Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-11


month ago President Amador's mes
sage to its members made a special ref
erence to Mr. Magoon's tactful ham
ding of public questions as having mad
much to do with Panama's perfectly
harmonious relations with the canal
zone government" Secretary Taft viii
receive high praise also for the auspi-
cious outcome of his visit to Panama,
in the course of which a full agreement
was reached regarding difficulties which
had arisen in Interpreting certain arr
ticles of the Hay -Bunau-V -Varilla treaty.
President Amador has recently ex-
pressed his satisfaction with the agree
ments entered into with Secretary TAFT
and the clearing up of some points
open to misinterpretation which might
ultimately have led to serious disputes.
Chance to Get Desired Information
It will be surprising, too, II the pres
ident does not acquire in the course
of his brief visit a great deal OF in
formation which he could hardly expect
to obtain in any less personal manner.
Official advices are well enough, but
even with all the power of a committee
Of congress ana all the exertions OF
its most inquisltive members, the SEN
ate committee on interoceanic canals
has never been able to fathom the
extent of William Nelson Cromwelrs s
activities in and about the canal zone.
1t may be that, when President Roose-
welt himself arrives there, some one
with official knowledge may find an
opportunity to give him little of the
light for which senator's have been
striving Intellectually for many moons.
Mr.. Cromwell's response to Senator
Morgans questloning-that he gave
his services gratuitously 0n one of his
many confidential capacities relating
to Isthmian affairs)--has not been sat
isfactory for two reasons: In the
first place because he had more money
than he knew what to do WITH and,
secondly, because he was sorry for it.
If Mr.. Cromwell has enshrned him
self in the hearts of the Panama pol
iticians as the Isthmian Santa Claus,
the president will certainly hear of it
before he has been there very long.
When the republic found itself in the
possession of the millions paid by this
country for the canal strip the COM
missioners intrusted with the invest
ment of the money enjoyed the val
liable cooperation" of Mr.. Cromwell,
as President Amador has publicly
stated, in investing the money in the
United States.
AS bearing upon the Impressions
President Roosevelt will obtain from
his brief visit to the Isthmus, it is
interesting to note a few Of the steps
which the Panaman republic has TAX
en- in it's internal development. New
money has been made for the republic
at the Philadelphia mint and the new
coins have been put into circulation
without incurring the disfavor of the
Panaman people. A bank has been
established to furnish at low rates Of
int nf
ers and landowners may need in
handling their crops. Public instruc-
tion has taken great strides and schools
have been established in all the inn
portant towns. In the city of Panama
are normal schools for both sexes, two
high schools and one commercial and
language school of more elementary
sort. Manual training and telegraph
schools are operating satisfactorily,
and in one town there has been es-
tablished a school where hat-making
is taught.
Enterprise on the Isthmus
In municipal affairs the street paw
ing of the capital Cat the expense of
the American governmenD has slim
ulated public interest and aqueducts
have been constructed, both at Panama
and Colon. These examples of official
enterprise, in conjunction with the
sanitation made effective by the med
ical corps of the Isthmian canal conf
mission, have improved the general
health of the Panamans. AS one of
the results of Secretary Taft's visit
and the reinterpretation of the original
treaty, there have been established In
the canal zone both a lazaretto and an
insane asylum, and, pursuant to later
agreements, alterations are in progress
in the Santo Tomas hospital. The tele-
graph and telephone systems of the
capital are in progress of extension to
towns in the interior. for the purpose
more especially of bringing different
sections of the republic into close and
friendly intercourse with the head
quarters of the government. In all the
disturbances of political sort, in the
three years history of the republic, the
inaccesSihilitv of the inland towns has