The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-12

lie past two
sonn Barrett has this
- in New York urging its
.,uon upon the Panama Minister
and the fiscal agents of the new re-
public. From New York these Of
ficials have come here to talk the
matter over with the President.
The Tariff Question.
Another Panama problem that is
giving trouble at the White House is
the question as to what tariff regu-
lations shall govern in the canal zone.
The Canal Commission, which is ma
turally DESTROYS of building the canal
as cheaply as possible, make a strong
plea for free trade in all the appara-
tus and commodities needed in the
progress of the work. But the sec
rotary of the treasury who is the poll
tician of the cabinet, sees danger in
this to the protectionist theory OF
the Administration, and stand pat
policy of the party. He thinks 1t
would be a bad notion to get into the
peoples minds that the government is
not willing to take for it's own enter
prises the same medicine that it adj
ministers to private undertakings. In
other words, he wants the govern
ment, especially on the eve of a
Presidential election in which the
tariff is to cut considerable figure, to
show faith in it's own tariff policies
by taxing itself as readily as it does
the individual. The protective idea
ran1ifies Though eAery department
of our natural activies, Mr.. Shaw
says, and they must all stand or fall
together on it, Besides, though the
Panama republic has a tariff system
of it's own, it may be changed at any
time by executive decree, and II there
hn
anything entered there free could be
brought to this country free. Thus
there are both political and economic
considerations involved. The Presi-
dent has the matter under Amusement
and will consider 1t in all it's details
before announcing his decision. But
those who are given TO prophecy say
Secretary Shaw on the question of
political rather than economic adj
vantage.
The Panama Ghost.
Still another Panama problem, to
which much attention is just now be-
ing given, is that of climate and
health. Though on these points the
testimony at hand is conflicting,
enough is known to make it certain
that there is much for medical and
sanitary science to do on she isthmus
If 1.-The ditch is to be dug without be-
ing as costly in human life as it is in
dollars. One who has been down
there for nearly a year comes back
in fine physical form and spirits. But
he was not exposed and was able to
take proper care of himself, and un-
der these conditions, he says a per-
son can endure the climate of Pana-
ma a good while, most of the dis
eases there being due to neglect and
filth. But for the men who are to
dig the canal the story will run quite
different. There are physical and
climatic conditions from which, ne
cessarily. they will be wholly unable
to protect themselves. Of course
modern sanitation will overcome the
ordinary EMBELLISHMENTS of the trop-
zeal climate, but from the Panama
ghost" the white mist that rises from
freshly turned earth when the sun
beats down upon it. there can be no
escape for the ditch-diggers. This
mist is said to be highly poisonous
and it's victims counted by the thou
sands. The natives of the country
flee from it as from a pestilence, hav-
ing learned that it means almost GER
tam death. When the French began
work on the canal their engineers
held it in contempt and many of