Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1912 — SEEMS A LOST OPPORTUNITY [ARTICLE]

SEEMS A LOST OPPORTUNITY

Building of the Panama Canal Might Have Been Utilized to More Advantage. The Panama Canal bill which passed the lower house of congress has many good features. One of them Is that American vessels employed In the coastwise trade shall have the use of the. canal free. But American ships engaged in foreign trade must pay the same tolls as ships owned in other countries, $1.25 a ton. A\ hy American coastwise vessels shhuld be favored and American deepsea ships discriminated against is something hard to understand. To be sure there are only a few ships engaged in foreign commerce which fly the Stars and Stripes. The immense export and import business of this country has to depend on foreign bottoms. But those Americans who have hoi»ed to see the maritime prestige of their country restored have seen in the Panama canal possibilities which could be made to contribute tovi ard bringing that result about, •,/ . The canal is being built by the United States at a cost which will probably reach $400,000,000. It is idle to contend that this country cannot, in all fairness, give its own shipping the free use of such a waterway. In fact the house of representatives takes that stand when it relieves coastwise vessels from paying tolls. Then why should it refuse the same privilege to ships in the foreign trade?

The argument rut forth that only an infinitesimal part of the nation is directly interested in ocean shipping by reason of the great objects hoped to be accomplished by the construction of the canal is the development of the commerce between this country and Asia and South America. If congress is determined that the United States shall not have any merchant marine engaged in foreign commerce, how 's that result to be attained? Tiie Panama canal is bringing this Is: ue before the country in a manner which will compel the people to realize }ts importance and act accordingly.