The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-11-03
The CANAL QUESTION.
Eight Hour Day for Laborers
immense Cost.
CONSTRUCT IN TEN YEARS,
Political Gossip, Around the
National Capital.

National Capital.
WEEKLY LETTER FROM wAsltlNGTON.
The Canal question IS anot her Of
arst Importance, and interest 10 this
greatest OF all public works has been
,resheued bY the Presidents speeches
and the report Of the Commission
inst returned from Panama, To be
exact the Canal Commission has not
reported: and has reported that 1t
will not report until 1t makes
formal report TO the President. But.
individual commission have slipped
their gags sufficiently to let us know
Substantially what they will report.
It il now known that the Canal can
be built In less than ten years and
that It's cost will be increased at
least 0fty ,uilltons OF dollars through
the senseless application OF the eight
hour day law to the work Of Ja,nica
negroes, who according to the report
OF cue OF the Commissioners. do ouly
about one-foutth the work that a
laborer could be expected to do In the
climate Of the United States. There
appears to be strong inclination to
let the digging Of the Canal out to a
contractor"or contractors and perhaps
10 this way get rid Of the eight-hour'
day hoodoo. II Ia work that . great
contracting syndicate might under.
take at 50 much pee square yard, and
let out different actions Of the work
10 sub contractors. 1t would doubt
LEGS be very attractive enterprise
for some OF the huge contracting
companies OF the United States. and
" would probably DC economical for
the Government to have the work
done In this way. 3
II The President gave notice Ia his
speech at Mobile that he expected
renewed opposition to the Canal and
there Is 10 doubt that the great 10
teroceanic railway lines have not vet
abandoned the hope Of frustrating
the canal enterprise or at least delay
Ing Its. completion for dfteen or
twenty years. Their agents and at
torneys are on the floors OF the House
and Senate and the contest between
the President, backed by the people
VI the United States, and the great
corporations lighting both against
the cahal and rate surveillance BY
the Government. will be one of the
M,tcrcst and most determined ever
seen In Congress. Congressman Hay
aud Others have announced that they
will demand an investigation relative
to extrayagant canal expenditures
but Il Is said that the administration
will take the wind out OF their gas
bags hy furnishing papers and reports
before they can get the elusive leH's
lative eye OF Uncle Joe Cannon aut
ask for them.
Much interest is felt 10 pol't'ca
circles here, and indeed In the wnoI
country, IN the municipal election
10 New York and Philadelphia. IN
situation Ia Philadelphia IS especial
interesting. John Wanamaker, wn
was Postmaster General during Aa'
rson's administration, has long de
sired to represent Pennsylvania
the Senate, but under the Quay re
CLINE Of the old Republican regime
this was impossible. 1t Is dgureo
however, that II the old orHanlzat'o
Is put to rout in the coming electio'
there will DOT he enough of It left
make any dght aud that with SEM
tor penrose out OF The way u
Wanamaker's road to the senate WI
be easy. When the Reform Mayo
Weaver, came to this country ITO
England twenty years. ago, he nrst 8
cured employment IN John "an'
makers store as q wrapper. 81
Wanamaker betriended aud advaoc'
him and afforded him the opportun
ty to study law which was the stel
ping stoue to his present pos't'o
With Mr.. Wanamaker Ia the Senat
Mr.. Cortelyou 10 the Post ONCE u
partmcnt aud President Roosevelt
sman like him in the White Hou'
It may be possible to get ria OF wn