Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-12-21
THE WEEK IN THE WORLD.
Great Events and Movements Which
Are Making History.

President Roosevelt sent three spe
eial messages 10 congress Monday. They
deal with the Panama canal, public
lands aud the navy. The first name.i
Is the longest Of the three and con-
tains the most Of public interest. The
president does not hesitate 10 admit
some weaknoscs in what has been done
ON the lsthmus; but these are few
and are minor matters which will be
easily and promptly adjusted. Accom-
modations were found comfortable, food
good, plenty and not expensive. Work
was being rushed everywhere, and good
progress has been aud IL being made,
The management on the lsthmus Is
highly commended, and special word
Of praise is given TO DIR. Gorgas, who
has solved the great problem OF SAINT
tation. The health conditions are now
remarkably good, much better than In
most sections of the United States
Sharp condemnation Is bestowed upon
the "foolish professional scandal mon
gers who have written about the COM
mission Is work. - For the Americans
among these the president feels the
heartiest contempt and indignation; be
cause, in spirit OF wanton dishonesty
and malice they are trying to interfere
with the greatest work Of the kind
ever attempted. - Against their
charges the president strongly defends
the canal management and produces
evidence TO support his statements.
Water and sewage systems and streets
were found in excellent, and in many |
eases perfect, condition, and the hospi- /
tails are striking examples of what !
such institutions should be. Complaints !
of employees are few and these few are |
so varied as 10 be unimportant. The /
houses occupied by employees are good /
and clean, and the people are gener-
ally well satisfied with their surround I
ings. The SpaniaTds are proving ex- /
their fOrcmcn. twice as much work as
the West Indians The latter, aecus-
toned to easy life, are inclined to
work only enough TO secure money
for necessary food aud that is not
much. There is lack Of amusement
for the men, and some action by the
to provide more is recon
although the men themselves
are partly solving the problem. Work
is being pressed with vigor and eli
cheney. and in October new records
were established for output of shovels
and tonnage hauls by locomotives. The
president found the work in Culebra
Cut especially impressive, and much has
been accomplished there. Railroads
are greatly improved in methods and
Wages, in view of the
high cost of living perhaps is not 50
high cost of living, perhaps are not so
high ms they should be, This matter
will be more fully investigated and the
findings communicated to the canal
committees of the two houses Of con-
gress On the whole, the president is I
we'll satisfied with the work which is
being done on the canal, which he
links may be completed in about eight I
'cars.
In his message on the subject of ,
public lands President Roosevelt en- /
,hasizcs the need of new land laws AMI ,
ayors the repeal Of the timber and I
tone act whose effect he SAYS is "to I
urn over public timber lands to great I
>. He advocates an apprO- I
,riation of $5,OO0,OO0 for national for
st service and public control for pub j
ic range. In his message on naval r
,ersonnel the president deplores "the e
resent archaic system Of promotion, I
without parallel in the navy of any first y
lass Power" and urges early passage )
f remedial legislation He thinks ma n
al officers are obliged to stay TOO il
)ng in subordinate positions and he "
cves the navy's future will be COM h
romiscd unless this condition is see y
fled n