The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-12-08


mercial rather than political
Discussing the needs OF Alaska, the
President recommends that the terri.
tory be given an elective delegate
who will be able to speak with au-
thority on the needs of that section
Of our country. The message con.
cludeS:
Admission to Statehood.
I recommend that Indian Territory and Okla.
homa be admitted Us one State and that New
Mexico and Arizona lie admitted as one State.
There Is no obligation upon Us ts treat ter
ritorlsl subdivisions which are matters Of con.
yenienCe only, as binding US on the question Of
admission TO statehood Nothing has taken ID
more time IN the Congress during the past few
years than the question rs 10 the statehood to
be granted 10 the four Territories above men
toned and after careful! consideration OF all
that has been developed In the discussions of
the question | recommend that they De i'm.
mediately admitted M two States There IL
no Justification for further delay. and the ad.
visibility OF making the four Territories into
two States has been clearly established.
In some Of the Territories the legislative as.
sembIies issue licenses for gambling The
Congress should by law forbid this practice
the harmful results OF which axe obvious at a
glance.
The Panama Canal.
the Republic Of Panama. under which the
construction Of the Panama canal was made
possible. went Into effect with Its ratification
by the United States Senate on Feb. %. 1904.
The canal properties Of the French Canal Com.
pany were transferred TO the United States on
April %. 1904, payment of $40 600 900 to
that company. On April !, 1905. the Commits
sion was reorganfzed. and it now consists Of
theodore 7. Shouts, chairman. Charles F.. Ma
coon. benjamin NJ. Rarrod. Rear Admiral Nor.
decai I. Endlcott. Brig ten. Peter c. Hains,
aud Col. Oswald II. Ernst. John F. Stevens
was appointed chief engineer on July last.
Active work in canal construction. mainly pre-
paratory. has been In progress for less than
year and half. During that period two points
about the canal have ceased TO be open 10 de.
bate. First, the question of route; the canal
will be built OH the lsthmus OF Panama. Sec
ond, the question Of feasibility; there no
physical obstacles on this route that American
engineering skill will not be able TO overcome
without serious difficulty or that will prevent
the completion of the canal within a reason.
able time and at reasonable cost This Is
virtually the unanimous testimony OF the en-
gineers who have investigated the matter for
the government.
The point which remains unsettled is the
question Of type. whether the canal shall be
one of several locks above sea level. or at sea
level with single tide lock. On this point ]
hope to lay before the Congress at an early day
the findings OF the Advisory Board OF Ameri.
can aud European Engineers. that at my inVi.
tatioH have been considering the subject, to.
gether with the report OF the commission there.
on; and such comments thereon recommends
lions in reference thereto rs may seem neces-
sary.
The American people Is pledged to the speed
Test possible construction OF canal adequsts
10 meet the demands which the commerce OF
the world will make upon 1t. and appeal most
earnestly to the Congress to aid In the fulfill
ment OF the pledge. Gratifying progress has
been made during the past year and especially
during the past four months. The greater part
of the necessary preliminary work has been
done. Actual work OF excavation could be be-
gun only limited scale I'll the canal zone
was made a healthful place to live in and to
work In. The isthmus bad TO be ssnitated
first. This task has been so Thoroughly accom-.
piished that yellow fever has been virtually
extirpated from the lsthmus and general health
conditions vastly improved. The same methods
which converted the island of Cuba from a pest
hole. which menaced the health OF the world.
into beautiful place OF abode, have been sp-
piled on the isthmus with satisfactory results.
There IL no reason TO doubt that when the
plans for water supply. paving, snd sewerage
Of Panama and Colon and the large labor camps
have been fully carried out, the isthmus win
be. for the tropics. an unusually healthy place
OF abode. The work Is so far advanced now
that the health OF all those employed In canal
work Ia as we'll guarded as II Is on similar
work In this country and elsewhere
What Is needed now and without delay IL az
appropria tion by the Congress to meet the cur
rent and Bccruing expenses OF the commission.
The first appropriation OF $t0.000,00d. out Of
the sl35 900 600 authorized BY the Spooner act.
was made three years ago. Ii is nearly eI.
hausted. There Is barrel! enough OF II remain
Ing to carry the commission to the end Of tbs
year. Unless the Congress shall appropriate
before that time all work must cease. To ar
rest progress for any length of time now. when
matters are advancing so satisfactorily. would
BE- deplorable. There will be money with
which to meet pay roll obligations aud none
with which 10 meet bills coming due for ma
terials and supplies; and there will he democrat
izatton Of the forces. here and on the isthmgs.
now working so tremendously and effectively.
II there Is delay In granting an emergency sp-
propristion Estimates OF the amount neces-
sary will be found IN the accompanying re.
ports Of the Secretary Of War and the com.
mission.
Department OF State.
Neither nt home nor abroad is there suf.
fcient working force TO DO the business properly.
10 many respects the system which was sde'
uuate TO the work Of twenty Eve, or even ten.
years ago, IL inadequate now. aud should DO
changed Our consular force sh"L.I bs cassi.
fed. and appointments should be made to Ino
several classes. with authority TO the EIecu-
tive TO assign the members OF each class t9~z
duty at such posts as the Interests OF the tef<<<
Vice require Instead OF the appointments
ing made as ut present to specified posi-
There should be an adequate Inspection ssr%'
vice, so that the Department may be able to
inform itself how the business OF ssch consu'
late 10 being done. instead Of depending upon
casual private information or ruDor. The fee
system should be entirely abolished, and q due
eoui vslent made in SALARY TO the officers who
now exc out their subsistence oy means OK
fees Suthcient provisions should be made for
q clerical force 10 every consulate. composed
entirely OF Americans. instead OF the In
sufy3ciept provision now made. which eompelS
the employ ment OF great numbers " citizens
NJ foreign countries whose services can be OBJ
famed for less money. AZ large part OF our
the ONCE quarters and the clerical
force are inadequate 10 the performance Of the
onerous duties Imposed By the recent provisions
of our immigration laws as well By our In.
creasing trade.
Suitable provision should be made for the Ell.
pense OF keeping our diplomatic ot6cers more
fully Informed OF what Is being done from
day to day In the progress OF our diplomatic
affairs with other countries. The lack OF such
information. caused by insufficient appropris-
lions available for cable tolls and for clerical
and messenger service. frequently puts our
officers at . great disadvantage and detrscts
from their usefulness. The salary list should DO
readiusted. II does not now correspond either
TO the Importance OF the service to be rendered
and the degrees OF ability and experience re-
aulred In the different positions. or TO the
differences Ia the cost Of living. In many csaS
the salaries are cutie inadequate.