Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-06
DEPARTMENT Of
STATE DISCUSSED
DEVELOPMENT OF DIPLOMATIC
SERVICE FAVORED
Better Salaries Advoeated-lndlans
Statehood and Philippines Guess
tions All Receive Presi-
dents Attention

out serious difficulty, or that will
prevent the completion of the canal
within a reasonable 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 a single tide
lock- on this point / hope to lay be-
fore the congress at an early day the
findings of the advisory board of
American and European engineers, that
at my invitation have been considering
the subject together with the report OF
the commission thereon; and such COM
ments thereon or recommendations in
reference thereto as may seem neces-
sary.
Should Hurry the Work
The American people is pledged to
the speedest possible construction of
q canal adequate to meet the demands
which the commerce of the world will
make upon It, and 1 appeal most
earnestly to the congress to aid in the
fulfillment 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 limited scale
till the canal zone was made health
full place to live in and to work in
The isthmus had to be sanitated first.
This task has been so thoroughly ac-
complished that yellow fever has
been virtually extirpated 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 health
full place of abode, have been applied
on the isthmus with satisfactory re-
suits. There is no reason 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 isthmus will
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 is as
we'll guarded as 1t is on similar work
in this country and elsewhere.
Care of Employees
In addition to sanitating the isthmus
satisfactory quarters are being pro-
vided for employees and an adequate
system of supplying them with whole
some food at reasonable prices has
been created. Hospitals have been es-
tablished and equipped that are with
out superiors of their kind anywhere
The country has thus been made fit to
work in, and provision has been made
for the welfare and comfort of those
who are to do the work. During the
past year large portion Of the plant
with which the work is to be done has
been ordered. 1t is confidently believed
that by the middle of the approaching
year a sufficient proportion of this
plant will have been installed to en-
able us to resume the work of excava-
ton on large scale.
Appropriation Urgent
What is needed now and without de-
lay is an appropriation by the congress
to meet the current and accruing ex-
penseS of the commission. The first
appropriation of $10.000,000, out of the
$135, 900 authorized by the SpooneI
act, was made three years ago. 1t is
nearly exhausted. There is barely
enough of it remaining to carry the
commission to the end of the year. Un-
less the congress shall appropriate be-
fore that time all work must cease. TIC
arrest progress for any length of time
now. when matters are advancing sc
satisfactorily, would be deplorable
There will be no money with which tC
meet payroll obligations and none with
which to meet bills coming due fol
materials and supplies; and there viii
be decentralization of the forces, here
and on the isthmus now working sc
harmoniously and effectively if there
is delay in granting an emergency ap-
preparation. Estimates of the amount
necessary will be found in the accom-
Danying reports of the secretary OF
war and the commission.