OCR Text |
Show TAPT SPEAKS ON PANAMA RATES Discusses Policy of Government. Possible Effect on Transcontinental Trans-continental Traffic Considered. Believed to Be of Little Moment, but Readjustment Will Take Place. Anyway. WASHINGTON, April 25. Secretary Taft h;i- made a decision that Is of the greatest Importance to railroad Interests respecting the policy of the Government relative to the existing monopolv of traffic across trK isthmus of Panama and the fixing of rates ov,cr the Panama rall-road rall-road as bearing on the existing rates on transcontinental traffic 'Ihe publication of several interviews recently re-cently with Secretary Taft Mr Shoots ond Chief Engineer Wallace has led to much confusion In the public mind on these subjects, and the Secretary concluded con-cluded to publish a letter which he has Just written as the best wa of making known his own views and purposes. Readjustment of Rates. In the letter he makes it plain that there Is to be no discrimination whatever as between the several steamship companies in handling their business across the Isthmus He does not anticipate any considerable con-siderable effect upon transcontinental trafflt from the rearrangement o( Panama railroad ral is, but that this readjustment will be bad regardless of such effect. He bays. Will Permit No Discrimination. The policy of the Government In mansglni the rnnania railroad is to . haige such ran-, as will pay for the carriage of the Roods ner.-.s- the Isthmus, a ressenohle return th Investment of the Government and nothing more It will j.ermll no discrimination against or In favnr oi ii Of the connecting uleam-vhlii uleam-vhlii lines. It may bs thnt this polio will affect the triinscmtlneniiil rates on those classs of freight that can stand th" Istlunu-. trip, favorably for the shipper. Will Havo Slight Influence However, Mr. Wallace, our chief engineer nnl H railWH ' I III I XJI.-l ll.l thnt the ptopossd ehanges will not have much Influen-'e on transcontinental rules, because be-cause he thinks but n small proportion of that which goes to make up transcontinental freight can be tarried bv the Isthmus. Vhe loni trip and the fact thnt the merchandise carried h to Ik a considerable period In the tropics exclude the possibility of carrying many kinds Make Rate Low as Possible. The Panama Tlallrond cmpany owns ihre steamships, which pis between New York nnd Colon. We bhull make the rule upon these ships as Imw as possible, consistent with raving rav-ing a reasonable compensation for tho car Hags and Investments We shall run them merelj for the purpose of prrventlng a combination com-bination to raise the rates from the t'nlt.-d States to the Isthmus on material Dial 19 to be ujied In the construction of the canal. Will Bieak Monopoly. The Government Is not running nnd does not expect to run a line between New York nnd Kn Kranelsco or between San FYancln-., and New York Tho policy of the Panama Railroad company heretofore, in ' lew of its vnorhli of three ships and tho docks at olon and Its resulting a t 1 1 1 1 lo i-x. Pule from 1 h" New York nnd 1 ol in business nv other steamship lines has been to moniiollzo the trade between New York and Punuma on the-on,- i.ijc. while it- arrangement for exclusive through billing between New York and Ban EVanclSCO with the Pnelflo Mall Steamship company produced a monop.dv fur th Pacltlc 'vlall on tt (her. between Panama mil r.n nanoteco on the north, and a monopoly for tho 'hiiean and Pacific steamship companies from Panama to the south So far as tho action uf the l'nnaniu Railroad 1 impanj 1 lb brcuk un the monopoly It Is being done. Must Do Commercial Business. The ilKivernment n acquisition of the railway rail-way lino whs not primarll) for tho purposu of effecting rallwuy or ix-.-un rites, trauscontl-nentnl trauscontl-nentnl or otherwise. It waa for the puip.M-of puip.M-of acquiring sn instrument with which to con-Htmct con-Htmct the canul. an instrument absolutely In-dlspensnblo In-dlspensnblo to the accomplishment of our pur-- pur-- 9 Ithln a rsssonsblS time. The Incident that we must hold the railroad under a franchise fran-chise requiring us to do a commercial business busi-ness Is what ltnmes unn us the obligation to do vvhnt we rsn lo make Just rnt.s ant prevent discrimination, anil thin wo shrill do If tbLs ameliorates conditions we shall In. glad If It does mt li M: our power to do more. Effect Is Elusrre..M effrc '-limiges it, rjiM ssjl d it ions is so elusive that it l hvgV make a prediction as to th-should th-should stud the local condliifsiB oil nt Panama and n' the ojuH Sin y ajicl.ser,, in M.,!r, ( America, nnd should -stlmate UmH ation of "in- i , ,ai,! -,v l-iw. tlH tie. Intervention of foreign bIhH trade '.la tin isthmus betwetn SsH and IvTew "nrk, l f.. c ei(pr-ljH I,. iii.' . n..i oi 1 "ntnearH of the Panama railroad iipntt '.nd cast cotltgflH I |