Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

ohldllbild It dtluttAtt dS oiit SSdtS anu
that New Mexico and Arizona be admitted
~e state. There is no obligation upon
|us \ treat territorial subdivisions, which
are tatters of convenience only. as bind
ing n on the question of admission to
fstatehood. Nothing has taken up more time
in the Congress during the past few years
than the question as TO the statehood to De
granted 10 the four territories above mem
toned, and after careful consideration OF
all that has keen developed in the discus
they be Immediately az litted as two states.
There is no justification for further delay
and the ACCESSIBILITY OF making the four ter
ritories into two states has been clearly
established.
In some Of the territories the legislative
assemblies issue licenses for gambling. The
Congress should by law forbid this practice
the harmful results of which are obvious
al q glance.
The Panama Canal.
The treaty between the United States and
the republic of Panama, under which the
construction of the Panama canal was made
possible. went into effect with its ratifica-
ton by the United States Senate on Febru-
airy %. 1904. The canal properties on the
French Canal Company Were transferred to
the United States on April 23, 1904. on pay
ment OF $40 O0G 900 to that company on
April l. 1893 the commission was reorgan-
lied, and it now consists of Theodore +.
Shonts, chairman; Charles T.. Magoon. Ben
jamin NJ. Harrod, Rear Admiral Mordecai
T. Endicott, Brig. Gen. Peter G. Hams and
Col Oswald II. Ernst john +. Stevens was
appointed chief engineer on July last. Ac-
tive work in canal construction, mainly
preparatory, has been in progress for less
than year and a half. During that pc
Rod two points about the canal have ceased
to be open to debate. First. the question of
route; the canal Will be built on the 1sthmus
of Panama. Second, the question of FEAST
nh, net nla
this route that American engineering skill
will not be able to overcome without seri-
Gus difficulty or that Will prevent the conf
pletion of the canal within reasonable
time and al Il reasonable cost. This is viz
tually the unanimous testimony of the en-
gineers who have Investigated the matter
for the-@overnment.
- the point which remains unsettled is the
question OF type, whether the canal shall
be one of several locks above sea level or
at sea level with a single tide lock. On this
point | hope To lay before the Congress at
early day the findings OF the advisory
board OF American and European engineers,
that at my invitation have been considering
the subject. together with the report of the
commission thereon, and such comments
thereon or recommendations in reference
thereto IS may seem necessary.
The American people is pledged to the
speediest possible construction of a canal
adequate To meet the demands which the
commerce OF the world VIII make upon it, and
aid in the fulfillment of the pledge. Graft
flying progress has been made during the
past year and especially during the past
four months The greater part of the nee
essary preliminary work has been done. Ac
tuaI work of excavation could be begun
only on limited scale till the canal zone
was made a healthful place to live in and
10 work in. The isthmus had to be- sani-
tated first. This task has been thor
oughly accomplished that yellow fever has
been virtually eXtirpated from the isthmus
ard general health conditions vastly i'm
proved. The same methods which convert
ed the Island Of Cuba from a pesthole
which menaced the health of the world into
healthful place of abode have been APP
piled the isthmus with satisfactory re-
suits. There is no reason to doubt that
when the plans for water supply, paving
and sewerage of Panama and Colon and
the large labor camps have been fully car
ried out the isthmuS will be- for the tropics,
sn unusually healthy place of abode. The
work is 50 far advanced now that the health
of all those employed in canal work is as
well guarded as it is on similar work in
this country and elsewhere.
In addition to santating the sthmus, sat
isfactory quarters are being provided for
employees and an adequate system of sup
plying them with wholesome food at rea-
sonable prices has been created Hospitals
have been established and equipped that
are without -superiors of their kind any
where. The country has thus been made
fit to work In. and provision has been made
for the welfare and comfort of these who
are to do the work. During the past year
a large portion of the plant with which the
work is TO be done has been ordered. 1t is
confidently believed that by the middle of
the approaching year sufficient proportion
of this plant will have been installed to en-
able US to resume the work of excavation
on a large scale.
What is needed now and without delay is
an appropriation by the Congress to meet
the current and accruing expenses of the
commission. The first appropriation of S1o-
100000 out of the S133, 100000 authorized by
the Spocner act was made three years ago.
1t is nearly exhausted. There is barely
enough OF 1t remaining to carry the COM
mission 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 de-
plorable. There will be no money with which
10 meet pay roll obligations and none with
which 10 meet bills coming due for materials
and supplies, and there will be demoralization
or the forces here and on the lsthmuS, now
working tremendously and effectively, il
there is delay in granting an emergency APP
preparation. Estimates of the amount nee
essary VIII be found in the accompanying
reports of the Secretary of War and the
commission.
The Department of State.
I recommend more adequate provision
than has been made heretofore for the work
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 enables them to travel more
generally than heretofore, the increase of
American 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 cor
responding increase of facilities for doing
the work afforded TO the department having
charge of our foreign relations
Neither at home nor abroad Is there a
sufhcient working force TO do the business
properly. In many respects the system
which was adequate to the work of twenty
flve, or even ten, years ago. is inadequate
now. and should be changed. Our consular
force should be classified. and appointments
should be made to the several classes, with
authority 10 the executive TO assign the
members of each class to duty at such
posts as the interests of the service require
instead of the appointments being made as