The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-12
COOLIE LABOR REQUIRED
FOR ISTHMIAN CANAL
Saloons Necessary for the Diggers,
Who Must Have Beer and
Light Wines.
ADMIRAL WALKERS VIEWS

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE House
on interstate and foreign
to-day began a series
Of hearings 10 determine the char
acter Of legislation for the government
of the canal zone on the Isthmus OF Pana-
ma. Rear Admiral Walker. president of
the canal commission, discussed the canal
situation from many interesting stand
points. The committee will hear other
member Of the commission Tuesday next.
Admiral Walker said he believed work on
the canal could be begun within two or
three months. BY this time. he said. the
question OF titlo would be cleared up and
a transfer made to the United States. The
French company now has about eight thou
sand laborers at work on the Culebra cut
and this work would be continued immedi-
ateiy. Admiral Walker remarked Incl
d~entally that he expected no trouble what
ever with Colombia.
The liquor question was injected into the
discussion by a remark of the admiral that
the principal revenues would come from
licenses from eating houses and saloons.
lie was asked at once IL II was necessary to
grant liquor privileges. He replied very
4. positively that IL was; that the laborers Of
the tropics all used alcoholic beverages,
and that IL would be impossible to obtain
or retain laborers for this class of work
If the sale of liquor was prohibited. He
said. however. that they were not hard
wines.
Speaking of the class of labor that it
would be necessary to employ in the con-
struction OF a canal, Admiral Walker said
that the blacks from Jamaica undoubtedly
were the best fitted class that could be OBJ
tanned in the vicinity of the canal zone.
There were not enough of those laborers.
including the blac&s, which could be taken
from the Southern States, TO prosecute the
Coolie labor from China and Japan would
have TO be brought over for this work. He
estimated that the maximum number of la
borers needed would be between thirty and
forty thousand Other persons who would
come with these laborers would increase
the population of the zone TO between $4,000
and 10000.
The police force necessary to keep order
on the isthmus Admiral Walker suggested
should be organized similar to that of an
American city. One hundred men at first
would be sufficient. but this number would
have to be increased to perhaps five hun
dred. A court Of judges. each to sit separ-
ately. with the right of appeal to the full
bench YVES advocated.
Sanitary arrangements, which included
the sanitation of the cities of Panama and
Colon. ne said, would be placed undoubtedly
in the hands of a special committee Of
members of the commission. the regulations
10 be enforced by a separate force of Off
GERS. No trouble between the local govern
ments OF the two cities and the sanitary of
fcefs Is anticipated by the admiral. In
case of riots or unusual disturbances he
believed the Panama government could be
relied On to aid the police force of the
strip. and he also deemed IL advisable TO
have at least three hundred American
marines stationed permanently on the zone.
These soldiers, however, he said, were not
good policemen.
The possibility of smuggling was dis
cussed at some length by the committee
but no conclusion was reached. Admiral
Walker did not anticipate any trouble in
this connection, stating that IL would be
impossible 10 import goods from foreign
countries into the strip for later Shipment
into the United States free OF duty TO an
extent 10 be commercially profitable.