The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-02
The New Deal I'm Panama.

President RoosEvELT's o reorgani-
cation plan in connection withthe Panama
Canal, nov that II has been semi-oficially
disclosed. seems TO bear a striking family
resemblance to a former scheme, sug-
gested by him to Congress nearly two
years ago. The only difference between
the two is that in the first instance he
proposed to reduce the commission to a
membership of three, giving it the char
acter of an executive committee, and
totally eliminating its character as an
administrative and deliberative coun-
Gil; whereas now, compelled by the re-
fusal of Congress to enact the proposed
legislation to adopt another e~xp"dient,
he achieves the desired contamination
without disturbing the surface of the
arrangement prescribed in the so-called
Spooner law.
On the first occasion il was Mr.. RoosE-
vELT's ardent wish to inaugurate a prac-
tical prosecution of the enterprise. He
had had enough Of solemn Capitalization
in the luxurious Washington quarters of
the commission. II seemed to him that
a body composed of seven commissioners
of virtually equal powers and response
bilities, at least four of whom were en-
gagged exclusively with blue prints (bar-
ring an occasional pleasant weather
excursion to the Isthmus), could hardly
be expected to construct a real canal
within the limits of m ordinary genera
ton. He wanted a triumvirate, two of
whom were TO have permanent Offices on
the Isthmus, and all three Of whom were
to address themselves to actual canal
building. always maintaining order and
good feeling in Panama. consumma-
ton already achieved by Governor Ma
| COON. Congress, however, did not re-
spond'to the Presidents somewhat i'm
perious overture. The Spooner law
remained untouched. Mr.. RoosEvELT's
seven commissioners stood fast upon the
payroll and the dirt didn't fly.
Since March, 1905. many things have
happened. Much light has been thrown
upon the situation. The dirt" is very
much where it was two years ago; but
a vast amount Of preparation is now COM
plete. After all, men are mere fallible
and feeble human beings. It is con-
ceivable that the working force will be
! far more effective now that we have pro-
vided sanitary housing, wholesome food,
medical attention and other conditions
! of bodily comfort. Possibly these re-
suits might have been accomplished con-
currently with a vigorous and effective
! attack upon the Culebra monster; pos
sibIy not. Between the impetuous en-
thusiasms OF President ROOSEVELT and
the unbeautiful and homely counsels OF
elaboration, who shall judge?
But the Presidents latest plan Of re-
organization possesses the twofold merit
of producing the very situation he unsuc-
cessfully endeavored to create two years
ago and at the same time avoiding con-
fict with Congress. Authority. initia-
tive, power will now be concentrated in
two or three men, as the President origi-
nally intended. There will be the usual
number Of commissioners" no doubt,
but their functions will undergo a process
of subjugation. So the President has
had his own way ono more. In every
thing Ave name, the new commission
will disappear, TO mako room for the
executive committee" he originally
prehgured. There will be no more
leisurely debating societies, no more
serene and opulent excursions to the
Isthmus at Government expense, SO
far as the material at the Presidents
disposal Is capable Of achieving the re-