The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-14
WANTS MORE POWER
IN DIGGING CANAL
Roosevelt Speaks for Himself
and Taft for the Panama
Commission


WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 10
liesioent ROOSEVELT, in message
transmitting to congress today the first
annual report OF the Panama canal
commission, together with letter from
secretary Taft relating to Panama af-
Ialfs, recommends that he be given
greater discretion, as he is CHARGED
Win the responsibility of CONSTRUCTING
the canal. The board of canal commits
sloners, he says, should be reduced to
i've or preferably, three members
whose duties, powers and salaries
should be assigned by the president.
In his letter Secretary Taft saws the
commission has done a great deal of
the work of organization, sanitation
ana preparation to build the canal. The
chaotlc condition of affairs in the
lstnmus, however, due to the time
Wnlch mas elapsed since the new
french canal company ceased to work.
the lack of care of the plant and eouin-
I ~. ana the rapid growth of vegeta
tlon IN that soil and climate brought
about such a state of confusion that ~
VIII require several months to restore
proper conditions of the work of canal
building. Decided progress has been
MADE IN the veriffcation of the data
OBTAINED by the French engineers and
~ procuring new data to enable the
commission to determine the proper
plan for the canal. The secretary nre-
sents the details arranged by him ner-
sonally with the government of Pana-
ma TO govern the relations between the
cahai zone government and Panama.
Hints at Higher Duties
he expresses the opinion that it NAV
oc necessary TO increase from 10 to Is
per cent the rate of duty that NAV he
collected by Panama on goods destined
LOT the canal zone, and points out that
Inc monopoly now existing on tobacco
VIII expire in 1906 and will not he re-
neWed, SO that that market will be omen
10 the United States. He saws if will
not be easy to secure all the Jamaican
laporers needed, as the governor of
jamaica is unwilling to consent to the
commissions taking 10000 laborers ex-
eept upon bond of 6 5 for each Ia
oofer, TO protect the Jamaican govern
ment against the maintenance of the
IamllleS left behind. However. a CON
siderable voluntary emigration of labor
is expected, and the secretary saws he
hopes satisfactory labor ARRANGEMENTS
may be made in Porto Rico. Offers
nave also been made to supply on trial
1,0Oe Cinnamon and a similar number
OF Japanese coolies
Inc secretary says that the plan for
building the canal is inelastic and the
law seems to require the commission to
act as body. He strongly recon-
mends the acquisition by the eovarn-
ment of the 1899 per cent of the stool,
OF the Panama Railroad companv now
IN private hands, which may be secured
by condemnation or through a lease Of
the road to the canal commission. He
refers to Gen. Davis criticisms of the
n n,:s OF the road, and says that
n N<lr 1rrn1.
When the new board of directors will
be elected
referring to the existing contract be-
tween the Panama Railroad COMPANY
and the Pacific Mail Steamship com
pany giving the latter exclusive right
TO issue through bills of lading on bust
ness between San Francisco and New
YORK, the secretary says he thinks this
contract is invalid under the laws of
colombia and the laws of Panama. but
ne is clear that the United States gov
eminent cannot consistently and with
due regard to it's own public poIicv
make itself party to such a contract.
He has directed the commission TO
serve notice on the Pacific Mail Steam
snip company Of the option of the rail-
road company to Withdraw from the
contract at the end of six months.
Commissions Report
Inc report or the canal commission
recites that its first visit to the canal
zone was in April last, during which
Tune the only work in progress was
Inc excavation of the Culebra cut.
Neither the equipment nor the organi-
zat1on of the force was considered adj
equate or in any way fitted for the
prompt removal of the great mass of
material in the cut. The French sur
Veys were of little value on account
hot
In the size Of vessels and existing
methods of construction. It was de-
clded that the most effectuaI method
was the immediate organization of
surveying parties to determine among
other things the practicability of a sea
level canal.
The development of the final plans
for both the deep water channel and
the inner harbor at either end of the
canal, including a mile Of the canal
line, Will be concluded in two or three
months, in connection with a large
amount of filling of low ground. The
commission says it has been found
feasible to use much more of the ma
chlnery and plant turned over by the
French company than was anticipated
at hrst and much progress already has
been made in that direction.
The commission feels that the gov
eminent, which now owns over SO per
cent OF the shares of the Panama rail-
road should own the entire capital. The
commission expresses the opinion that
during the construction of the canal
the railroad will be large and valu-
able adjunct. On the completion of the
canal 1t will become merely local line
between the cities of Colon and Pam
anna.
Additional legislation is needed to
provide for taxes on land, internal rev.
iCfr
court Of land titles and a civil code.
STU WATEQ