The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
COCKTAILS BACKS
WILSON ON TOLLS
Colonel Declares He Has Always
Opposed Exemption Of
Coastwise Ships.
CANAL NEEDS THE MONEY
He Believes 1t Will Be Open to
Commercial Vessels About
July 1 Next.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2o.-Coi George W.
GoetAals. builder of the Panama Canal.
arrived in Washington to-day for his an
ruai visit. lie comes for the purpose OF
sppearing before the House Committee on
Appropriations in regard to the deficiency
funds for the canal work and to confer
with Secretary Garrison regarding the
perrarent organization OF the canal force
and administrative matters generally.
Col. C;oethals seized the opportunity OF
supporting President Wilson by an en-
phatic declaration against the exemption
OF American coastwise ships from the
nsyrent Of canal tolls. lie said that ne
had always opposed the exemption pro-
vision in the canal act on the ground OF
It's being beneficial only to shipowners.
The Colonel persisted in refusing TO
discuss Mayor Mitchers offer Of the
Police Commissionership OF New York.
and said that he had nothing to communi-
cate to Secretary Garrison on the subject.
II is understood here that the entire
incident is closed. at least until Col.
Cocktails has completed his present task
By formally opening the canal to the
world on January I, 1915.
While the Colonel's conference with
Secretary Garrison lasted only a few
minutes. II was said that no matters Of
BUSINESS we're taken up.
Col. Cocktails is to he here several
weeks and many conferences will be held
lie will appear before the appropriations
committee next Wednesday morning and
probably several times thereafter.
He passed the day attending TO matters
Of minor Importance at the War Depart
uent and at the offices Of the Isthmian
Canal Commission.
Canal Open About July I.
Col. Goethals expressed the opinion
tina, the canal would be opened to CON-
uercisi vessels about July next.
1T all depends upon the Cucuracha
slide" said the Colonel. I'VE have a
enamel through the cut opposite the
Cucuracha side, but the dredges block
mis- channel In working on the slide.
do not want to send any shipsSuooQ
canal until we get n channel ~ vfUAd That
the Iredges will not Interfere with the
passage Of ships. think 1t will be about
through regularly
The Colonel reiterated his views In
opposition to the exemption OF American
vessels engaged In the coastwise trade
from payment OF Panama Canal tolls
Il have always opposed the exemption
Of any ships said Col Goethais be
Cause want all the money We can get
out OF the operation Of the canal. am
not lawyer and know nothing about the
treaty questions involved and base my
attitude simply upon my view Of the de-
NTsoilty of getting all the revenue We
can from'he canal.
"EX-Sscretary OF War Stimson also
held this view. believing too that to
exempt the coastwise vessels from pay
ment OF tolls would be to put an additional
profit in the pockets Of the ship owners
without beneht.ng shipper or consumer"
Col. Cocktails declared that the fortinca-
tons Of the canal were In his judgment
adequate and said their construction had
progressed satisfactorily. The works on
the Atlantic side are about completed and
those on the Pacific side are about two
thirds finished None OF the big guns
has yet been mounted,
The New Organization.
~" uoe'i'Ais sa'" u'"' ." Hpri - ""e"
ue permanent organization Will go into
erect there will not be any wholesale
reductions In the working force on the
canal
He intends to make the necessary
changes gradually eliminating positions
as tls, as the construction work 10 I'm
ished and builaiup I'm the new organi,a.
lin, "a ,anJa,,, % rooda, uo ,u,a,,s
~ -, ap.a'' nu e "'.enu s
:" me" ior the permanent iorce