The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-03
PANAMA BOARD IS
PROVING UNWIELDY
Plan to Reduce It or Remove It
Altogether Being Dis
cussed.
ADMIRAL WALKER IS
OPPOSED TO THE PLAN
Reverse Course in Favor in Man
agement Of Nations Re-
clamation Work.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, Jan. 3.-One Of the most
interesting matters of executive detail
now under popular discussion appertains
to the Panama canal commission. That
commission, which was created more
or less as an experiment, consists Of
several members, each of whom receives
an unusual salary, of 1880. The COM
cutive direction Of all matters pertain
ing to the construction of the canal
It is a common experience for those
having to do with executive matters to
find that a commission, especially large
one, is one Of the most unwieldy and ex-
asperating bodies imaginable. To get
seven men together, especially II each
one is busy with his own interests, is
extremely difficult. AS rule, the bust:
by. bare quorum, say Of four men, and
this body is usually made Of different
combinations of individuals at each
meeting; hence, a policy determined
upon by four or five men, in which three
may predominant, may be upset at the
next meeting, in which the opinions Of
the first three are opposed by q new
combination. r:
Progress is wobbling. =.
The progress Of such a body is at
best described as wobbling. It goes
| ahead with many uncertain and devious
ways. This is one Of the difficulties
which is besetting the present canal
commission and explains why there is
now such strong sentiment in favor of
wiping the commission out entirely or
reducing it's membership from seven to
three. =
Admiral Walker, the president Of the
canal commission, has expressed him
self very forcibly against either plan,
but his views, while they will be read
with respect, will probably not Of them
selves decide the question. The mem
bers Of the house committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce, during it's
visit to Panama, just before the con-
vening Of congress, learned at frst-hand
a great many things about the lack Of
harmony between the members Of the
commission, and of the difficulties which
the chief engineer has in his efforts to
carry forward his work in satisfactory
manner. The house committee is under
stood to be almost unanimously in favor
Of either cutting down the membership
Of the commission to three active men,
retaining possibly the other four in a
consulting capacity, or Of abolishing the
commission and leaving it's executive
duties wholly in the hands Of the chief
engineer, with such Of the members of
|
filling advisory places.
The anomalous condition exists that
this body, Of seven commissioners, each
drawing $12,500 year, has under it 8
chief engineer at $4,000 a, year. There
must be continual embarrassment where
the chief executive officer, man OF
national repute, must continually refe1
to board whose membership is scat
tered thruout the United State.
% 13I...
While this discussion is going on
Q there is proposition to a reverse effec
l. in the case Of the reclamation service
|, In the reclamation service, as at pres
q emit organized, there exists g highl
Q competent corps Of engineers, in whic
u the executive functions are clearly de
o fined, from the secretary of the interio
n down the line, with consulting board
d composed Of practical men, whose live
10 have been spent mainly in considerin
n the problems Of irrigation. A plan ha
with considerable energy in both house
II of congress, to create commission t
Ct take the place Of the authority no'
n lodged with the secretary of the int
IT rior, and bring about a distribution 9
D. the reclamation funds geographical
$, rather than by merits Of the sewers
Re2s is seE ssnr ia 1h Ss rs TO
a. states, where, of course, the need fc
le reclamation is greatest, are receivin
% too much attention from the engineer
1t and that the subhumid states are bein
neglected, on the ground that reclamt
ton projects within their borders al
not feasible.
le Bill Hasn't Much Chance.
nj
d believe it is very doubtful if sue
50 a bill as that referred to can be pr
in thru congress. And if it should, b
g. an accident, pass, it is very doubt,
a if it would receive the approval Of til
st president, himself one Of the most a
n. dent supporters Of the present reclam
Id tion law. At the same time, howeve
10 the forces which are moving in tt
" direction Of this proposed legislatio
re- are quite strong, and they should
ii closely watched.