The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-05-11
government OF CANAL ZONE,
Roosevelt Issues Instructions to
Canai Commission.
Present Laws Familiar to People Liy.
ing in the Zone to Continue in Force,
Subject to Such Limitations as
are Rendered Necessary by
Spirit of Our Institutions.


dents formal instructions to the canal
commission were issued late this aft
ernoon. They are embodied in let
ter to the Secretary of War. Among
other things the commissioners are
authorized to make all needful rules
and regulations for the government of
the zone until the close of the 5eth
Congress; to establish a civil service
for the government Of the strip; to
make and cause to be executed, after
| due advertisement, all necessary con-
tracts for any and all kinds of engi-
neering and construction works; to
make rules and regulations regarding
disbursements of funds, and also to
establish a proper and comprehensive
system of bookkeeping, showing the
state Of the work and expenditures by
classes and the amounts still available.
The inhabitants of the Isthmian
Canal zone are to be guaranteed Sc
curity 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 ad-
m;nistered by the ordinary tribunals
substantially as they were before the
change. The commission was au-
thorized to appoint temporarily a
Judge for the canal zone, who shall
have authority equivalent to that
usually exercised in Latin countries
by Judge of a Court of first in
stance, and also to appoint additional
or Appellate Judges, should the pub
lie interest require.
The laws Of the land, with which
the Inhabitants are familiar and
which we're in force on February &C.
1904, will continue in the canal zone
and in other places on the Isthmus
over which the United States has
| jurisdiction until altered or annulled
| by the commission, although certain
principles Of government are laid
down as being essential 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 grievances.
The laws of the United States re-
garding the entry of undesirable per-
sons are applied to the canal zone, to
those not actually domiciled within
the zone on the 26th day of February.
1904. Others are to be excluded whose
presence the commission beliere
would tend to create public disorder,
endanger the public health, or in any
manner indeed the prosecution of
the work of opening the canal; aud
the commission may cause any and
all such newly arrived persons or those
alien to the zone to be expelled and
deported.
The commission is given power to
legislate on all rightful subjects of
legislation not inconsistent with the
laws and treaties of the United States
as far as they apply to said zone and
other places.
All laws, rules and regulations of a
governmental character enacted by
the commission are to be submitted
to the Secretary of War for approval.
Major Gen. Davis, who is to be tie
Governor of the canal zone, is directed
to see that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted and is vested with the power
to grant reprieyes and pardons.
In any sudden exigencies he may
call on any available military or
naval force of the United States for
assistance.
The President urges the adoption of
approved and effective methods for
The improvement of health conditions
on the istbmus. as was done in Cuba
and Porto Rico
The letter to the Secretary concludes
with the statement that, as the United
States owns about sixty nine-seven-
tieths of the shares of the Panama
Railroad, it's general policy and man
agement will be controlled by the
United States and the President d.
rects that all the memb bers of the COM
mission as soon as practicable be elect
ed to the directorate Of the road,
which is to be al adjunct to the con
struction of the canal, at the same
time fulfilling the purpose for which
it was constructed as route OF COM
mercial movement across the Isthmus
of Panama. It also specifically directs
the annulment of any lottery or gam
bling franchise, and provides for pan
isbment and Imprisonment for any fur
ther exercise of such franchises.
Secretary Taft explained that It
| would be manifestly impossible for the
President to give personal attention
to the canal work which is absolutely
necessary, and as the war department
hitherto has exercised supervision in
control over public, civil and military
works and governmental control over
the territory dependent upon the
country, it was deemed advisable that
the isthmian commission should ope-
rate under the direction of the war.
department.
What particular bureau Of the wai
department the commission will te'
under has not been determined iy
Secretary Taft, but he indicated that
it might not be the bureau Of insu.ar
affairs, which, he intimated, already
had enough work on its hands.