New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-06

In some of the Territories the legislative as
gress should by law forbid this practice, the
harmful results of which are obvious at
glance.
PROGRESS OF PANAMA CANAL.
The treaty between the United States and the
Republic of Panama, under which the construc-
ton Of the Panama Canal was made possible
went into effect with its ratification by Inc
United States Senate on February %, 1904 The
We're transferred to the United States on April
% 1904, payment of S40,0Oo,O00 to that COM
nanv On April / 1906 the commission was
reorganized and it now consists of Theodore P.
Shonts (chairman), Charles E. Magoon. Ben1a-
min NJ Harrod Rear Admiral Mordecai I. En-
dicott, Brigadier General Peter G. Hams and
Colonel Oswald II. Ernst. John F. Stevens was
appointed chief engineer on July 1 last. Active
work in canal construction, mainly preparatory
has been in progress for less than a year and a
half. During that period two points about the
canal have ceased to be open to debate. FIRST,
the question of route; the canal Will be bullt on
the Isthmus of Panama Second, the question
of feasibility there are no physical obstacles on
this route that American engineering skill VIII
not be able to overcome without serious diff
Guilty. that will prevent the completion of the
canal within a reasonable time and at a rea-
sonable cost This is virtually the unanimous
testimony of the engineers who have Investi-
gated the matter for the government
The point which remains unsettled is the ques-
ton of type, whether the canal shall be one OF
several locks above sea level or at sea level
with q single tide lock- On this point L hope to
lay before the Congress at an early day the
findings of the advisory board OF American ana
European engineers. that at my invitation nave
been considering the subject, together Win the
report of the commission thereon and such COM
nehts thereon or recommendations IN reference
thereto as may seem necessary.
The American people is pledged to the speed
lest possible construction of 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 fulflment
of the pledge. Gratifying progress has been
made during the past year, and especially our
ing the past four months. The greater part OF
the necessary preliminary work has been done
Actual work of excavation could be begun only
on a. limited scale till the canal zone was maze
q healthfrl place to live in and to work in. The
isthTnus had to be sanitated first. This task
has been so thoroughly accomplished that yell0W
fever has been virtually eXtirpated from the
isthmus and general health conditions vastly I'M
proved. The same methods which converted the
island of Cuba from pest hole. which menaceo
the health Of the world. into healthtul place
of abode. have been applied on the isthmus with
satisfactory results. There is noTeason to doubt
that when the plans for water supply, paving
and sewerage Of Panama and Colon ana the
large labor camps have been fully carried OUT
the isthmus will be, for the Tropics, an I'M
usually healthy place of abode The work is SO
far advanced now that the health Of all those
employed in canal work is as well guarded as II
is on similar work in this country and elsewhere.
In addition to sanitating the isthmus, satis-
factory quarters are being provided for employees
and adequate system of supplying them Win
wholesome food at reasonable prices has been
created Hospitals have been established ana
equipped that are without supertors or thelr
kind anywhere. The country has thus peen
made fit to work in, and provision has oeen
made for the welfare and comfort of those VINO
are to do the work During the last year a large
portion of the plant with which the work is 10
be done has been ordered. 1t is confidently be-
lieved that by the middle of the approaching
year a sufficient proportion of this plant VIII
have been installed to enable US to resume the
work of excavation q large scale.
What is needed and without delay is an
appropriation by the Congress to meet the cur
rent and accruing expenses OF the Commission
The first appropriation or
APPROPRIATION s1O.ooo,ooo out of the s1s5,-
NEEDED. 100000 authorized by the
Spooner act was made
three years ago. It is nearly exhausted. There
is barely enough of 1t 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
so satisfactorily would be deplorable- There
viii be no money with which to meet payron
obligations and none with which to meet bills
coming due for materials and supplies; and
there Will be decentralization of the forces, mere
and on the isthmus, now working SO har-
noniously and effectively, IL there is delay In
granting emergency appropriation Estimates
of the amount necessary viii be found in the
accompanying reports of the Secretary OF war
and the Commission
I recommend more adequate provision than
has been made heretofore for the work or the
Department of State. Within few years there
has been a very great increase
THE DE- in the amount and importance
PARTMENT Of the work to be done by that
OF STATE. department both in Washing
ton and abroad. This has been
caused by the great increase of our foreign
trade, the increase of wealth among our people
which enables them to travel more generally
than heretofore: the increase of American cap
ital which is seeking investment in foreign coun-
tries and the growth Of our power and weight
in the councils of the civilized word There
has been no corresponding increase of facilities
for doing the work afforded to the department
having charge of our foreign relations
Neither at home nor abroad Is there sufn-
cient working force TO do the business properly
In many respects the system which was AIDE
onate 10 the work of twenty-five. or even ten
1aarS aeo ia INADEQUATE and should be
cbanged' our consular force should be CLASH
sed and appointments should be MADE TO the
eI-srsi CLASSES with authority to the Executive
~ assign the members of each class TO duty al
such costs al the interests of the service require