Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-11
BRlSTOW FILES HIS REPORT
1t Recommends that the Panama Railroad
Be Double Tracked.
PORTS SHOULD Be OPEN TO ALL VESSELS
Facilities at Terminals should BE
Enlarged and Contracts with
Steamship Companies
Cancelled.

WASHINGTON, July 10.--The report Of
Joseph l.. Bristow, who was appointed a
special commissioner to investigate trade
conditions and other matters affecting the
Panama Railroad and Steamship company,
was made public today. The report dis
closes from several points of view the
question Of what policy should be pursued
by the government in the management
Of the railroad and makes a number of Inn
portant recommendation Among these
are the continuance Of the rail road as
commercial line with improved facilities
for handling commerce. including double
tracking and re-equipping the line with
modern rolling stock, the enlargement Of
it's port facilities, the retention Of the
steamship line between New York and
Colon; that the contracts with the Pacific
Mail Steamship company and the South
American lires be cancelled, and the ports
Of Colon and Panama be opened to the use
Of all steamships lines on equal terms; and
in certain contingencies the establishment
by the railroad of steamship lines between
Colon and gulf ports and Panama and
United States Pacific coast ports. 1t Is
also recommended that in trafic connec-
tions American steamship lines be favored
as far as consistent with the treaty obliga-
tons of the United States.
Mr. Brstow spent several months in his
investigation, visiting the isthmus of Pan
anna important ports on the western coast
OF Central America, the isthmus of Te-
huantepec, Mexico. and the Pacific coast
of the United States. His report reviews
the entire history of the railroad and dis
cusses allegations that its local freight and
passenger charges were excessive and its
traffic contracts with steamship lines mo-
nopolistic.
Naval once for Nebraska Man.
Omcial announcement was made at the
Navy department today Of the twenty-four
| successful candidates in the examination
for assistant paymasters recently held at
the Navy department, Washington, and the
navy yard at Mare island. For the first
| time the merit system was adopted in
| making designations for this examination.
OF the two thousand applicants ninety-eight
/ were granted permission to take the eX-
/ animation. Seventy-three appeared before
! the board, seventeen of whom failed physic-
| ally. The twenty-four successful candidates
| represent fifteen states and include the fol-
! lowing: Emery Day Stanley, Nebraska;
Brant z. Mayer, Iowa; Rudolph Wilson,
California; John Jacob Luchsinger, jr"
| California.
! Another examination will be held early
| In January 10 MI Ine TeUldlilnB SEVEN
vacancies and the four additional vacancies
which will occur in the meantime.
Vacancies on General Stnn.
The acting secretary of war has con-
vened a board of general officers Of the
army to meet in this city on July II to
recommend details to the general stan
of the army to fill existing and prospective
/ vacancies There are now two vacancies
on the staff fcaused by the detachment OF
| Brigadier General Tssker H. Bliss, who
has been ordered to the Philippines, and
Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Award, who
has been transferred to the military secre-
| tary's department. officers detailed to the
board are Major General John c. Bates,
! Brigadier General Frederick d. Grant
Brigadier General ]. Franklin Bell, Briga-
der General Albert Mills and Brigadier
General Samuel n. Mills.
Russell Succeeds Bowen.
Formal announcement was made at the
| State department today of the appoint
ment of William w. Russell of Maryland
as minister to Venezuela, where he sue
ceeds Mr.. Bowen. Mr.. Russell was for
merly secretary of legation at Caracas and
was sent from there to Bogota as minister
to Colombia. where he has been relieved