Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-12-10
msnt OF Alaska. especially in regard to the
land laws.


In connection with our insular posses-
sions he recommends an Appropriation fol
the building OF lighthouses IN Hawaii and
the payment for those already built by
governor OF Hawaii be empowered TO dis.
charge officials appointed BY him without
submitting the matter to the legislature.
He reports steady progress being made
In both Porto Rico and the Philippines and
asks for the latter new tariff arrange
| ments.
He believes that new laws are needed in
connection with the administration OF the
| public lands, and wants them held, so Tar
as possible, for the home builder. He re-
ports STEADY progress being made In irri-
cation in the west under the irrigation law,
and does not believe new legislation along
tinuation OF the work Of forest preserva-
| ton, and the reservation OF the pubic
lands lying about the headwaters OF the
| western streams.
He notes the increase in the number Of
government employees under the civil serv-
ice rules, and pronounces the results ad-
| vantageous to the government. In con-
nection with the army he recommends the
procuring Of suitable maneuver grounds IN
different sections of the country, and some
provision that will enable the department
| 10 recognize merit in making promotions
| where such are deserved. For the navy he
wants naval base established In the PHI,
ippines without unnecessary delay, and
| recommends the establishment Of naval
general staff along lines similar to those
| OF the army.
The Isthmian Canal.
More attention is given the isthmian
| canal and the Panama revolution than 10
| any other subject. The legislation leading
up to the present condition Is discussed
| and reviewed. He sees no necessity for
reverting TO the Nicaraguan route, and
pronounces present conditions ripe for the
building OF the Panama canal. and In this
| connection says:
when the congress directed that We
| should take the Panama route under treaty
| with Colombia, the essence OF the condi-
tion, Of course. referred not to the govern
| the route itself; to the territory across
| which the route lay. not to the name which
| for the moment the territory bore on the
map: The purpose OF the law. was TO au-
with the power In actual control OF the
isthmus OF Panama. This purpose has
been fulfilled"
He reviews the relations OF this govern
ment with Colombia relative to the mat
| ter Of transit across the isthmus from the
| time of the signing OF the treaty guaran-
| teeing right of way OF transit across the
isthmus TO the citizens Of this country,
| 1876, down to the present time. For an in
depreciation OF the meaning OF the treaty
| he quotes from the state papers OF previous
| government officials, including Secretary
| Cass and Secretary Seward. Says We are
1
canal; notes the reputation of the cana
treaty by Colombia and says:
Nevertheless the government OF Colom.
bia not merely repudiated the treaty. bu,
repudiated II in such manner as TO make
IL evident by the time the Colombian con-
gress adjourned that not the scantiest hopt
| remained Of ever getting Satisfactory
treaty from them. The government Of
Colombia made the treaty, and yet wher
| the Colombian congress was called TO rat
| fy Il the vote against ratification wa.
unanimous. 1t does not appear that the
| government made any real effort TO secure
ratification"
The Panama Revolution.
He reviews the incidents Of the Panama
revolution, and says the action OF the
| United States was In accordance with the
terms OF the treaty guaranteeing peace.
able transit across the isthmus, and could
not have been otherwise. He reviews at
| considerable length the disturbances that
| have occurred In Panama since 1S41, and
the efforts Of the United States TO preserve
the rights guaranteed its citizens by treaty
| and says:
| century has shown Colombia TO be utterly
| incapable Of keeping order on the isthmus.
Only the active interference OF the United
States has enabled her TO preserve SO much
| as a semb!ance OF sovereignty. Had IT
not been for the exercise by the United
| States of the police power In her interest,
| her connection with the isttmus would
have been sundered long ago. In 1856, In
| 1867 In 1873, In 1885, In 1901. and again IN
1902 sailors and marines from United
| States warships We're forced TO land In or
| der TO patrol the isthmus, TO protect Ire
| and property, and 10 see that the transit
| across the isthmus was kept open. In 1861,
| in 1862. in 1855. and in 1860, the Colombian
| government asked that the United states
government would land troops 10 protect
| It's interests and maintain order on the
| isthmus."
Considering the canal question in all its
| phases, and the inability OF Colombia to
maintain order on the isthmus, and us
Reputation of the canal treaty which would
| have guaranteed permanent peace there,
| the president says
Under such circumstances the govern
ment of the United States would have been
guilty Of folly and weakness, amounting
in their sum TO crime against the nation,
had II acted otherwise than 1t did when
the revolution Of November laSt TOOK
place in Panama. This great enterprise OF
building the interoceanic canal cannot De
held up to crafty the wh!ms. or OUT OF
respect TO the governmental impotence,
or TO the even more sinister and evil polit-
ical peculiarities. OF people who. though
they dwell afar of, yet against the wish
of the actual jewellers on the isthmus, as
sert an unreal supremacy over the terri
tory. The possession OF territory iraugnt
with such peculiar capacities as the 18TH
mus in question carries with II Obligations
to mankind The course OF events has
shown that this canal cannot be built by
private enterprise or by any other nation
than our own: therefore 1t must be built
by the United States"
The New Canal Treaty.
He refers to the new canal treaty recent
IN made with Panama, which he submits
with the message, and says OF 1t: 49,
by the provisions OF the treaty the
United States guarantees and Will main
tain the independence Of the republic Of
Panama. There is granted TO the United
and control OF u strip ten miles wide and
extending three nautical miles into me
sea at either terminal, with all lands lying
outside OF the zone necessary for the con-
struc;ion of the canal or Tor Its auxiliary
works. and with the islands in the bay OF
Panama. The cities OF Panama and Colon
are not embraced In the canal zone, but
the United States assumes their sanitation
and, in case OF need. the maintenance OF