Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-09
and courage, il neither good for them nor for

and courage, is neither good for them nor for
u.s.
The Punishment, whether by direct decree or
BY not less certain indirect methods, of SO
large q number of men and women Ia not q
local question A decree to leave one country
is, in the nature of things, an order to enter
| another-some other. This consideration, as
well as the suggestions Of humanity, furnishes
| ample ground for the circumstances which We
have presented to Russia, while our historic
friendship for that Government can not fail to
give the assurance that our representations are
those of . sincere wellwisber.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL
The annual report of the Maritime Canal
Company Of Nicaragua shows that much costly
and necessary preparatory work has been done
during the year in the construction Of shops
railroad tracks, and harbor piers and break
waters, ard that the work OF canal construc-
ton has made some progress.
deem 1t to be matter of the highest con-
Germ to the United States that this canal. con-
Meeting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans and giving to us a short water commu-
nication between our ports upon those two
great seas. should be speedily constructed and
at the smallest practicable limit OF cost. The
gain in freights to the people and the direct
saving TO the Government OF the United States
In the use of its naval vessels would pay the
entire cost of this work within a short series of
years The report of the Secretary of the Navy
SHOWS the saving II cur naval expenditures
which would result.
The Senator from Alabama (Mr. Morgan)
IN his argument upon this subject before the
Senate ut the last session, did not overestimate
the Importance of this work when he said that
the canal Is the most important subject now
connected with the commercial growth and
progress of the United Sta.es.''
IL this work liz to be promoted by the usual
financial methods and without the aid of this
Government, the expenditures, i'll its interest
bearing securities and stocks will probably be
twice the actual cost. This will necessitate
higher tolls and constitute a heavy and alto
gether needless burden upon our commerce
and that of the world. Every dollar of the
bonds anu STOCK Of the company should repre-
sent u dollar expended in the legitimate and
economical prosecution OF the work. This is
only possible by giving to the bonds the guar
anty of the United States Government. Such
guaranty would secure the ready sale at par
OF 3 per cent bond, from time to time,
as the money was needed. l do not
doubt that, built upon these business
methods, the canal would. when fully inaugu-
rated, earn its fixed charges and operating
expenses. But If its bonds are to be marketed
at heavy discounts and every bond sold is to be
accompanied by gift of stock. as has come to
be expected by investors in such enterprises
the :1aitic will be seriously burdened to pay
interests and dividends. l am quite willing to
recommend Government promotion in the
prosecution OF work which, if no other
means offered for securing its completion. is Of
such transcendent interest that the govern
lnent shouid. IN my opinion, secure 1t by direct
appropriations from Its Treasury.
A guaranty of The bonds OF the Canal Com
pany 10 an amount necessary to the completion
OF the canal could. l think, be so given as not
10 Involve any serious risk Of ultimate loss.
The things to be carefully guarded are the
completion OF the work within the limits of the
guaranty, the subroSatiou of the United States
10 the rights OF the hrst-mort8age bondholders
for any amounts it may have 10 pay. and in the
meantime control OF the stock of the COM
pany as security against Encouragement and
loss most sincerely hope that neither party
nor sectional lines will be drawn upon this
great American project, SO full of interest to
the people of all our states and so influential in
Its effects upon the prestige and prosperity of
our common country.
THE NAvAssA LABoRERs.
The Island of Navassa, in the West Indian
group, has, under the provisions of Title 70 of
the Revised Statutes, been recognized by the
President as appertaining to the United States.
1t contains guano deposits is owned by the
Navassa Phosphate Company, and is occupied
solely by its employees In September, 1889.
revolt took place among these laborers result
Ing In the killing of some of the agents of the
company, caused, as the laborers claimed, by
cruel treatment. These men were arrested and
tried in the United States court at Baltimore,
under section 5576 OF the statute referred to- as
II the odenses had been committed on board a
merchant vessel of the United States on the
high seas. There appeared on the trial. and
otherwise came to me. such evidences Of the
bad treatment of the men that, in considera-
ton OF this and of the fact that the men had
no access to any public officer or tribunal for
protectlon or the redress of their wrongs, l
COMMITTED the death sentences that had been
passed by the court upon three of them. In
April last my attention was again called to this
island, and to the unregulated condition OF
things there. by letter from a colored la
borer, who complained that he was wrongfully
detained upon the island by the phosphate
company after the expiration of his contract of
service. naval vessel was sent to examine
into the case of this man and generally into the
condition Of things on the island. 1t was found
that the laborer referred to had been detained
beyond the contract limit and that condition
OF revolt again existed among the laborers. A
board of naval officers reported, among other
things, as follows:
1--WE would desire to state further that the
discipline maintained on the island seems to be
that of convict establishment, without its
comforts and cleanliness, and that. until more
attention Is paid to the shipping Of laborers, by
placing 1t under Government supervision to
prevent misunderstanding and m.srepresenta-
ton, and until some amelioratiou is shown in
the treatment OF the laborers, these disorders
will be OF constant occurrence"
recommend legislation that shall place
labor contracts upon this and other islands
having the relation that Navassa has to the
United States under the supervision of a
court commissioner, and that shall provide at
the expense of the owners, an officer to reside
upon the islands with power TO Judge and adj
just disputes and to enforce a just and humane
treatment of the employees. 1t is inexcusable
that American laDorers should be left within
our own jurisdiction without access to any
GoverhmeDt officer or tribunal for their pro-
lection and the redress Of their wrongs.
International copyright has been secured in
accordance with the conditions of the act OF
March 3, 1891, with Belgium, France, Great
Britain and the British possessions, and Switz-
erland, the laws of those countries permitting
to our citizens the benefit OF copyright on SUBJ
stantially the same basis rs to their own citi-
zens or subjects. With Germany a special
convention has been negotiated upon this sub
lect which VIII bring that country within tine
reciprocal benefits of our legislation.
The Treasury Department
The general interest in the operations Of the
Treasury Department has been much aug
mented during the last year by reason of the
conflicting predictions, which accompanied
and followed the tariff and other legislation
of the last Congress affecting the revenues as
TO the results of this legislation upon the
Treasury and upon the country. On the one
hand it conteuded that imports would SO
fall of as to leave the Treasury bankrupt and
that the prices Of articles entering into the liy-