Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-12
VERY FAVORABLE JUST NOW
Present Wants Are More Labor and
Less Rain.
HEALTH STATUS SATISFACTORY
West Indian Negro Help Has Proven
Very Unsatisfactory-Agent Sent
to Spain for Laborers.

" AoANNp august III. r. SnOnt9
chairman, and Joseph B. Bishop secretary
OF the Panama canal commission, arrived
mere today from Colon on the steamer
Panama Mr.. Shonts said that genera, con-
ditions in the canal zone were very favor
able at present and constantly improvine.
'All We want" he declared. "is mora
labor and less rain. The labor problep,
has been partially solved by the EMPLOY
ment OF Spanish workmen. We have also
advertised for Chinese laborers
The death rate has risen from III per
cent last winter to per cent at the pres
ent time. which is better showing than
at the average labor camp In this country.
Yellow fever has not appeared In long
time and for nine days previous to my de-
parture no smallpox was prevalent.
1T will be some days. however. before
we can be sure that the disease has been
entirely eradicated. Out of the thirty-seven
cases which broke out during the recent
epidemic only one death occurred"
Mr.. Shonts said that the engineering work
on the canal was now well under way.
Mr.. Shonts said the West Indian negro la.
Dor had been very unsatisfactory. adding:
I'VE can only get so per cent efficiency
out or the negro workmen.
After Spanish Laborers.
"A man has already been sent to Spain to
secure Spanish labor. We want to get from
Spain about 500 men a month to make up
the loss in the working force and to bring
the force up. We want the sturdy la
borers from the north of Spain and we ex-
pect to get them.
within very few weeks Advertisements
will be published calling for 2 500 laborers.
The commissions is in favor of this class of
labor. and the IOf mill he to-
ture of experiment But IT is possible that
large force Of Chinese will be at work on
the isthmus. The work Of preparing the
contracts there will be slow for we must
comply with the laws. In the contracts
there must be no appearance of involuntary
servitude. the local laws must all be COM
pied with and the treaty regulations must
be regarded.
Chief Engineer Stevens and myself have
handled Chinese labor and we found the
men all right. They do the work, and that
IS the prlncipai object We aim to get the
strong. husky laborers from the rice fields
OF southern China The importation of Chi
nese labor does not come under the con-
tract law
Mr.. Shonts said that he may see the Pres
ident at Oyster Bay.
A Reply to Gompers.
Mr.. shonts tonight gave out the following
statement with regard to a statement is
sued in Washington today by President
Gompers of the American Federation of
Labor:
THE eight-hour law does not apply to
unskilled labor on the Isthmus of Panama.
The entire present unskilled labor force is
alien. We cannot secure this class of un-
skilled labor from the United States. 1t is
therefore not seen why law passed in
the interest of merican labor at home
should be made applicable to alien labor,
which probably never heard of its existence.
Its application would have increased the
labor cost of the canal several million dol
lars. The American laborer in this country
would have to pay his share Of the conse-
Quent increased taxation without any COM
pensating benefit to himself.
"At the time of my interview with Mr..
Gompers, in discussing the eight-hour law,
aside from what 1 have already said I
stated that my understanding of the reason
for the enactment of the eight-hour law in .
this country was primarily to give to the
highest type of labor in the world longer
hours for mental recreation and improve
ment; but that with the lowest class of la
Dor, as at Panama, 1t was more helpful and
improving, more in their interests and more
an act of kindness than otherwise, to per-
nit them to work ten hours a day and pay
them for it-because they are paid by the
hour.
Backed by Best Legal Authority.
"As to the statement of Mr. Gompers that
the existing law excludes Chinese laborers
and coolies from the United States or any
of its possessions; the Panama cana zone
is an American possession, and II is as
much a violation of the law to bring Chi
nese coolies there as it is in other por-
tions of our country. 1 can only say that
the commission has secured the opinion Of
the highest legal authorities of the govern
ment 1t has been held that such law does
not apply to the canal zone. The law ex-
cluding Chinese from the United States
a nd nOSSaSsiOnS DaSSe1 In March.
1903, and specifically set forth that such
laws should only be applicable to territory
at that time subject to the authorities OF
the United States. The canal zone was ac-
quired subsequent to that date, and Con-
gress has not extended its provisions SO as
to embrace the canal zone.
Canal Must Be Dug.
..The canal must be dug, and the first
requisite is to have labor to dig it. We
do not believe it wise or economical to de-
pend only on the West Indian negroes. We
cannot secure the unskilled labor in suf-
ficient number from the United States 1t
is therefore not in competition to our own
labor. and any agreement entered into will
provide for the return of Chinese direct to
China upon the completion of service on the
canal work.
"In conversation with Mr.. Gompers. the
well-known views of Mr.. Shonts as to labor
possibility of the future employment of
Chinese and otherwise, were practically set
forth as above, and any contrary under
standing must have been due to misap-
prehension of his position.
Acting Secretary of the Treasury.
Assistant Secretary Reynolds is acting
secretary of the treasury in the absence Of
Charles H. Keep. who has gone to the