Gilpin observer., 1905-12-07
Admission to Statehood.


I recommend that Indian Territory aud Okla.
homa b. admitted State and that New
Mexico and Arizpna be admitted one State
Their" II no obligation upon Us TO treat ter
ritorial subdivisions. whi'h matters of con-
v.nence only. as binding ns on the question OF
admission 10 statehood. Nothing has taken uu
time 10 the congress during the past few
year than IN. question ss to- The statehood to
b.. granted To the four Territories aho,, mon
tIon..d and after careful roit, ,il.rsti,,n Of Iii
Inst has been developed In the discussions OF
the question recommend that they be ln.
medAtrly ndinttr, two States. There 10
nu Justification for further delay. and the sd.
visibility OF making the four Territories Ints
two states has been clearly established.
In some of the Territories the legislative as
scmblies issue licenses for gambling. The
Congress should by law forbid this practice.
the harmful results OF which are obvious at q
glance.
The Panama Canal.
The treaty between the United State. aud
the Republic of Panama. under Which the
construction OF the PsnaInn canal WAS made
i,o>s lble. went Into effect with it, ratification
py the United States Senate tcb. 20. 1904.
me canal properties Of tn. French Canal Cen.
lsuy w"rc transferred to the United States on
April 2i. 1904. on payment OF Sio,0vo,000 to
tha, compsny. On April /, 1905. the commls.
Theodore p. shouts. chairman. Charles T. Ma.
=oon, Bentamin 81 IIarrod Rear.Admirai Nor
iecai r Endleo,t. Bris. .ti.n. Peter {. iIaIns,
and Col. Oswald H. Ernst John r. Stevens
was appointed chief engineer on July l last.
Active work 70 canal construction. mainly pre-
psrAtory. hat Seen lp progress for less than q
year aud ssif. During that period two points
ibout the canal have ceased to be open 10 de.
bate. First. the question OF route. the canal
,ii be built on the isthnus OF Panama. Sec
md. the question OF feasibility. there nrs no
physical obstacles on this route that American
'ngineering skill viii not be abl. to overcome
without serious dlhculy. or that will prevent
the completion sf the canal within u reason
able time and ut reasonable cost This II
slrtually the unanimous Testimony OF the en-.
sineers who have Investigated tho matter for
The government.
what Is needed now and without delay IL an
appropriation ~ the Congress to meet the cur
, .nt aud sccruinE expenses of the commission.
The hrst appropriation of SiD.'W0. 900. out OF
the si3o. o.0OO authorized by the spooner act.
made three years ago. II ir nearly eI.
nausted. There II barely enough of II remain.
Ing to carry the commission 10 the cnd OF the
year. Unless the Congress shah Appropriate
before that time all wosk must c-rsr. TO ar.
progress for any length OF time now, when
matters are. advancing so satisfactorily. would
lie deploruble. There will be no msney with
which 70 meet payroll obligations and none
with which to meet bills coming due for ma.
,erlals snd supplies; aud th-r. will be demoral.
isHtion OF the forces. here aud on the isthmus
now working 40 hsrnonlcusiy and effectively.
u there - ds,sy In srantins ~ emersency ap.
snry VIII y feasd In the accompanying ~
ports Of The Secretary Of War and the &C.,
mission,