THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1912. PANAMA CANAL BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10699, 21 August 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1912. PANAMA CANAL BILL.

The result of the conference of tho two branches of the United States Legislature on tlic Panama Canal Bill will be awaited with considerable, interest in all parte of the British Empire Tho Bill reported in tho House of Representatives at Washington about the middle of March fixes the maximum of tolls at 1.25d0l (os) per ton, the minimum (not named) to bo not ltvs than enough to ensure maintenance and operation of tho canal, the amount between the extremes being left to the discretion of the President of the United States, who may change rates as often as he sees fit. No preferences were to be given to American ships, but as our readers know, preference is given American ships by the Bill. Tolls were to be assessed upon the registered net tonnage of vessels, except that warships of foreign nations may be assessed on their displacement tonnage. Official vessels of the United States Government, including those of the- Panama Railroad and Panama Republic will pass free. The proposed Bill makes it unlawful for any ship engaged in interstate commerce or pointy within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States to pass through the canal if 'owned, leased, operated, or controlled by any railroad company engaged in iuter-s-tnte commerce or by any other corporation in which such railroad company has any interest, or by any other person, association, or corporation., with intent' to restrain or prevent, or with the effect of restraining or preventing, competition through the Panama Canal, either between ships, ship lines, or ship companies and railroads." It is also made unlawful for any ship to pas« through the canal, if the person, association or corporation owning, leasing operating, or controlling the same shall be engaged in any "agreement, combination, shipping ring, or conference" with intent to restrain competition through the canal. Owners and captains of vessels violating tho requirements of the shall bo subject to heavy fines or imprisonment, and a penalty of 10,000 dollars may be assessed ngainst each ship for each

offence. It is very doubftul if fcho Bill will pass in any such radical form; but the President may be authorised to make such a stringent rule if iii, hid judgment, the occasion requires it. There h earnest desire on all sides that some Bill bo passed as early as possible, po that railroads and steamship lines and all other interests concerned may complote their plans for traffic.under the now conditions. The precise effect of a toll of 1.20d0l (os) per registered ton upon the traffic of the railroads would have to be worked out by experience. So far as can be learned, the railroads are not, however, apprehensive of much harm. If is calculated that an amount of freight in which the element of time in delivery is of minor consequence will naturally be shipped by water through the canal; but this class of freight is usually the least profitable to haul, and it is further calculated that the equipment required to transport it can be put to more profitable use when, and as, tke opening of the canal shall contribute to the merchandiso traffic in the interior of the country and upon the coast. For it is expected that the passing of foreign steamships through the canal will lead to transportation of many immigrants to the western ; part of the United States, to Mixico and to South' America, as well as to Canadian points, and that tliess people will contribute to the business growth of the countries, all of which will mako for an increase of traffic by rail. It is, moreover, expected that existing and new steamer lines will «ail to and from the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico points to Pacific Coast points; also that similar lines will start from Pacific Coast points and pass through me canal to Atlaiirtic Coast points, and that European line*) will traverse the Pacific by the canal route, while Asiatic and American lines upon the Pacific will go through the canal destined to points reached by the Atlantic. Traffic or-) iginating in the Mississippi valley and in territory tributary thereto, and destined to go through the canal, will probably be very lame, and will continually increase in volume; and :the railroads serving that territory will have this traffic, to haul. Tt is, furthermore, conceivable that a large passenger traffic will be done through the canal for the rest and novelty of the trip, and especially in connection with the Panama Exposition in San rFrancipco. The railroads 1 will get a short haul on this traffic, even if they miss the long haul on more or less of it. . They will get a share of. the travel of immigrants from sea coast to interior points, and will bo permanently benefited by such growth cf the country as arises from the occupation of undeveloped lands by settlers from Europe and elsewhere.