Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-05-20

the commission subjsct to the super
vision of the war department instead
of giving it Independent powers ana
recurring it to report only to the
president. 1t is easy to see Inc
object of the president in making
the war department an intermediary,
and the purpose seems to be a wise
one The war department is fully
equipped with machinery for hand
ling the reports of the canal COM
mission and the officers OF the de-
partment are quite familiar with
such problems as may arise either IN
connection with the government OF
the canal zone or the making Of con-
tracts. The department has had to
deal with similar matters ia exercls-
ing control over the Philippines, and
it seems to be the presidents desire
that affairs on the isthmus shall be
handled in the same channels. The
president himself has too many
other duties to undertake to keep lii
close touch with the details of affairs
as they are conducted on the
isthmus.
Under the new arrangement, ap.
~parently, large measure of discre-
ton will lodge with the isthmian
commission. In the larger matters
of policy Secretary Taft will have
supervisory functions, and of course
the president will depend on the
secretary of wal for such information
as should be laid before the execu.
tive. No doubt it will be argued
that the system is more cumber-
some than it would be if the commits
sion were made responsible directly
to the president. Perhaps that is
true, but it will be remembered that
the business management of the
Philippines was discharged very
handily by the Philippine commits
sion operating through the war de-
partment. President Roosevelt will
be held responsible for the success
of the early operations on the
isthmus, and he is naturally anxious
that the responsibility shall not be-,
come too onerous.
Ina general way the commission
is given authority to legislate ION all
rightful subjects not Inconsistent
with the laws and treaties Of the
United States" SO far as they apply
to the strip, all such legislation to
be approved by the secretary of war.
The inhabitants are not to be dis
turbsd in their persons, property
rights or religion, except in case the
exercises of such rights shall conflict
seriously with recognized principles
of well ordered and decent living.
The land laws with which the inhabi-
tants are familiar are 10 remain in
tact, and the municipal laws of the
canal zone are to be administered
about as before, but no lotteries are
to be countenanced and no institu-
ton in conflict with the great princi-
pies Of our national government is to
be tolerated. Paupers, beggars,
convicted felons and anarchists are
to be excluded from the canal zone.
A civil service system is to be estab.
lished in connection with the canal
work, and all appointments by the
commission are to be made as near
ly as practicable upon the merit
basis. The commission is to have
autnorityt TO make all contracts ami
apply all needed rules and regula,
tions during the progress of the
work.
With this transfer of authority
from the president to the Panama
commission is placed in a position to
commence the immediate discharge
Of its duties. The commission has
made a good beginning by appoint
ing as chief engineer John F. Wal
lace, general manager Of the Illinois
Central railway, whose record in
private employment gives promise to
most distinguished service in his new
capacity. The preliminary surveys,
sanitary preparations, drafting Of
plans and specifications, etc., are ex-
pected to occupy about two years, at
the end of which time the commi s.
sion will be prepared to enlist an
army of $4,000 men to wrestle with
the actual constr uction. The work,
it is estimated, will occupy about
eight years more and cost in rou nd
.oho., ClE0 l0A n0l C;o,,v (1;xr