The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-03-03
NEWS OF THE WEEK


The Panama treaty was ratified by
the senate, fourteen democrats voting
against it, In that way a most dis
graceful piece of business was con-
Guided. The moment the final papers
were signed, Mr.. Buneau-Varilla re-
signed as minister of Panama. This
man was neither an American, Pana-
manian or Colombian. He was a
French contractor whose perform
ances have been so yillainous that he
has several times been hauled up be-
fore the French courts. He was the
statesman through whom Roose-
welt and Hay obtained control OF Pa
mama. Taken altogether the thing
has been as dirty piece of work as
was ever accomplished in the days
OF the kings OF the middle ages. We
have got Panama as another posses
sion. The little handful of Latins,
who sold the canal right to us for
$10,000,000, will have about as much
of an Independent government as the
Third ward of Omaha will have and
nc more. Aside from that, great
and costly commission has been ap-
pointed and regiment Of troops are
to be sent down there to die of dis
ease in the most unhealthful spot on
Gods green earth. But no movement
has been taken for digging the canal.
When Gabriel appears to bow his
trumpet, some Buneau-Varilla will
boo up and say: Don't blow yet
The canal amt done.'
The president has been diligently
trying for several weeks to get first
class engineers to accept PAGES on
the Panama canal commission. Per-
haps the reason why they will not &C
.cept is that these engineers have the
same idea about the canal never be-
ing built that The Independent has so
long held. Any engineer would be
GLAD to have lis name associated with
such a great work If he was convinced
that it would be success. 1t would
carry his name down to all succeed
ing generations.
The world power" idea seems TO
be the dominant influence at Wash
ington. The pece our government Is
going in naval expenditures can be
realized most readily by comparing
tn, expenditure carried by the APP
preparation bill now before the house
with the British naval budget. Our
bill provides for the spending of $780,
100000 the coming fiscal year. The
British naval budget for the present
year amounts to about $l25 900.
Yet the British navy is the greatest
vii MI se int nm TIM
principle that it should be more than
a match for any possible combination
OF two powers. Our naval expenditures
already surpass those of France and
Germany.
While at Richmond, Va, last week |
Bryan dictated newspaper interview |
denying that lie is backing Hearst |
as a presidential candidate, although |
taking pains to say that "Mr. Hearst |
is among those worthy to be men |
toned
The court of appeals of New York |
has recently decided a case that will |
have considerable interest to people |
in several cities of Nebraska. That |
court decided in the case of Kate M.
Murphy against Superintendent Max
well of The New York city schools that |
the rule of the school board that a
woman teacher principal or subordi-
nate) loses her place If she 'marries,
is contrary to The charter of the city
which provides that removal of teach
ers cannot be made except as the re-
suit OF trial on charges. 1t was held
that getting married was not a crime