PANAMA CANAL BILL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10714, 7 September 1912, Page 5

PANAMA CANAL BILL

AMERICAN EXEMPTION ESSENTIAL. (Received this morning, 12.20 o'clock.) WASHINGTON, September Q. According to data prepared by Mr Johnson, special commissioner at Panama, the whole of American coastwise traffic is likely to pass through -the Canal, when it opens, a million tons, I and during the following five years the estimates that this will increase to a million and a half tons. Mr Johnson is inclined to the belief that British and other foreign commerce will be obliged to bear the 10 per cent additional burden, over the amount payable, If the Americans are not exempted he points out that a proportional share of this burden will be born by American ships, which will consequently then bo on a precise equality with foreigners. He suggests a four shillings rate for ; the first year the Canal is in operation fin order to compete with the Suez Canal.

Oil a basis of ton million tons .' f business the yearly income would be entirely inadequate to meet 1 the charges of interest, sinking hind, and the sanitation of the canal. Consequently the Canal would be operated by the United States at heavy loss. He claims that the services granted to foreign *hips on a basis of a four shippings flat rate, is quite below the cost of services afforded. Consequently no discrimination should bo imposed on foreign vessels.

ARBITRATION IMPOSSIBLE. A DIPLOMAT'S VIEWS. (Received this morning, 12.20 o ? clock.) • LONDON, September 6. Mr Chauncery Depew, the ivellkhotr U.S.A. diplomat, in an interview, stated that he did not think the Panama Canal Bill would bo amended, or that arbitration would be adopted. America, ho said, would certainly be beaten if arbitration were adopted. .ti. -?" • •.>■>■: ■'■ .-i-i ■ &■:■ r . . ._ . „. .„ v. . -1.-.'-J'-;