The sun., 1919-07-07
: -ycS 1-T- ~ v =. 80 q,
PANAMA MERCHANTS
GET THIN PICKINGS
Building of Canal Did Not
Bring the Big Business
Expected.
: - ,,--7---
RELIEF Is. DEMANDED
L. S. Government Stores Take
Bulk of. Trade Under -
Tariff Laws.
RELIEF Is. DEMANDED


From tho Panamanian merchants
viewpoint the Panama Canal has not
brought the business to that little strip
Of land that was expected upon the COM
pletion of the gigantic engineering job
When Uncle SamHmoved hts army of in
dustrial workers down there several
years ago to begin digging the Pana-
inanian expected bonanza times. He
expected that the thousands of workers
on the Zone would spend their money
with the native mrchants,, and .that-bu
ness would boom. ....
But in these expectations they were
doomed to keen disappointment. for
Uncle sam moved his own stores along
with the huge army that had 10 be fed
and clothed and provided with other
necessities OF life. And herein lies the
chief complaint of the Panamanian. to
= n jt,4that ths, -ll..plied, States Government
sstJn1fn issarfes on tlio-cShai ZoneiAre sell.
ing SO -low-to Government employees that
their own business is becoming shattered
The Panamanians, are unable to compete
Wifi the prices established by Uncle
-esrts -comnriessries. .-'''--~
The Panamanian reasons thusly:
I'VE must buy our merchandise In
freights,swe -fstaet pay heavy duties on
our goods,r while. the Government can
ship In It's wares and sell them over the
eountgs INT Tho compulsory department
much cheaper because tney are free from
duty charees.- Under such conditions
the business Of the Panama merchant
has been crippled and we are looking for
relief.
Not only are the United States Gov
eminent employees enjoying this advan-
tage Of practically Wholesale prices in
the commissaries, but some of our own
cttiZepS are going over the line 10 patron
ize the Government stores as well. II
b. Ia ppens. this wax: The American en-
= phofce. -rhen-h he gets-ids pay. Is allowed
H'cef'tetft mum Der of coupons which priv
ilege him 70 buy goods at the Govern.
ment commissary, II Is often the case
that he does not need to make any pur-
cnsses. aHe,the goes over the lire and
sells this coupon 70 his Panamanian
friends. Although this Is against the
law on the Panama Canal Zone. II is be-
ing worked ID death, and this Is one Of
the complaints we are forced, TO make
Not only are we losing the business OF
the, Goyernpent. employees. but 4 our
own citizens as well - -
In an effort to seek relief 'against Gov
ernmspt- 6 ornpetuion with native Panama
merchants "a commission composed OF
Erneste Eefeb+ne. Secretary OF Foreign
Affairs OF the Government of Panama;
Alfarlo Horac io, PRECEDENT OF the Cham
Der OF Commerce of Panama city. and
a few ar-~prominent Fanamanians
are on -the,r-:~ay TO the United States
30 present their grievances to President
Wilson. The party is expected to ar
rive in New York some time next week.
They will Immediately go to Washing
ton. to present, their case. ~.
II IL said that the merchants Of Pana-
ma have tho support of American mer-
chants who are interested in trade de-
vel6pment on the Canal Zone. Unless
the merchants of that country can buy
Roods@ from the United States at eN-
tremelv low prices and compete on an
equal footing they will be unable to con-
TIME BUSINESS u is claimed. With the
Government freed Of duey| cha rges and
private merchants forced TO pay them. It
Is difficult 10 >devAlop- business IN that
territory, according to the merchants OF
Panama.
Another complaint to he brought be-
fore the United States Government Is
aimed at the Panama Railway. The
merchant from Panama city ordering
goods from the United States must have
then .fFeishted oyer from Colon by rail-
way. The freight charges are much
higher over the railroad than by steam
ship on the canal. The business men Of
Panama city have often petitloned the
Government to he permitted TO run
steamships to Colon for the purpose of
bringing their goods TO the destination
point by water, thus reducing the freight
costs. Nothing has ever come of this
however. 1t Is the intention of the
Panama commission to have this matter
aired in Washington.