The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-01
rHE cANAL coMMIssTor.


 Whatever objections we may have tc President Roosevelt and his policies ir general we can heartily congratulate him on the temper and spirit with which he has approached the selection of membert for the Canal Commission. The St Louis Expedition Commission shows what kind- ness could do for broken down politicians. Fortunately the country had not much to suffer from McKinley's charity in that case. The Commissioners might have done much good; they can do very little harm. With the Isthmian Canal the question of appointment to the Commis- sion is of vital moment to the whole country. Never before has e nation un- dertaken so gigantic an enterprise, in- voiving the expenditure of so many mil HonG There is one bit of engineering work, the construction of the great dam, unlike anything ever before attempted ana to subject the wayward and violent Chagres river to human control in the opinion of many good judges is task hardly less difficult. In all fairness what could our friend, ex-Senator Jones of Arkansas, contribute to the solution of these problems and the hundreds of oth- CTS involved in the construction of the canal? He could have drawn his salary cheerfuily. What could our friend, ex- Governor Savers of Texas. contribute? He could have drawn his salary cheer fully. Of ex-Senator Harris of Kansas it could at least be said he had once pursued the profession of engineering. President Roosevelt, however, has gone at this matter in bnsiness-like way. He appears to be determined to secure the best skill to be had in the United States. The act compels him to name two army officers and Admiral Walker and General Davis are admirably equipped for the work before them. For the civilian mem- bers the President has striven to secure the names of the most eminent engineers who have had experience of kind that would be useful in dealing with the Pan- anna problems. The great underground system of the Pennsylvania Road at New York would have furnished one man if the road could have spared him. The selection of Mir. Noble, though he is not to serve, Is typical. The best obtainable professional skill is to be called into the service of the government.
 1t Is further announced that the Com mission will be expected to open, main tain and occupy headquarters on the It had been confidently ex- pected that the Commission would fur ble gentlemen anxious to enjoy the offi- ciaI life of Washington. The President will have none of this
 He should be encouraged by every one, irrespective of party affiliations, to treat the canal problem as business and en- gineering enterprise. An estimate has been made of the total cost of digging the canal, but everybody realizes that the actual cost is more likely than not far to exceed the estimates. It Is easily that a Presidential election may turn upon the quantity and the character of the expense we must under go in carrying this great and useful project to completion. The same under taking impoverished thousands in France. wrecked ministries and alle but over turned the government itself. The French had completed about one-hfth of the canal and this section. we believe. has filled in so great measure that 1t is navigable only by launches and fat-bot- toned boats. This must be cleaned out and repaired and there remains four ffths of the canal to be dug. Manifest ly it is no child's play in which we are about to engage. The President knows this and we repeat, he is to be congratu- lated on the manly fashion with which he addresses himself to his own duty in the premises.