Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-12

plants of the lottery owners there is no
remedy. The republic of Panama in the
treaty comedies the United States sovereign
rights to the exclusion of its own sovereign
rights, power or authority over the canal
zone. Nobody supposes that gambling Will
be done away with entirely on the isthmus.
Doubtless the roulette wheel and the lottery
will move outside the zone, but there Will
be no moral reproach on the United States,
and even the evil itself may be somewhat
curbed Getting five miles either way from
the central belt is going far into the trop-
ical jungle, and the gambling instinct will
have to be pretty strong to brave the hard
ships
TRANSPORTATION and Traffic Agreements
The ministers of the Central and South
American countries in Washington have
been making inquiries about transportation
and traffic agreements and they are likely
to be gratified by the Presidents instruc-
lions IN this subject. The clear direction
that If any contracts or obligations now
subsist between the railway company and
other transportation companies that are not
in accord with sound public policy, then
such contracts must be terminated as soon
as it is possible to effect that object square
ly meets a serious responsibility. Transpor-
tation companies on the Pacific have COM
planned that the railroad Disseminated
against them and they have been especially
anxious to know what the policy of the
United States would be when 1t came into
the control of the railroad. They should be
satisfied with the hint which is SO plainly
given.
With the passing of the ownership of the
railroad to the government of the United
States there will be less reason for contin-
uing the high passenger tariff that hereto
fore has been il force. From the railway
point of view these charges doubtless were
justifiable. From the governments stand
roint they can hardly be maintained. Ten
collars gold for passage across the 18TH
mus with baggage Is a pretty steep rate
when it is considered that the distance is
only forty-seven miles. Without baggage
the charge has Deen 81 and that also is high
With the large number of persons who will
have to use the railroad frequently in con-
nection with their work this rate would be
almost rrohibitory when canal construction
is underway. Private contractors would find
it a heavy drain
: The universal protest against paying dol
lar In gold for agteiegram of ten words or
less between Colalhfand Panama is also
likely to be needed The telegraph being
owned by the railway company, comes
under its jurisdictiOns The Panama govern
ment has plans fen telegraph and telephone
lines which by an arrangement with the
railroad company zap be made to satisfy
There is every Likelihood that the owner
ship of the railwagoWill be a profitable one
to the United q SASS so The gross earnings
expenses 81, IA, 600 leaving net earnings OF
s917, O09 After payinglfixed charges the sur
plus was S4O0000i Ehs is an unusually
good showing. rhevtraffic of the railroad
is bound 10 increHsesI
The Money Standard.
Advices from Panama are that differ
ence of opinion hass arisen regarding the
money standard. Some want to go directly
to the goide basis of the United States,
while others think that the wiser course Is
to maintain sort of national system
based on the silver standard A few
months ago the policy was suggested of es-
tabIishing a Panama currency which could
be used by all the Central and South
American countries. and which would have
a monetary unit something Hike that estab-
lished by the United States in the Philip
pines The details do not appear to have
been worked out successfully. Costa RIGA
and Peru are on q gold basis and they could
not be expected to go back to silver.
The currency system of Panama is purely
a matter for that republic and the United
States Is not likely to mix In It. Yet since
vast sums will be paid out in the canal con-
struction In American currency, much DIFF
f1culty will be experienced In maintaining
different system. Exchange VIII be based
on the dollar Of the United States and much