The National tribune., 1905-10-12

not at extortionate Panama prices, but
at prices nearer the American standard,
and in order to insure full stomachs to
all his men at all times Mr.. Stevens has
issued checks on the commissaries
which will keep the men in provisions
between pay days"
We have heard q good deal about
the stoppage of work down there, but
real good "why" has not been given
till now. Mr.. Murphy gives pretty
good idea of the necessity for doing
something, but doing it in the right
way.
when Mr.. Stevens arrived at the Ca
nal he found the tracks on which the
work trains and steam shovels oper-
ated as crooked as q dogs hind leg.
Cars were running off the track every
few hours. and more than three-fourths
of the steam shovel engineers sent out
from the United States We're sitting
about doing nothing. He promptly
sent them all back to the United States,
compelling the Government to give
them jobs at some other work until
they were needed, and has since then
devoted his attention to getting the
tracks into some semblance of order
and repair. This work Is now almost
finished, the tracks are as straight and
in as good repair as the best in this
country. and in a short time he will
send for the steam-Shovel engineers to
resume work. 1 consider that in En-
gineer Stevens and Col. Gorgas the
Government has two valuable men,
who, if not hampered by too much red
tape and annoyed by worthless youth
full clerks and officials who come down
to have a good time, will accomplish
the greatest of modern undertakings,
the building of the Panama Canal"
On the whole, Mr.. Sanitary Murphy
has given us pretty good dose of COM
ideas about the Canal Zone.
"small-fry clerks" and officials with the
"big-head' would soon ruin any
scheme, however good. 1t is a we'll
known fact that great many clerks
got exchanged to go down to Panama
on lark" They did not expect to do
q great deal, but did want q trip.
change, a chance to "see the world"
With this class of young men and the
attempt to- run clerical matters down
there exactly as they would be run in
the State Department is probably re-
sponsible for whole lot of the dissat-
isfaction, unrest, and incipient rioting
that we hear of down there. Mr.. Muir
ply thinks that Mr.. Stevens, Engineer
in-Chief, is exactly the man for the
place. Well, he looks the big part he
has to play; If he acts it, everybody
will be pleased.
The army strength in Hawaii is to be
from two companies to bat
talon of infantry. The two companies
now at the Portland Exposition will be
sent to Honolulu as soon as the Expo
SitiOn closes
DR.. Calderon. who has been for many
years Peruvian Minister to Washington,
Chile, will remain there as Minister.
He will be succeeded at Washington by
Senior Pardo. Mr.. Calderon, a son of
the Minister, is Charge d'Affairs here
now.
Representative Townsend, of Michi-
gan, is in the city and has had a con-
ference with the President He is the
author of the "Esch-Townsend' rail-
road-rate bill, which passed the House
last Winter, after it's author had had
long conference with the President. Mr..
Townsend says that the President holds
to his ideas on railroad-rate legisla-
ton and is just as determined az ever
that legislative regulations shall be en-
acted looking to Federal supervision of
the freight-rate situation.
Il have no authority to represent the
Presidents views as to railroad rates"
said Mr.. Townsend, "but / can say that
he entertains now the same views in
principle as he expressed in his message
last December. He believes that to eth
er the Interstate Commerce Commission
or to same other body ought to be given
the authority to adjust rates found to
be unreasonable"
That miserable little typhoon in the
Philippine Islands will cost the United
States Government $4,000 for repairs,
and worst of all some Is of our Regu-
lars were hurt, though none seriously.
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw has
ment of II hospitals in the Marine
Hospital Service now maintained at the
expense of the Government.
There are only % Of these hospitals
in the United States. AS the recon-
cannot be carried out with
out the consent of Congress. Secretary
Shaw declines for the present to say
which hospitals he would have aban-
doned. He has ordered, however, that
the work on the marine hospitals now
being constructed at Pittsburg and
Buffalo be suspended.
The last act in the Peace negotia-
tons will take place in Washington.
That's settled Diplomatic courtesies
have been resumed between Minister
and Baron Rosen-please just
turn that presentation of names around
in your minds eye, because RoSen is
an ambassador and Takahira is only
and the advances must come
from the lower to the higher in rank.
Takahira has called upon En-
bassador Rosen and presented his COM
pliments personally, also officially, and
ambassador Rosen has returned the
courtesies in like manner. Takahira
can now go to the Russian ambassador
in his den with impunity and without
"razzer" up his sleeve, and Baron Rosen
need not fear Japanese steel when he
goes to the Japanese Legation. AS a
matter Of fact neither feared anything
from the other, but 1t was simply
matter of diplomatic etiquet that they
should not know that the other was on
the earth while the two countries were
at war.
The treaty will soon put in an ap-
pearance after two voyages across the
big pond. 1t will be written in English
and in French.
Mr.. Takahira called on Baron Rosen
to find out from him the usual form Of
the Russian ratification. In order that
the Minister might inspect copy they
went to the State Department, where
Mr.. Adee, the Third Assistant Secretary
of State, received them and showed
them the ratification of the Russian
American extradition treaty. Mr.. Ia
kahira will inform his Government full
Ixy tIa rtSy thnf he v~etf R<,,-