Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-10-12
NEW POLICY FOR
PANAMA CANAL.
President VIII Name Chief Engineer
Stevens to Rule Over Canal
Zone

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Oct. S.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt has decided to adopt IL
new policy with regard TO the admins
tration of the Panama canal zone. The
SovernorShip is to be left vacant and al
tairs are to be administered by Chief
Engineer Stevens and the isthmian canal
commission.
TO prove to South America that the
United States does not covet the Fan
anna republic, the post of minister To
Panama is to be re-establiShed. Herbert
q. SquierS of New York, who was re-
called from Cuba, is under consideration
for the mission.
President Wants to Know.
In response to II telegram sent him Il
few days ago Linden W. Bates of Chi
cagO, the We'll known engineer. came To
" ashington Yesterday and talked for
some time with the President on What
had been accomplished at Panama. Mr..
Bates, it is said. did not hesitate TO crIu-
else sharply the way things are going on
at Panama.
Mr.. Bates thinks the progress thus far
made amounts to little considering the
immense sum Of money spent. The 30.
coo men on the pay rolls are not doing
as much work rs did the 10000 me-
employed by the French when they were
building the canal.
Much Quinn Not Enough Dirt.
In his judgment, the work Should have
been commenced at the terminus OF the
canal and proceeded inland The Chi
cage engineer expressed the view that nj
together too much attention has been paid
to sanitation. He has estimated the
number of grains Of Qunine taken to
the amount of earth removed and it Is
his opinion that it's out o. all proportion.
The iStEman canal commission dis
counts Mr.. Bates criticism by asserting
he is l&boring under the disappointment
Of having had rejected the plan for the
construction of tie canal which he sub
mitted last year. The President is en-
deaVorlng to ascertain the views OF eX-
pert engineers not connected with the gov
eminent or canal work thus far done.
And vet Il public man called his att2n-
ton few days ago to the criticisms
of Poultney Bigelow. and asked him il
he proposed to reply to them.
No, sir the President said emphat-
ically. Il don't believe in skinning the
same skunk twice"
May Have to Depend on Negroes.
The commission fears it will have to
depend on negro labor after aIl to build
the canal, unless Chinese coolies can he
secured from the Straits Settlements. or
other British far eastern possessions.
The Chinese government has net yet
made an official answer to the rCprCSrl-
tation Of the United States with respect
to the employment of Chinese in tie
canal zone. 1t is known, however. that
Sir Chcntung LANG Cheng, Chinese min
lister in Washington, does not approve of
the use of his cOuntrymen on this WORK.
The opposition of the Chinese authoIi-
ties makes the government here dis
inclined to award contracts for furnish
ing coolies. 1t would not be exactly Il
friendly thing to do.
The difficulty that is being experienced
in getting satisfactory Tabor is RESPONSE
bic for renewed interest the officials are
taking in proposals to build the canal
by contract When Secretary Taft re
turns to Washington this important
question will be determined.
President Hopes to Vigit Canal.
President Roosevelt cabled Mr.. Taft Il
few days ago asking him ii he thought
the Cuban situation would arrive at Il
stage that would permit him TO leave the
l. nted States for couple Of weeks.
The reply of Mr.. Taft has not vet been
received, but reports from the secretary
all Indicate that the island is being paci-
ned more quickly than he had antici-
pated.
Changes in South America
With the return of Secretary Root
after his remarkable tour of South
America, public attention has been d.
lected especially to the southern repub-
lies. European diplomatiSts 10 longer
mOnopOlize attention as they formerly
did and reports that Argentina is anxious
to follow the example of Mexico and
Brazil and elevate its mission in WASH
lngton to an embassy are causing much
comment.
There will be changes in the repre-
sentation from South America. Mexican
Ambassador Casasus is too i'll to remain.
Walker Martinez of Chile will resign 10
look after his property. which was af-
tectcd by the quake.
Other New Faces.
Last Friday lose Rosa Pacas. the
new minister from Salvador and Hon
duras, was received by the President.
and i'll a few days DR.. Enrique Cortez.
the new Colombian minister will be for
mally presented to the President
As Ser0r Obalda. the Panama min
lister, has been elected Vice President of
his country, he must be replaced in
Washington, and another new face
among the Latin-American contingent
Will be Luis Melian Lafinur. who has
been sent here as minister from J-ru-
quay.
TAFT IS COMING LATED