The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-09-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The proposition to import Chinese
labor for work on the Jsthmus of Panama
is being seriously considered and this
week the bids for furnishing such labor
from number of contracting companies
we're opened in Washington. The COM
mission here has not determined which
proposal is most advantageous but it is
known that one reliable concern has sub
mitted proposition to furnish common
laborers at ten cents per hour for any
number of laborers. The invitation for
bids calls for a minimum of $500 Chinese
laborers with the right to increase the
number at the rate of not more than two
thousand per month up to total of fif-
teen thousand. People conversant with
the conditions on the Isthmus assert that
only by importing the Chinese can the
work there be economically accomplished.
White laborers cannot be secured, or if
secured cannot be retained negroes,
Notwithstanding Poultney Bigelow TO the
contrary, are lazy, unreliable and vicious
and the last hope Of the commission is in
the coolie, for each one of whom a con-
tractor will be responsible. Heat, humid
ity, hard work, isolation from woman
kind and home, monotonous rations and
unsanitary conditions seem to make no
difference to the Chinese laborer, who if
he cannot stand things lies down and dies
but never complains or runs away. Bonds
for the proper performance of the con-
tract, good treatment of the Chinese
coolies and their return to China at the
conclusion of their term of service were
required of each contractor.
Brigadier General Funston has been in
Washington since early in the week and
the greater part of each day he has spent
at the War Department in consultation
with Chief of Staff Bell going into every
detail of the plans for the military occu-
pancy Of Cuba. The quartermaster's
department has worked out the impor-
.ant question of food supply and equip
ment Of men should they be ordered to
Cuba, ard these plans have all been gone
ever By Brig. Gen. Funston.
Two regiments at Fort Niobrora, Neb.,
have been ordered home to their station
in the department of the Gulf, and can be
hurried from there to Cuba at any
moment after their arrival. Brigs. Gen.
Barry and Duvall, who are in Germany
on visit of inspection of the army
methods, were ordered home and sailed
on the 22nd inst, as General Duvall will
be needed to assume charge of the troops
of the Department of the Gulf in case they
should be needed on the Island. 1t is
said that the War Department is by no
means decided that Funston will be called
upon to command the army in Cuba in
case of intervention. His knowledge of
the Island, his acquaintance with the
principal leaders of the revolution and
taken in connection with the record he
made for himself in the Philippines and
after the recent earthquake in San Fran
cisco would all point to him as the fittest
man in the army for the work but the
question of age, precedence and pull"
have always been stronger in the War
Department than the question of fit
ness, and if man who had not grad,
uated from West Point were to be given
charge there the howl from the Irregular"
fossils would be heard from coast to coast.
President Roosevelt though has little
patience with Department routine and red
tape and it is probable that in case f
sending troops to Cuba he would appoint
Funston to take charge and as Com.
mander General of the Army, the De-
partment could not interfere.
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