The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-01
Miss Beeks Has Com
 pleted Her Work.
REPORT SENT TO SEC. TAFT
Touches on Every Condition and
 Makes Suggestions.
Miss Beeks. secretary of Welfare Ds- yartmcpt sf the National Civic Federatio., aaae ThorousA
 Inspeetisa.

New York. Sept 30.--The report to Secretary Taft on conditions of em~ ployment on the Isthmus of Panama, which were investigated by Miss 0er- true Beeks Secretary of the Welfare Department of the National Civic Fed er-.ion. was made public today.
 Nearly every feature of life on the Isthmus is touched upon In the re- port. Many things are highly com mended, otherl are condemned and rec. concentrations are made for the bef-a terment of conditions. The inspection covered camps. barracks. hospitals. mess halls. schools, club houses. com missaries. Jails. churches, work places and transportation facilities. condi- tions of employment were also inves-s tigated. Information was gathered men, mechanics. clerks, nurses. doc- tors. secretaries of the Young Mems Christian Association. railroad engtn- eers and conductors, their wives and children, and, in fact every type of resident on the Isthmus. the negroes included. But in no case was testf- mony sought or received from dis charged employees.
 It Is clearly recognized that never before have there been as good condi- tiona in American construction work, but In view of the climatic conditions. length of tine to be consumed in the building of the canal and the fact that the Government sh0uld be model employer, 1t is urged that the sur roundfngs of the employees should pc made as comfortable as possible. N, turally, more can be expected from the Government than from a private em- pioyer with limited capital. and re- stricted by competitive conditions.
 Some of the recommendations have already been adopted. Secretary Taft immediately requested the Agricultu rai Department to start Government farm and made arrangements witf Secretary Wilson to have all fooe stuffs inspected before shipment from the United states; he aiso autnorizea the purchase of blankets Tor fine negroes and refrigeration plants for moss halls. ten- tafive draft Of the report was presentea to Lieutenant Colonos uoe- tbais before Miss Beeks left the 1stis- mus. lie at once had plans drawn for drying rooms. authorized the erection of rain sheds. and has since supplied beds for Americans In permanent quar- ters and ordered that metal cots pe covered with canvas. He has indicated his intention of putting into cnect such suggestions as available funds will hermit and of calling the more important recommendations to the af- tentfon of the Congressional Commit- tee on Appropriations which will visit the Isthmus In October. with the view of securing funds for their adoption The Commission ha safso started the publication of the Canal Zone news paper and. has accepted the services of n representative of the Welfare Der partment of the National Civic Feder- ation-Miss Helen varick Bosweil---to organize women's clubs and she fs now on tbe Isthmus. Ths report has been sent officially to the Isthmian Canal Commission for comments. which VIII be published later. President Hoose- welt has requested Miss Beeks to re- turn to Panama within eight months and report upon progress made.
 Many of the complaints of employees with reference of housing. food. com ditions of employment and bad boat service between the United states and Panama undoubtedly have been war ranted, but the Chairman of the Com mission and Chief Engineer. Laeuten- ant Colonel Goethafs, by making per sonai investigatious. affording for the first time an opportunity for griey- ances to be heard. and by making certain improvements. has inspired confidence.
 The Investigation covered period of five weeks. from the time or leav- ing New York. June :. until the return. July i2. twcnty-three days having been spent on the Isthmus.