The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-10
AS WITNESS
GOVERNOR OF CANAL ZONE BE-
 FORE SENATE COMMITTEE.
Closely By Senator Morgan ReraraImw the Government of the Isthuus and the work of
 Sanitation.

washinrton, Feb. 9.--Charles F.. Magoon, Governor of the Panama Ca- nal zone, was before the Senate Com mittee on Inter-Oceanie Canals today and gave his testimony in connection with the investigation of the canal work.
 Tn response to request from Chair man Willard, Governor Magoon out lined conditions on the Isthmus when he was assigned to duty there last spring. He had. he said, found an ex- cellent organization for the govern ment zone, but that the men there were much overworked and very anx- icus over the possible effects of the reorganization Not removals were made The sanitary force was also well organized and 1t had done ana is now doing excellent work. The gov ernment has been especially fortunate in securing in that force a number of army men who had been engaged m the sanitary work of Cuba.
 He gave details regarding the rays ages of yellow fever last season and said that while most of tho victims were white men, some were colored- The natives were not. however, en- tireIy immune. He said he had ac- cepted the doctrine that mosquitoes are the agents in spreading yellow fe- yer. but that no other preventive
 
 Do you believe" asked Senator Morgan that with all the mosdui- toes killed, that the disease would dis
 Nc" replied the witness. but we are trying now to get rid of the mos quitoes--to kill themsoff.y
 "A pretty big undertaking" sug- gested the Alabama Senator, and GOV ernor Magoon assented. adding that it is very difficult to make any tropical climate healthful for men from tenn perate climates. He said the authori- ties are also proceeding on the theory that malaria is spread by mosquitoes.
 Questioned By Morgan. Senator Morgan questioned the Wit ness closely concerning the origin or yellow fever in Panama, himself ir- sisting that the fever is native there. Governor Magoon contended that fever conditions there, are better than Ter merly.
 Governor Magoor mentioned the fact that the Chief Justice of the canal zone was not a citizen of the United States. Senator Morgan made some in- uuiries 9corncerning the propriety Of such an appointment and the witness replied that the selection was based upon the precedents established in the Philippines and Porto Rico. He saw no reason why such an appointment could not be properly made.
 Senator Knox questioned the gover- nor as to the truth or Poultney Bige- l llcw's charges as to the incapacity of the court and Governor Magoon re- piled that the Chief Justice had for years been Chief Justice of the Pana- ma Supreme Court and is an able law yer. He also spoke In praise of Judges Collins and Gudger. saying they were good lawyers. Gudger speaks Spanish and Collins French. He had heard many compliments for the court and no complaint.
 | Under examination by Senator Nor gan the question was raised whether the courts as constituted by the Isth- milan canal commission could deny to an American citizen his inherent right to trial by jury when charged with a capital offense. Judge, Magoon said that presented a serious question. In a general discussion of the sub ject Senator Knox said he should like to know what the ruling of tho United States Supreme Court would be in this | matter. Jury trials are not had in the canal zone nor in the Philippines, and | In the latter the Supreme Court had up- held the system as applied to the trial of native Filipino Senator Knox said he could not say what the decision would be if an American going to pos sessions of the United States were tried an convicted in like manner.
 A recess was then taken.
 At the afternoon session Judge Ma