be the interests of the
coasts extend their trade into the interior
and AproposhonsNy diminish tha- -butnasa