Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-14
PRESIDENT AND
PANAMA AFFAIRS
Sends a Message to Congress
Recommending That He Be
Given Discretion
FOR FEWER COMMISSIONERS.
Question of Labor on Canal Discussed
BY Secy Of War Offers Of Chinese
And japanese Coolies

Washington, Jan.l3.-President Roose-
vent. I'm a message transmitting to
/ Congress today the first annual report
} Of the Panama canal commission, to-
gether with letter from Secy. TAFT
relating to Panama affairs recommends
that he be given general discretion as
the president Is charged with the re-
sponslbllty Of constructing the canal
The board OF canal commissioners, he
says should be reduced 90 i've, or, pre-
ferably three, members, whose duties
powers and salaries should be assigned
by the president, The presidents mes
sage says
II concur with the secretary Of war In
the View that the present provision OF
law which the work OF building the
canal has 10 be done only through n
body OF seven members Is inelastic
and clumsy Actual experience has
convinced me that It VIII be impossible
10 obtain the best and most effective
service under the limitations prescribed
by ll'S The general plans for the work
must be agreed upon with the aid OF
the best engineers Of the country, who
should act as an advisory or consulting
board
"rhe consulting engineers should not
be nut on the commission, which should
be used only as an executive instru-
ment for the executive and administra-
tive work. The actual work Of eXecut-
ing the general plans agreed on by the
commlsslon after receiving the concu-
slons OF the advising engineers, must be
done by an cnglneer-in-chief and we
now have an excellent engineer lt Is,
I'm my Judgment, inadvisnble, therefore,
10 restrict the executives choice OF
commissioners 10 representatives. of the
engineers corps OF the army and navy"
Hc adds that the man appointed az
administrator Of the canal strip should
also serve Az minister TO Panama.
I'm his letter Secy. Taft says the
commission has done a great deal OF
preparation. but It will require several
months yet to restore proper conditions
for canal building,
The secretary expresses the opinion
that II may be necessary to increase
from 10 to rs per cent the rate OF duty
that may be collected by Panama on
goods destined for the canal zone, and
points out that the monopoly now eX-
listing on tobacco will expire in 1905, and
viii not be renewed so that the market
win be opened to the United States
He says that II will not be easy 20
secure all the jamaica laborers
aured as the governor OF Jamaici
unwilling TO consent TO the commi %
sion's taking 10 900 lnborers, except on
a bond OF five pounds sterling for each
laborer to protect the jamaican gov
eminent against the maintenance under
the poor laws OF the families left be-
hind
Considerable voluntary immigration
OF labor is expected. md the secretary
homes satisfactory labor may also be
obtained In Porto Rico. Offers also have
been made to supply on trial 1000 CHI
nese and a similar number OF Japa-
ncse coolies,
Referring 20 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 husi-
ness between San Francisco and New
York the secretary says he thinks this
contract Is invalid under the laws Of
Colombia and OF Panama; but, at any
rate, he is sure that the United States
government cannot. with due regard to
lts own public policy. make Itself a
party to such contract. He has d.
rected the commission 10 serve notice
on the Pacific Mail Steamship company
Of the intention OF the railroad company