New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-07
BETTER CANAL SERVICE.
Commission. Plans to Make IStllmaGn
Work More attractive.
rFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU


Washington. May e.-The Panama Canal Com
mission has determined to do everything in Its
power to make service in the canal zone attrac-
tive, and IN that way hopes to dissipate the
general dissatisfaction prevalent among federal
employees in Panama Ball grounds, tennis
courts, bowling alleys and other forms OF inilo-
cent amusement win probably be provided Inc
policy OF promoting those who, by efhclent ser
vice IN the zone deserve recognition VIII 10
strictly adhered to wherever possible, In coh-
1rast to The policy Of calling on the Civil Ser
vice Commission IN Washington for clerks VINO
have qualified for the higher classes OF service
or Of securing the transfer of such clerks from
the executive departments in Washington
The adoption OF this policy grows out OF an ex-
tended report recently made by Governor Davis
tn which he outlines the general dissatisfaction
among employees in the zone the unfortunate
circumstances in which many OF them are placed
and the general misunderstanding Of conditions
under which many of them accepted employ
ment- From this report It appears that a con-
siderable number Of the employees came 10 Fah-
anna with the understanding that they would re-
ceive generous salaries and rapid promotion
enjoy exceptionally comfortable quarters ana
would labor under particularly rosy conditions
The conditions are generally the reverse OF "naI
they say they were led to expect. General
DAVIS GWellS at COuSlOSleAD4C AS4ASNi> va 49, -
possibility OF properly housing the employees, the
utter .mpraeticabiity Of men bringing their
wives and families TO the zone under existing
conditions, the impossibilty Of their realizing
their expectations with regard TO salaries and
promotions and the numerous temptations
which beset them, chiefly IN the way of gam
bling dens lotteries, etc. The Governor strong
" recommends the establishment Of a Young
Mems Christian Association on the lSthInus, ana
saws that he has guaranteed the land necessary
for such an establishment, IS its existence would
prove most advantageous to the Canal commas
sion.
Chairman Shonts having returned to WASH.
ington q meeting of the executive committee OF
the commission was held to-day, the greater
part Of the time being spent in considering ques-
lions relating TO the Civil Service me most
important decision that there should be a
advancement OF salaries the parucuIaT 1eat-
ure Of which viii be liberal allowances IN the
lower grades Provision viii be MADE lot leaFeS
of absence on a. more generous scale than IN the
past, and the social life Of the American colony
will be developed
While the commission scarcely more imam
a month IN Office, has been shipping supplies IN
The way of food, bedding and material for the
construction of quarters as rapidly as transport
fation could be found. it was determined to-day
TO redouble the efforts in this direction, and
particularly to hasten the construction OF neat
cool and comfortable quarters for the employees
One decision which is calculated TO make the
1sthnnian Service more attractive to young men
IS that when employees have performed credlIaDIe
work on the isthnus for a reasonable time lhey
may be re-employed IN the Civil Service IN THIS
country by transfer