The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-05-13

formal instructions to the canal COM
mission were issued late this after
noon. They are embodied in a letter
to the secretary of war. Among other
things the commission are authorized
to make all needful rules and regu-
lations for the government of the
zone to establish a civil service for the
government of the strip; to make all
and cause to be executed. after due ad-
vertiSement, all necessary contracts for
any and all kinds of engineering and
construction works; to make rules and
regulations regarding disbursements
of funds and also to establish q proper
and comprehensive system Of book
keeping, showing the state Of the
work. and expenditures by classes and
the amounts still available. The inab-
itantS of the ishmian canal zone are
to be guaranteed the security in their
persons, property and religion and in
all their private rights and relations,
while the municipal laws of the canal
zone are to be administered by the
ordinary tribunals, substantially as
they were before the change. The
commission are authorized to appoin..
temporarily a judge for the canal zone,
who shall authority equivalent to that
usually exercised in Latin countries by
a judge of court of the first in
stance, and also to appoint additional
or appellate, should the public interest
require.
The laws of the land with which the
inhabitants are familiar and which
were in force on February 26th, 1904,
will continue in the canal zone and in
other places on the isthmus over which
the United States has jurisdiction, un-
til altered or annulled by the commits
sion, although certain principles of
government are laid down as being es-
Sential to law and order, respecting
life, liberty and property, the granting
of speedy trials, the prohibition OF
slavery, freedom of speech and of the
press, the right peaceably to assemble
and petition for redress of grievan-
cieS.
The laws of the United States regard
ing the entry of undesirable persons
are applied to the canal zone to those
not actually domiciled within the zone
on the 26th day Of February, 1904. 9TH
erS are to be excluded whose presence
the commission believe would tend to
create public disorder, endanger the
public health, or in any manner impede
the prosecution Of the work opening
the canal, and the commission may
cause any and all such newly arrived
persons or those alien to the zone to
be expelled and depOrted.
The commission are gwen power to
legislate on all rigntful subjects
of legislation not incosistent with the
laws and treaties of the United
States; so far as they apply to said
zone and other places. All laws
rules and regulations of a govern
mental character enacted by the COM
mission are to be submitted to the SET
retary of war for approval.
Major General Davis who is to be the
governor OF the canal zone is directed
to see that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted, and is vested with power to
grant reprives and pardons.
In sudden exigencies he may call on
any available military or naval force
of the United States for assistance.
The President urges the adoption Oh
approved and effective methods for the
Improvement of health conditions on
the isthmuS, as was done In CUBA ana
Porto Rico. The letter to the secre-
tary concludes with the statement tnat
as the United States owns about sixty
nine seventieths of the shares OF the
canital stock of the Panama railroad.
its general policy and management wlIi
be controlled by the United States and
the President directs that all the MEM
bers of the commission, as soon DIS
practicable, be elected to the dlrecto-
rate of the road which is to be an ao-
at the same time fulfilling the purpose
for which it was constructed as
route of commercial movement across
the isthmus Of Panama 1t also spe-
cifically directs the annullment OF any
lottery or gambling franchise. ana
provide for Furnishing and imprison-
ment for any future exercise Oh sucn
Sacretarv Taft explained that it
manifestly would be Impossible LOT .ne
President to give that personal aIten-
tion To the canal work which is abso-
I,,talv necessary and as the war de-
partment hitherto has exercised SUI
pervisOry control over puoiic, clVi a.lo
military works and governmental con-
troll over the territory dependent upon
the country, it was deemed advisable
that the isthmian commission should
operate under the direction OF the war
department