The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-06

l on February 23. 1904. The canal properties of the French Canal company were trans 1 ferred to the United States April 23 1904 on payment of S40O00,000 to that com pany. On April l. 19O5, the commission was reorganized and 1t now consists of l Theodore P. Shonts, chairman, Charles F. Magoon, Benjamin M Harrod, Rear Admiral Mordecai T. Endicott, Brig. Gen. Peter c. Hains, and Col. Oswald H. Ernst. John F. Stevens was appointed chief engi- | neer on July last Active work in canal construction mainly preparatory has been in progress for less than year and half. During that period two points about the canal have ceased to be open to debate First, the question of route; the canal will be built on the Isthmus of | Panama Second, the question of feasl- bility; there are no physical obstacles on this route that American engineering skiil will not be able to overcome without seri- ous difficulty, or that will prevent the completion of the canal within reason able time and at a reasonable cost. This is virtually the unanimous testimony of the engineers 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. l On this point I hope to lay before the Congress at an early day the findings of the advisory board of American and Euro pean engineers, that at my invitation have been considering the subject, together with the report of the commission thereon; and such comments thereon recommenda- tlons in reference thereto as may seem necessary.
 The American people is pledged to the speediest possible construction of canal adequate to meet the demands which the commerce of the world will make upon 1t. and I appeal most earnestly to the | Congress to aid in the fulfilment 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 begun only on a limited scale till the canal zone made a healthful place to live in and to work in. The isth- mus had to be sanitated first. This task has been so thoroughly accomplished that yellow fever has been virtually extlrpated from the isthmus and general health con- ditions vastly improved The same methods which converted the island of Cuba from a pest hole, which menaced the health of the world, into a healthful place of abode, have been applied on the isthmus with satisfactory results. There Is no rea- son to doubt that when the plans for water supply, paving and sewerage of | Panama and Colon and the large labor camps have been fully carried out, the is- thmus will be, for the tropics. an un- usually healthy place of abode. The work Is so far advanced now that the health of all those employed in canal work is as we'll guarded as it is on similar work
 in this country and elsewhere.
 In addition to sanltating the isthmus. satisfactory quarters are being provided for employees and an adequate system of supplying them with wholesome food at reasonable prices has been created. Hospitals have been established and equip- ped that are without superlors of their kind anywhere. The country has thus been made fit to work in, and provision has been made for the welfare and com fort of those who are to do the work. During the past year a large portion of the plant with which the work is to he done has been ordered, It is confidently believed that by the middle of the ap- preaching year sufficient proportion of this plant will have been installed to en- able us to resume the work of excava- ton on large scale
 What is needed now and without delay is an appropriation by the Congress to meet the current and accruing expenses of the commission. The first appropria- ton of S10 900, out of the $i35,000 GOO au- thorized by the Spooner act, was made three yeares ago. It is nearly exhausted. There Is barely enough of 1t remaining to carry the commission to the end or the year Unless the Congress shall appro- priate before that time all work must cease. To arrest progress for any length of time now, when matters are advancing so satisfactorily, would be deplorable. There will be no money with which to meet payroll obligations and none with which to meet bills coming due for ma terials and supplies; and there will be demoralization of the forces here and on the isthmus, now working so harmonously and effectively, if there is delay in grant, ing an emergency appropriation. Esti- mates of the amount necessary will bs found in the accompanying reports of the secretary of war and the commission.
 The Department of State.
 I recommend more adequate provision than has been made heretofore for the work of the department of state. Within a few years there has been q very great increase in the amount and importance of the work to be done by that department, both in Washington and abroad. This has been caused by the great increase of our foreign trade. the increase of wealth among our people. which enables them to travel more generally than heretofore. the increase of American capital which Ia seeking investment in foreign countries. and the growth of our power and weight in the councils of the civilized world. There has been no corresponding increase of fa- cilities for doing the work afforded to tho department having charge of our for , eign relations.
 Neither at home nor abroad is there sufficient working force to do the bus mess properly. In many respects the sys- tenn which was adequate to the work of twenty-five or even ten years ago. is in- adequate now, and should be changed. Our consular force should be classified, and appointments should be made to the several classes to duty at such posts as ) the interests of the service require, instead of the appointments being made as at present of specified posts. There should ! be an adequate inspection service. so that the department may be able to inform it. self how the business of each consulate is being done, instead of depending upon casual private information or rumor. The fee system should be entirely abolished, and a due equivalent made in salary to the officers who now eke out their sub sistence by means of fees. Sufficient pro- vision should be made for a clerical force In every consulate, composed entirely of Americans, instead of the insufficient pro- vision now made. which compels the em- ployment of great numbers of citizens of foreign countries whose services can be obtained for less money At large part of our consulates the office quarters and the clerical force are inadequate to the performance of the onerous duties im- posed by the recent provisions of our immigration laws as well as by our in-