Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-18
FOR WORK is WELL LAID
Type Selected Has Already Been Shown 70
Be Right One,
SANITARY CORPS HAS DONE GOOD WORK
Sickness and Death Rate Decreases OF All
Places on Zone.
CRITICS AND uBELERS CONSIDERED
President Says There Are some
Honest Critics, but sIandeFcrs
Have Been at work
in Matter.

In Matter.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IA pictoriais
illustrated message from President Roose-
welt, portraylng conditions as he found
them on the isthmus OF Panama during his
visit, occupied the attention of the senate
during the greater portion of the session
today. Printed copies OF the message, hand
suinely bound. were placed on each SEN
ator desk and the reading Of the message
was closely followed. Preceding the Pan
anna message the presidents recommenda-
tions regarding public lands and the naval
personnel were read.
The senate agreed to the holiday adjourn
ment resolution and there will be a recess
from the end of the session on Thursday
next to January 3. Resolutions were agreed
to directing an investigation by the Depart
I ment of Commerce and Labor OF the Inter-
national Harvester company to ascertain
whether it effects restraint Of trade; also
directing the senate judiciary committee to
report what authority congress may have
under the commerce clause Of the consti-
! tuition to prevent interstate commerce in
child-made goods.
! Resolutions to guard against infringe
ment OF state rights were presented by
! Senators Whyte and Rayner of Maryland
! for future discussion.
Message on Canal Affairs,
! The presidents message on Panama canal
affairs in part follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives: In the month Of November visited
the Isthmus Of Panama, going over the
canal zone with considerable care; and
also visited the cities of Panama and
Colon, which are not in the zone or under
| h11t which
the United States government, through It's
agents, exercises control for certain sani-
tary purposes.
1 chose the month of November for my
visit partly because 1t Is the rainiest
month of the year, the month in which
the work goes forward at the greatest
disadvantage, and one OF the two months
which the medical department Of the
French Canal company found most un-
healthy.
Immediately after anehorlng on the aft
ernoon OF Wednesday there was a violent
storm of wind and rain. From that time
we did not again see the sun until satur-
day morning, the rain continuing alamost
steadily, but varying from a fine drizzle
to torrential downpour. During that time
in fifteen minutes at Cristobal 16 inches
of rain fell; from l to 8 a. m, November
16, 3.2 inches fell; for the twenty-four hours
ending noon, November 16, 1924 inches fell.
The Chagres rose in food TO a greater
height than It had attained during the
last fifteen years, tearing out the track
in one place. 1t would have been impos-
sible to see the work going on under more
unfavorable conditions. On Saturday, No
, vember H. the sun shone now and then
for a few minutes, although the day was
generally overcast and there were heavy
showers at intervals
Each day from twelve to eighteen hours
were spent In going over and inspecting
. all there was to be seen. and in exaDin-
ing various employees. Throughout my trip
? I was accompanied by the surgeon general
Of the navy DIR. Rixey; by the chairman
Of the Isthmian Canal commission, Mr.
Shonts; by Chief Engineer Stevens. by DR..
Gorgas, the chief sanitary officer OF the
commission; by Mr Bishop the secretary
of the commission; by Mr.. Ripley, the
principal assistant engineer; by Mr. Jack
son Smith, who has had practical charge
Of collecting and handling the laboring
force; by Mr.. Berd, general manager OF
the railway and by Mr.. Rogers, the gen
eral counsel of the commission, and many
other officials Joined us from time to time.
At the outset wish TO pay tribute to
: the amount OF work done by the French
Canal company under very dficult cir
put up were excellent and are still IN use.
though, naturally, the houses are now get
ting out Of repair and are being used as
dwellings only until other houses can be
? built, and much OF the work they did IN
the Culebra cut, and some OF the work
9 they did in digging has been OF direct and
e real benefit. This country has never mads
= better investment than the $40, 900 nm
= which It paid TO the French company for
! IEHrT- 1.rFF
o the Panama railroad.
n An inspection on the ground at the height
e OF the rainy season served TO convince me
n Of the wisdom OF congress in refusing IA
i adopt either a high-ievel or a sea-leve
b canal. There seems 10 be a universal
r agreement among all people competent e
- judge that the Panama route, the one ac-
B. tually chosen, is much superior to both the
e Nicaragua and Darien routes.
p Preliminary Work BEING Done.
l. The wisdom Of the canal mana cement has
l. been shown in nothing more clearly than II
Z the way in which the foundations OF tn,
e work have been laid. To have yielded e
d the natural impatence Of Hl-informed out
siders and begun all kinds OF experiment.
in work prior TO a thorough sanitation o.
: the isthmus, and to a fairly satisfactory
working out Of the problem OF getting and
Keeping a. Auilcltul lduol supply Woult
have been disastrous. The various prelm
mary measures had TO be taken first; ant
these could not be taken so as TO allow ui
. to begin the real work Of construction prlol
70 January ! OF the present year II ther
Il became necessary TO have the type OF IN,
!, canal decided and the only delay has beer
% the necessary delay until the 29th day o.
a June, the date when the congress dehnitel,
y and wisely settled that we should have Al
eighty-nvc-foot level canal Immediatel,
s after that the work began IN hard earnss
IL and has been continued with increasing
h vigor ever since; and Il will so continue q
progress In the future. When the contract
are let the conditions will be such as Z,
insure constantly increasing amount o.
4 performance.
= successful Sanitation.
Z, The first great problem 10 be solved upoI
= the solution Of which the success OF IN,