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May, 1913 Canadian railroads will indicate exactly what sort of a dictation that would be. "It is high time for an illuminating discussion of this whole question. There may be a good many people who blindly accept what they have heard and who may be led to believe that this govern- ment is not living up to its solemn pledges. Let us get all the facts before them, so they will understand the' situa- tion. "The pro-British side has been too long before the people unchallenged. A discussion of this resolution I propose to offer will do the country good, for it will expose the fallacy of much that has been spoken and written in advocacy of the British contention." Congressman J. Hampton Moore, of Pennsylvania, followed Senator Cham- berlain's resolution with a bill directing the secretary of state to confer with Great Britain and other nations with the view of having them participate in the cost of construction and maintenance of the canal. Mr. Moore suggests that, as. the canal will cost the American people about $400,000,000 and the main- tenance thereafter will amount to about $25,000,000 annually, it would be fair if other nations object to the United States giving its own vessels a preference in the use of the canal. By bearing a fair proportion of the expense, he contends, other nations would come in on equal terms with this country. This will avoid the necessity of fortifications, he argues, the joint ownership assuring peace. All controversies with regard to treaties and tolls can be adjusted satisfactorily and expeditiously, he says, if other nations who want to use the canal join in the expense. Mr. Moore also offered a bill pro- viding for the creation of a Panama canal commission to aid the interests of this country and to repeal that part of the Panama government act admitting free of duty materials of foreign pro- duction that enter into the construction or equipment of ships. Significant action was taken by the Senate Interoceanic Canals Committee when by a vote of 13 to 1 it decided to postpone action on the Panama tolls until the regular session of congress in December next. The action seems to foreshadow a positive refusal by the senate to repeal the legislation giving free passage through the canal to Amer- ican coastwise shipping. If Colonel Goethal's hopes are realized the canal will be opened to shipping before De- cember. The Underwood tariff bill contains the following provision: "That a discount of 5 per centum on all duties imposed by this act shall be allowed on such goods, wares and THE MARINE REVIEW merchandise as shall be imported in vessels built in the United States and which shall be wholly the property of a citizen or citizens thereof." This pro- vision will have some influence upon importations from Europe, but would he of slight benefit in stimulating the car- triage of goods from South America in American ships, as practically all of our imports from South America are on the free list. Oil Tanker Vesta The oil tanker Vesta, which has been changed into an_ oil-burning steamer at the. yard of the. New York Ship Building Co., Camden, N. 163 ble of dredging to a depth of 35 ft. be- low water level. A set of compound ma- rine type engines supplied by steam from a multitubular steel boiler constructed for a working pressure of 120 pounds drives the dredging machinery. The deck machinery includes steam gear for raising and lowering the bucket ladder; powerful bow and_ stern winches for maneuvering purposes and for regu- lating the cut of dredger while at work. Comfortable cabins are provided for the officers and crew. The dredger is built to Lloyds Survey and was constructed ° under the direction of Charles Wat- son, engineer to the North Eastern Rail- way Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne. OIL), TANKER VESTA, BUILT BY NEW YORK SHIP BUILDING CO. ON HER TRIAL TRIP J., underwent its trial trip on the Delaware river recently, meeting all requirements. The trip was in charge of George M. Andrews, general man- ager of the New York Ship Build- ing Co, and W. G. Randle, marine superintendent. D. E. Ford repre- sented the Standard Oil Co. Bucket Dredger Charles Harrison Messrs. William Simons & Co., Ltd., of Renfrew, launched last month, with all machinery on board and steam up ready for work, the barge-loading bucket dredger Charles Harrison, built "by them to the order of the North Eastern Railway Co. The vessel, which has been specially designed for dock work, is of the bow-well bucket ladder type and is well equipped for dealing with all classes of material' and is capa- Earnings of Three Steamship Lines | The revenues of the Cunard Steam- ship Co., increased from $14,974,943 to $17,457,527 in 1912, an increase of $2,- 482,584. This is a gain of 16.6 per cent. Operating expenses increased $825,491,, or 7.5 per cent, the total for 1912 being $11,836,011. The net earnings amounted to $5,621,516, an increase of $1,657,093. The North German Lloyd's gross rey- enues were $12,341,121, as against $9,- 887,404 for the preceding year, an in- crease of $2,453,717. : The Hamburg-American Line reports net revenues of $13,522,275, a gain of $2,260,073. "Microbes is so shmall," says Pat, "ye cud put a handful of 'em on the point of a needle."