Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-10
RULE OF CANAL ZONE
INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO THE
IsTHMIAN COMMISSION.
Embodied in Letter to the Secretary
of War = Rights of In
habitants Defined.

Inc PreS1dents formal Instructions TO the
canal commission were issued late yester-
day afternoon. They are embodied in let
ter to the Secretary of War. After reciting
the steps taken under legislative authority
| as a preliminary to the work of actual
| construction, and directing that the work
vested in the commission be carried on or
exercised under the supervision and direc-
ton of the War Department. this letter
gives the following instructions:
Subject to the limitations of law and the
conditions herein contained, the isthmian
canal commission are authorized and di-
rected:
Powers Of the Commission.
/. To make all needful rules and regula-
tions for the government of the zone and
tary. civil and judicial affairs OF its pos
sessions, until the close of the Fifty-eighth
session of Congress.
O. To establish civil service for the gov
eminent of the strip and construction Of
the canal, appointments to which shall be
secured as nearly as practicable by (, merit
system.
g. To make or cause to be made all need
ful surveys, borings designs, plans aid
specifications Of the engineering, hydraulic
and sanitary works required and to super
wise the execution of the same
4. To make and cause to be executed
after due advertisement all necessary con-
tracts FOR any and all kinds of engineer
ing and construction works
8. To acquire by purchase or through
proper and uniform appropriation proceed
dngs, to be prescribed by the commission,
any private lands or other real property
whose ownership by the United States is
essential to the excavation and completion
of the canal
8. To make all needful rules and regu-
latlons respecting an economical and cor
all funds that may be appropriated by Con-
gress for the construction of the canal
Its auxiliary works. and the government of
the canal zone; and also to establish a
proper and comprehensive system of book
keeping. showing the state of the work and
expenditures by classes and the amounts
still available
.. TO make requisition the Secretary
OF war for funds needed from time to time
In the proper prosecution of the work and
10 designate the disbursing officers author
azed to receipt for the same.
Rights of Inhabitants.
The inhabitants Of the isthmian canal
zone are entitled to security in their per-
sons, property and religion and in all their
private rights and relations. They should
De so Informed by public announcement
The people should be disturbed as little as
possible in their customs and avocations
that are in harmony with principles of we'll
ordered and decent living
The municipal laws of the canal zone are
to be administered by the ordinary tribun-
ais substantially as they were before the
change. Police magistrates and justices
OF the peace and other officers discharging
duties usually devolving upon these officers
of the law will be continued In office if
they are suitable persons. The governor
OF the zone, subject to approval of the COM
mission, is authorized to appoint temporari-
ly judge for the canal zone who shall
have the authority equivalent to that usu-
ally exercised In Latin countries by Judge
of court of first instance, but the isthmian
canal commission shall fix his salary and
may legislate respecting his powers and
authority, increasing or diminishing them
in their discretion, and also making provi-
sion for additional or appellate judges,
should the public interest require.
The laws of the land, with which the in
habitants are familiar, and which were in
force on February 20, 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, but there are certain great
principles of government which have been
made the basis of an existence as a nation
which we deem essential to the rule of law
and the maintenance OF order, and which
shall have force in said zone.
Exclusion Of Undesirable Persons.
The commission shall have power to ex-
clude from time to time from the canal
which the United States has jurisdiction
persons of the following classes, who were
rot actually domiciled within the zone on
the 26th day of February, 1904, viz: Idiots
the insane epileptics, paupers criminals
professional beggars, persons afflicted with
loathsOme or dangerous CONTAGIOUS dis
eases, those who have been convicted of
felony, anarchists, those whose purpose it
is to incite instruction and others whose
presence 1t is believed by the commission
would tend to create public disorder, en-
denger the public health or in any manner
impede the prosecution of the work of OPEN
Ing the canal- and may cause any and all
such newly arrived persons or those alien
to the zone to be expelled and deported.
The commission may legislate on all
rightful subjects of legislation not incon-
sistent with the laws and treaties of the
United States SO far as they apply to said
zone and other places. and the said power
shall include the enactment Of sanitary
ordinances of preventive or curative char
acter to be enforced in the cities of Colon
also include the power to raise and appro-
pirate revenues. All taxes, judicial fines,
customs duties and other revenues levied
and collected in said zone by or under the
authority of the commission shall be re-
tanned, accounted for and disbursed by the
commission for its proper purposes All
laws, rules and regulations of govern
mental character enacted by the commits
sion are to be submitted to the Secretary of
War for approval
Maj. Gen. Davis, who is to be the COVER
nor of the canal zone, is directed to see
that the laws are faithfully executed He