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Show Panama Canal. "At the instance of Colonel Goetb-als, Goetb-als, the nrmy engineer officer In charge of the work ou tho Panama canal, I have just made a visit to the Isthmus to inspect the work done and to consult with him on the ground a to certain problems which are likely to arise In the near future. fu-ture. The progress of the work Is most satisfactory. If no unexpected obstacle presents Itself, the canal will be completed well within the time fixed by Colonel Uoethala, to-wit, to-wit, January 1, 1915, and within the estimate or cost, 1376.OO0.0D0. "Among questions arising for present pres-ent solution is the decision whether the canal shall be fortified. 1 have already staled to the congress that I strongly favor fortification and 1 now relterato this opinion and auk your consideration of the subject in the light of the report already before be-fore you made by a competent boai'd. "Another question which artnes for consideration and possible legislation Is the question of tolls In the canal. This question la necessarily affected by the probable tonnage which will go through the canal. "In determining what the tolls should be we certainly ought not to Insist that for a good many years to come they should amount to enough to pay the interest on the investment invest-ment or $400,000,000 which the United States has made In the construction of the canal. We ought not to do this, first, because the beneflta to be derived by the United Statea from this expenditure la not to be measured meas-ured solely by a return upon the Investment In-vestment If It were then the construction con-struction might well have been left to private enterprise. "My own Impression la that the tolls ought pot to exceed $1 per.net ton, and I ' should recommend that within certain limits the president be authorised to fix the tolls of the canal and adjust them o what seems to be commercial nrfNplty. "I cannot clo s reference to the canW wltho estlng as a wlae amendment Interstate commerce law a bju- ohibltlng Interstate mmjr from owning) gaged in thai ma canal. ' V Vpo may be 1 of the U ; the compel ! this canal J |