The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-08

SlEG&S q nave investigated me TaX-
ter for the Government.
The point which remains unsettled in
the question OF tyne. whether the canal
SNAIL De n Of several locks above sea
level. or at sea level with a single tide
lock. IN this point I hope Ia lay be-
fore at an eariv dav the find
ings of the Advisory Board of Ameri-
can and European Engineers. that At
nv invitation have been considering
the subject. together with the report
Of the Commission thereon: and such
comments thereon or recommended
tons in reference thereto as mas seem
necessary.
The american people is pledged to
the specifies possible construction of q
canal tn meet the demands
which the OF the world will
max upon ii. and I appeal most earn
estly to the Congress to aid I'm the full
fllment Of the pledge. Gratifying
q has been made during the
past wear and especially during the
past four months. The greater part
OF the necessary preliminary work has
been done, Actual work of excavation
coald DC begun only on a limited scale
TIL the canal zone vas a a health
ful place 10 live in and to work in.
The Isthmus had 10 be sanitated first.
This task has been SO thoroughly ac-
complished hat yellow fever has been
virtually evtirpated from the Isthmus
and general health conditions vastly
improved. The same methods which
converted he island Of Cuba from q
pest hole. which menaced the health
of the world. into a healthful place OF
abode. nave been DDlied or the 18TH
mus with satisfactory results. There
is no reason to doubt hat when the
plans for water supply. having 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 hat the health of all
those emnloyed in canal work is as
we'll guarded as it is on similar work
in this country and elsewhere.
In addition to sanitating the 18TH
mus. satisfactory quarters are being
provided for EMPLOYEES and an ade-
uuate system of supplying them with
wholesome food at reasonable prices
has been created. Hospitals have BEEN
established and equipped that ara
without SuDeriOrs of their kind any
where. The country has thus been
made fit to work in. and provision
been made for the welfare and cOmfort
of those who are to do the work. Dur
ing the Dast wear a large portion IF
me DldHl With WHICH ne Work Il 10
he done has been ordered. 1t is con-
fidently believed that bv the middle of
the a~pprOaching year . sufficient pro-
portion Of this plant will have been
installed to enable US to resume the
work of excavation on a large scale.
What is needed now and without
DELAY is an appropriation bv the Con-
g~ess to meet the current and accrl-
ing expenses of the Commission. The
e~st apnronriation Of $4,000. 900. out
of the s125 600. 600 authorized by the
SpnOrer Act, was made three years
ago. II IS nearly exhausted. There is
ba~olv enough of it remaining to carry
the Commission to the end of the year.
Unless the Congress- shall appropriate
before that time all work must cease.
To arrest progress for any length of
time now. when matters are advancing
50 satisfactorily. would be deplorabIe.
There viii be no money with which to
meet payroll obligations and one with
whichto meet bills coming due for ma
terials and supplies: and there will be
Decentralization of the forces, here and
on the Isthmus. now working so har-
moniouslv and effectively. if there is
delav in granting an emergency appro-
priation. Estimates of the amount
necessary will be found in the accom-
nanying reports of the Secretary OF
OIL diIu Tic tOf1llIllSSlOil-
The Department of State.
I recommend more ADEQUATE pro-
vision than has been made heretofore
for the work of the Department OF
State. Within a few years there has
been a 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 ena-
bles them to travel more generally
han heretofore. the increase OF Amer
lean capital which is seeking invest
ment 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
facilities for doing the work afforded
to the Department having charge of
u foreign relations.
Neither at home nor abroad is there
a sufficient working force to- do the
business properly. In many respects
the system which was adequate to the
work of twenty-five OF even ten. years
ago. is Inadequate now. and should be
changed. Our consular force should
De classified. and appointments should
be made to the several classes. with
authority to the Executive to assign
the members of each class TO duty at
such posts as the interests Of the SER
vice require. Unsteady of the appoint
ments being made as at present to
specified posts. There should be an
ADEQUATE inspection service, so that
the Department may be able to inform
itself how the business of each consul
late is being lone. instead Of depending
Dor casual private information or
rumor. The fee system should be en-
tirely abolished. and a due equivalent
made in salary to the officers who now
exc out their subsistence by means of
fees. Sufficient provision should be
made fora clerical force in every con-
Sulate. composed entirely OF Ameri-
cans. instead of the insufficient pro-
vision now made. which compels the
employment of great numbers of citi-
Zens Of foreign countries whose ser
vices a be obtained for less money
At a large part Of our consulates the
office quarters and the clerical force
are Inadequate to the performance of
the enormous duties imposed by the
recent provisions of our immigration
laws as well as by our increasing trade
In manv parts of the world the lack
Of ac,,:faA1n +, rf1~- for ~ nnoho cSiaC