The Washington herald., 1913-10-18
FREE TOLLS NOW
MAY BEREVOKED
oosrIsuED rHoM pAeE ONE.

way for the members of Congress who
favored free tolls to retreat without APP
lpearing TO surrender. Furthermore. II
Twin postpone the complications with
Great Britain. and probably with other
nations, at least until the United States
knows exactly where IL stands In re-
gard to the canal and what the receipts
and expenditures will be in the opera
ton OF the gigantic enterprise.
Furthermore. the passage OF the reso-
luton. Il Is contended. would enable the
present discussion OF the tolls question
with Great Britain to proceed without
the hard feeling that might arise in the
event OF the issue being more acute.
Representative Adamson and others
familiar With the subject contend that
unless the coastwise ships of the United
States enter the canaT on an equality
with ships Of other nations, the water
way at the beginning will not be as gem
orally used as has been expected.
Prof. Emry r. johnson. OF the Univer-
sity OF Pennsylvania, who compiled es-
Inmates Of the tonnage that will pass
through the Panama Canal for the Pan
anna Canal Commission. estimated that II
would be at least ten years before the
canal would be commercially self-sup-
porting. II this is true. the Adamson
resolution would postpone the operation
Of the free tolls provision for at least
ten years
Metcaffe Causes Treuble.
But this Is not the only phase of the
Panma Canal act that win come before
Congress- In the special session. In fact
1t seems now as II many OF the big fea-
lures OF that act which engaged the at
tention OF Congress a year or SO ago will
be thrashed over again at this coming
session.
The issue has been presented to the
Wilson administration IN q clean-cut way
whether II viii stand by or desert Col.
George w. Goethals, the builder Of the
Panama Canal The cause Of the Issue In
Richard Metcalfe, who was editor OF
William J. Bryan's Commoner until four
months ago, when. through Bryan's In
fiuence, he was appointed to the Panama
Canal Commission.
Metcalfe, after four months experience
on the Canal Zone, has formulated q set
Of opinions as TO what the future govern
ment Of the canal and the zone ought
to be. These opinions 90 not coincide
with those held by Col. Goethals and de-
veloped through years Of actual expert
The question is: VIII the Wilson admin
istration support the views of Bry ans
man. Metcalfe, and advocate q radical
amendment Of the Panama Canal act
passed at the last session. or will the
President continue to depend on Col.
Goethal's opinion and s,zy oy him?
The most radical suggestion made by
Commissioner Metcalfe Is that the per-
manent government OF the canal and the
Canal Zone should be by a commission.
probably OF three members. Col. Gos-
thals has urged from the start a one-rnan
government Of the Canai Zone, and that
Is the idea that was Incorporated into the
Panama Canal act passed at the last ses-
sion OF Congress.
The commission form Of government
was urged at that time, but Col GoethaIs
presented strong arguments against IT.
and he was warmly supported by Presi-
dent Taft The builder Of the canal con-
tended that centralized control in one
man, upon whom would rest full respon-
sibility for the operation OF the canal and
the government OF the zone, was the only
form Of government That should be con-
sidered.
Congress finally accepted Col GoethaPs
views. and President Taft made known
his intention to install the permanent
government at once through the appoint
ment OF Col Goethals himself as Cow
ernor. It was understood that the colonel
would consent to take the place only
until the canal formally was opened and
in operation.
Jobs Arc at Stake.
The proposed inauguration of the per-
mAnent government at once drew a howl |
from the friends of the Panama Canal
Commissioners, who would lose their jobs |
as soon as this move was taken. Demo |
cratic Senators served notice that they
would not permit the confirmation Of |
Cocktails nomination. not because they |
were opposed to him, but because they |
believed the entire matter ought to be |
left to President Wilson. President Taft, |
on account OF this opposition, was COM
PEELED to abandon his plan. and that Is !
the way the situation has remained up
to this time.
Col. Goethsls has insisted all along 1
that there Is urgent necessity for the /
OF an operating force; that this
force ought to be in readiness to handle
traffic as soon as the canal is opened.
Until the new law is put into effect by
the President. however, he will be un-
able to organize this operating force.
and the indications now are that the
Wilson administration will favor the
of the present commission
form Of government until the canal is
opened. The Presidents advisers con-
tend that those who have helped in the
building of the canal thus far should
share in the final honors.
1t was denied at the War Department
yesterday that there is any personal
break between Goethals and Metcalfe. In
fact, Metcalfes suggestions were for
warded to the War Department through
Goethals. Col. Goethals will submit
giving his views,
Besides the change in the form OF gov
Metcalfe. 1t Is understood. fa-
yors allowing private interests TO s0p-
crate the Panama Railroad and to run
4 commissary on the zone. Col Goethals
tavors government operation of practi-
The outcome of Metcalfe's recommends
ions will be watched here with the
xeenest interest The belief is that
President Wilson will stand by Col.
Ioethals and accept his opinions, as did
President Taft