Evening star., 1904-03-11
DISCUSSED THE CANAL
HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARD AD-
MIRAL WALKER AND GEN. DAVIS
40. 900 Native Workmen Will Be Need
ed-Police and Judges
Necessary.


foreign commerce today granted hearing
to Rear Admiral Walker president of the
Panama canal commission and Gen. Geo.
H. Davis member of the commission on
the subject of the Lowering bill to provide
a form of government for the canal zone
across the isthmus. The testimony given
by Admiral Walker and Gen Davis was
very interesting. Admiral Walker stated
that he approved the Lowering bill in de-
tail. He repeated his opposition to the bill
introduced in the Senate by Senator Kit
tredge because the latter provides for an
additional board of governors to control
affairs on the isthmus. The Lowering bill
provides for this control through the canal
commission. Admiral Walker believes that
If an additional board of governors is pro-
vided the system will be productive of fric-
tion.
Admiral Walker outlined briefly the plans
of the government for carrying forward the
work He said it was his belief that the
title to the canal property would be cleared
within the next two or three months and
that work could be started on the big ditch
very soon thereafter Most of the work
will be excavating and when the project is
in full swing he said that from $4,000 to
40COn laborers would be employed. At the
present time the French canal company has
about 500 men at work. This number will
be increased several fold within the next
year. The present population of the canal
zone is figured to be between 4.C0o and $500.
Admiral Walker said that when the work
on the canal is at its height this population
will be increased to from 60.CC0 to T0,00.
Jamaica negroes it was stated, are most
suitable and viii be largely employed on
the canal WORK. Admiral Walker said that
workmen of this country can hardly be ex
pected to stand the rigors of the climate on
the isthmus. He believes that before the
canal is completed Japanese and Chinese
coolies will probably be called upon to lend
their assistance The canal will be built
by contract. if possible. Otherwise the
work will have to be carried on under the
immediate direction and supervision of the
canal commission.
Will Need Police.
Admiral Walker said that police forct
of about 100 men will be needed at once in
the canal zone. From time to time this
force will have to be increased. until it
numbers between 400 and 500 men. There
will be extensive property rights to be pro-
tected. we'll the maintenance of law
and order. There will be eating houses and
saloons along the strip TO be looked after.
DO you mean to say interrupted Rep
resentative Mann of Illinois, that you
cannot prohibit the sale of liquor within
the canal zone?"
No, replied Admiral Walker. promptly
and decidedly. THE men employed on
this work" he continued, nearly all drink,
and they will not give it up. They do not
drink to excess as rule, but partake of
beer and light wines w h their meals and
so forth. We could not enforce prohib-
ton law If we had one. what is the
of enacting such measure?"
Admiral Walker $. tGat soldiers should
not be employed the police force. be-
cause tn ~ do not. as a rule. make good
policemen. He said that three judges will
be needed to take charge of the temporary
courts within the canal zone.
DR.. Gorgas of the army will accompany
the canal commission to the isthmuS to
study the sanitary situation and to devise
means of lettering health conditions, not
only within the canal zone, but within the
cities of Panama and Colon well. Ad
miral Walker believes that the fevers in
Panama and Colon can be readily stamped
out if the proper steps for sanitation are
inaugurated. He believes that the perma-
nence of fever within the canal zone can
be guarded against by proper sanitary
measures which will, of course, be taken.
There is no doubt, according to Admiral
Walker that there Will be q great deal of
disease along the route of the canal, but
he does not believe it will in any way in
terfere with the work. Many men will die,
he declared, during the progress of work
this great project but their deaths will
not keep others away.
Admiral Walker says that it has not been
decided yet whether or not there should
be free trade between the cities of Colon
and Panama and the canal strip. He has
no fear that there will be any great amount
of smuggling, for smuggling only be
carried on over the railroad. and that will
be under the control and supervision of the
government. There are practically no wagon
roads. within the zone. so smuggling in any
great amount will be almost impossible. Ad-
miral Walker said he hoped the Lowering
bill would be adopted by the House and
agreed to by the Senate. as he believed it
was the most satisfactory solution of the
problem presented.
General Davis spoke along the same lines
as Admiral Walker.