Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-30
Demand for Square Meal.

At Ancon Hospital both patients and en-
ployes were warranted in comp aiming about
! bad food. One of the nurses said: Tell
| the President do not want square deal
| but very particularly square meal.
There should be a very rigid eXamna-
| ton of food supplies before being h'pped
| from the United States 1t is uncomfortable
that any one should be asked to drink
coffee or to eat such eggs and meat as are
now supplied. One of the most urgent
recommendations is that the Agricultural
Department be ca led upon to promote
farming the isthmuS in order to meet
| the great need of fresh vegetables, milk.
chickens. eggs and fruit. Almost anything
can be grown on the iSthmuS. The main
hospitals at each end of the isthmus are
sp,cndidy equipped. The men speak en-
Enthusiastically of their treatment. At the
various camps there dispensaries and
receiving rooms. There are a.so rest camps
for common laborers who arr not very i'll,
but who would be more comfortable in
| beds with mattresses and bed cothes than
| in their barracks on cots without cover
pect cases are placed until it can be learned
whether or not the disease is yellow fever
| The object Is to prevent the carrying of
| contagion, by mosquitoes, from such pa
| t1ents to others.
No Netting for Negroes.
Although malaria4 fever is far more fatal
to blacks than to whites, mosquito netting
given free to the latter.
The Saturday half-hoiday cannot be
recommended at this time, owing to the
lack Of adequate recreation. 1t would be
detriment rather than a benefit. for the
time would hang heavily upon the hands of
the employees. However. work In that Gil
mate makes 1t important that the Saturday
half-holiday should b. instituted just as
soon as recreation can be provided
The liquor traffic is strictly supervised
in the canal zone, the number OF licenses
having been reduced from over 200 to
thirty-fOur. The testimony of laborers.
officials, wives of employees, physicians and
secretaries Of the Young Mems Christian
Association prove conclustvely that vice
and intoxication are no more extensive IN
that place than in any other territory.
There is no doubt that. as a temperance
measure, good beer and wines. at proper
rates, should be provided in the mems clubs
under supervision.
The majority of the employees work more
than eight hours, and do not come under
the operation of the eight-hour law. A long
work day is undesirable in that climate. but
many work twelve and fourteen hours.
Anti-Union Sentiment.
There is no general discrimination
against unions on the isthmus, but there
IS a strong anti-union sentiment among
officials and an unwillingness to deal with
union committees, which has caused dis
one long standing cause of irritation by or
dering the hours Of mechanics to be made
IDENTICAL. e.. eight hours. But the situa-
ton is so complicated that 1t would be i'm
possible to equalize conditions unless
careful study were made by an expert labor
commissioner whose sole duty would be
the consideration of labor matters.
Discomfort due to bad food. favoritism in
awarding married quarters" uncomforta-
BILE bachelor quarters and such matters
dismissals, inequalities in wages. hours
vacations, and relative to sick leave pro-
visions, will be reduced greatly without
doubt by the forming of a board to con-
slider all labor grievances. Such board is
now contemplated by the chairman. whose
intention it is to have upon it a representa-
tive of the commission. a representative of
the trade involved and representative of
the foreman under whom the complainant
works
The government should provide for dc
pendent families of those injured and killed
in the work, which is especially dangerous
where there is blasting Damages are not
recoverable from lit, is the case with
private contractors. and it is necessary to
take up collections among the employees
for such funds. Circular saws should be
guarded.