Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-19
Benefit Expected From Secre-
tary Taft's Visit.
TO SETTLE DISPUTES
OVER POSTAL
RATES AND CUSTOMS DUTIES.
The Presidents Generous Attitude To-
ward the New Republic-Domestio
Politics of the Isthmus.
Written for The Evening Star.

written line Evening othr'
Conditions in Panama seem to have
freshened interest for the American people.
The arrival of the congressional commit
tee on the isthmus will be of some good,
but the greater benefit will come few
days later, when Secretary Taft reaches
there.
1t is not exactly the season of the year
to visit Panama for pleasure. If the north
ers are not sweeping across the Caribbean
and into Colon with the fury of a gale, on
land-the clouds are apt to be opened and
submerging a part of the isthmus.
In some years November is comparatively
dry. but the chances are against II. II the
congressman come back pleased with the
climate, as members OF the canal commits
sion and other visitors have done, their
visit may be taken as an unqualified sue
cess. But If they admit that their oppor-
tunities for observing the canal construc-
ton were not the best it may be taken for
granted that the rainy season was on in
earnest. If this happens there will be one
advantage. They will get view of the
Chagres river on one of its wild careers.
and will have a useful conception of the
engineering difficulties that are to be sur
mounted. With this knowledge they will
not be apt to complain OF Chief Engineer
Wallace's caution and conservatism in de-
terminng the final plans.
Establishing Political Relations.
Secretary Taft's visit will have more to
do with Strengthening out the political re-
lations of the isthmus and laying the
foundation for the dual administration
which is to prevail during the canal con-
struction and afterwards. The wretched
attempt to make little political capital
at home by stirring up discomfort with the
united states on the part of the Panama
90 fny 1.Nr;g
themselves will be in a much better frame
or mind to accept the adjustment of differ
ences which is proposed. President Roose-
Velts instructions to the Secretary were
generous enough to satisfy the inhabitants
or the isthmus who were not encoura ged to
be malcontents by outside influences Since
those instructions were issued the con-
sorting itself
The President made II very clear that
the United States has no intention of es-
tabhshing an Independent colony in the
midst OF Panama but no one who knou,s
the fsthmus and understands the nineling
OF nationalities which will occur during the
periou OF construction can convince him
sei1 mat the United States can afford to
iesSen its control in the administra tion of
the canal zone. A speedy building of the
waterway rests above all else on recog-
hIziilg the zone as a semi-military camp
Which Tor sanitary and other reasons must
De governed with strict authority
year ago, just after the revolution
everybody that l met in Panama told
me that above everything else they wanted
TO get the canal started. Officials of the
new republic and the Panama merchants
said they were ready to make any sacri-
noes In order that the work might NOT no
delayed AS they put it, they wanted to
90 Whatever the United States wanted
The Postal Regulations.
Inc dihiculties which Secretary Taft is
expected 10 straighten out relate to the
postal regulations. the question of customs