New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-04
OUR SHIPPING AND THE CANAL
What a Reader Believes Should Be Done
for Our Vessels.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Mr.. Adamson, OF Georgia, has in
troduced a bill in the House TO eliminate
the clause in the Panama bill giving free
passage to American coasting vessels and
insert one to the effect that If canal re-
ceipts after two years operation will pay
expenses without charging coastwise trade
that such trade will go through free.
The proposed toll Of 81 20 a net ton Is
about the same sum as charged on dif-
ferent and specially measured ton At
Suez, but as our canal cost about nve
times as much, and being lock canal
will cost ten times as much to operate,
tolls to pay equal dividends should be
about six or seven times the above
amount, otherwise 1t comes out OF Amer
lean pockets, and. our taxation is high
enough, without paying four-fifths OF the
expense of putting foreign vessels through
the canal, the owners of which foreign
vessels protest against our paying all OF
the expenses Of American coasters.
Probably the only people who have any
grounds for protesting are the American
transcontinental railroads and the heav-
lily subsidized Canadian Pacific, which lat
ter road caused the protest from England
on the score that some of her trade might
be diverted to Portland and Seattle via
the canal.
Not only Britain but many other coun-
tries, pay the tolls Of their mail steamers
through the Suez Canal and Spain more
than a year ago promised to pay tolls
of all Spanish ships through the Panama
Canal.
II the party in power really wanted to
help American shipping It would agree TO
pay tolls of all American vessels through
both Panama and Suez canals. This
would eliminate all causes for controversy
with other governments.
The President in fixing the tolls of the
Panama Canal had the advice OF a scholar
and economist, but man evidently not
familiar with shipping or naval archi-
lecture, and the result is a toll on net ton
mage. This Is the total capacity OF the
vessel In tons Of 100 cubic feet, with de-
auctions for machinery and crew space.
and as the machinery and crew space
vary greatly in proportion 10 total space
the net tonnage has no definite relation
TO the size OF the vessel. Even the gross
tonnage varies greatly In ships OF the
same overall dimensions, as is evident In
case Of an ore carrier and a cotton ship
The only fair tax would be on the actual
displacement at time of passage. All
vessels can get from the builders a certi-
fled displacement curve which would en-
able the canal authorities 10 get the neces-
sary information after taking the mean
draft OF the vessel. Any gross error in
curve could be easily detected by about
two minutes figuring, while TO check up
Suez Canal, or net tonnage. certincate
would take many days. The displacement
tax would automatically make all allow
ances between loaded and light. and wouid
be as fair TO the fine lined maiiboat as 10
the full lined cargo vessel. This Is also
the only way war vessels are measured
The United states government mas done
much to hurt our shipping. II has re-
fused a subsidy. when all foreign coun-
tries, except China. give one. and China
is herself big owner in a coastwise com
psny. They have given exemption In