Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-10
ISTHMIAN CANAL.
Regulations Governing Matter
Finally Reaches Head.
Formal Instructions Of the President
to Commission.
Will in Future Be Under War Depart.
ment's Direction. "li'

General Knox, at which the regulations
To govern the isthmian canal commits
sion were determined upon finally, to-
day. The regulations will be Dromul-
gated formally later in tile day, but. az
the combustion of the conference Sec
rotary Taft gave a brief resume of its
provisions.
" lille the work of the commission is
committed by law to the President.
whose say H. that regard is practically
supreme, the President by the regula-
ti"uS. directs that the commission shall
exercise is powers under the direction
and supervision of the secretary of
~a". General George w. Davis, tie
army member of the commission, is
appointed governor of. the American
ION" on the island
Until the expiration Of the 5Sth Con-
rrrss, the istnmian commission will
exercise authority over the American
strip. Governor Davis is given author
tty TO appoint one judge who shall OK
errt|e judicial authority. If, in the
opininn of the commission, an addi-
ti"nAl judge is n"ccs:iary to the proper
conduct nf judicial work on the 18TH
mus, the regulations confer on the conf
mission authority to appoint him. So
rotary Taft explained that it rlanifcstly
would be impossible for the President.
DESTROYS Of his duties to give the per-
sonal attention to the canal which IL
necessary and as the war department
has exercised the supervisory control
over the public, civic and military
works and government control over the
territory dependent upon the country.
it was deemed advisable that the 18TH
,is.s;n
the direction of the war department.
What particular bureau Of tic WIZ de-
r1rtr.ent the commission will be under
has not been determined by Secretary
Taft. rttss
Under the operation Of what is
known as the Dockery law, the audit
ing OF the Conmission's accounts will
fall to the duty of the auditor of the
state department. but bcY0nd the mat
ter of auditing the state department
will rot be charged with any control
over the commission. The commission
itself will establish an elaborate sys-
tom of bookkeeping.
Tho commission will report directly
to the secretary of war. as often as he
may Girett, upon all phases of its oper-'
atiors II will nc under the same sort
of control of the secretary of war as
the Philippine commission. All direc-
lions concerning the operations Of the
commission ar" set out fully in. tie
regulations and Il reciiatic1 ~ made Of
all the operations leading un to tn,
acquisition of the canal property and
the operation and appointments of tie
commission.
Til" Presidents formal Instructions
to the canal commission were issued
late this afternoon. They are embodied
IN u letter t. the secretary Of war. -
After reciting the steps taken under
Legislative authority as Il prciiminary
to the work Of actual construction, and
directing that the work vested in the
conn iSSion be carried on under the
supervision and direction Of the war
department, the letter gives the fol-
lowing Instructions: @
Subject to the limitations Of In "
ana the conditions herein contniu",i
the isth,aian canal commission is au
ihorizcl ana directed: l.,
ITO make nccdful rules and rollr-
latiors for the government ofs5hc zone
and for the current administration of
the military. civil and Judicial affairs
of its possessions. until the close Of the
5Sth session of Congress.
ITO establish Il civil service for
the government of the strip and CoIr-
:,trlction of the canal. appointments to
which shall he secured as nearly rs
practicable by Il merit system.
''3-Tn make or cause to be made
Ill ncrlful surveys. borings, designs,
Ilars ana specifications of tn" cngi-
nc"rin%. hydraulic ard sanitary works
required. ard to supervise the cxccu-
tion Of the same.
81 70 make and to C;.usc to be exc
cutcl after duo advertisement all nee
csSary contracts for any and all kinds
of engineering and construction woI Ks.
5-To acquire by purchase or
through proper and uniform appropri-
alton proceedings. to be prescribed by
the commission, any private lands or
other rc1l property whose OWNERSHIP
by the United States is essential to tn"
excavation and completion of the canal.
"G-To make all ncedful rules an!
regulations respecting an economical
ANA correct disbursement and an nc
counting for all funds that may be APP
pToprintcd by Congress for the cor
struction of the canal. its auxiliary
works and tie government of the canal
zone. and to establish q proper ana
b conlrre he.lsivc system of bookkeeping
I showi s the state CT the work, the OK
Expenditures by classes and the amounts
still avafable.
A- ITO make requisition. on the Soc
rotary of war for funds needed from
81 time tosti;ne in the proper prosecution
& of the work and to designate the dis
bursting officers authorized to receipt
&. for4 same. .-l-t....
The inhabitants of the fisthmian
canal zone are entitled to security III
their persons. property and religion
and in all their private rights and re-
lations They should he 50 fnformcd
by public announcement. The people
should be disturbed as little as pos
sible in their customs and avocations
tina, are in harmony with principles OF
well-or;icred and decent living.
The municipalities of the canal Zoh'
are to be administrated by the or
,hcfa