Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-11-08
ALBUQUERQUE MAN
FINDS POLITICS
AND GRAFT
PeSSimiSt Says People Get
"Stung" on all Sides by
Their Beloved Uncle Samuel
ON the ISthmian Canal Zone
(By John McCanerty, NJ. E.)

(By John McCanerty, vi. E.)
AS an American frOntiersman n
operator of considerable experience,
l have been identified with the 18th
milan canal zone and also with the adj
joining territory, the republic Of Pana-
ma. for the past two years. have
been there for the purpose of assisting
i'm the development of whatever nat
ural there may be in that
part of Central America.
/ am glad TO reflect that the tax
payers of the United States are con-
structing the isthmian canal and that
they will complete and operate 1t in a
manner worthy of The nation not
~withstanding unfortunate mistakes
which may retard the progress of the
work. Nevertheless / am not in favor
of the present management of the ca
nal which is overweighted with poll
tics, resulting in ~extravagant expendi-
lures.
| assert that there is no work in
connection with the construction OF
the canal which cannot be performed
far more advantageously by the citi-
zens of the United States than by for
eigners, especially the people from
Jamaica. 1t is a United States enter
prise, and therefore, any benefits 10
be derived from its construction
should be acquired by our citizens
The foreign employees. especially the
people from Jamaica, are neither NOR
ally, mentally, physically nor other
wise better qualified for the several
departments of labor han Americans.
Why, then. are the foreigners en-
ployed? All the government has to do
to get enough of capable American
employees is simply to pay wages TO
the ordinary American laborers-pick
and shovel men. white and black-S2
United States gold per day. eight
hours to constitute a days work, board,
and lodging, included, with shower
baths attached TO lodging houses, such
as are maintained for the skilled
white men there. Such employees
would not only do several times more
work per mar h the cheap 81
cents per day. foreign laborers, but II
would also be performed I'm a more
satisfactory manner. Freed entirely
from sentiment and viewed as a bus
mess proposition, the government
should substitute Americans in place
OF the lazy and immoral foreigners.
For, no matter what money Is paid TO
them, il Is a dead loss to the nation,
whereas the greater portion of the
money paid to our citizens returns in
due time to the United States.
Jamaica Blacks at $40.
Fancy a lot Of Jamaica blacks being
employed In policing the canal zone at
the rate of $40 each a month II
should be regarded as an insult to our
taxpayers. And. as another item for
due consideration, while the isthmian
canal police force may number l2O
Jamaica blacks. at the rate Of $40
each per month, with, perhaps, twelve
white sergeants, at the rate of $50 TO
SIS each per month, the chief OF this
force, c.. r. Stanton, is receiving
$4,000 a year. Yet, we have been as
sured that the enterprise is not tar
nished with politics.
The cannal commissioners sell
liquor licenses to Chinese, Japa-
nese. Italians and others at the
rate OF $500 United States gold,
per annum. Necessarily these vendors
of adulterated liquors are doing a
thriving business at all the n
stations. Notwithstanding a general or
der TO the effect that employees VIII be
discharged for intemperance. A ma
FORTY of the hospital patients are 50
reduced owing entirely to the estab-
lishment Of these whiskey shops.
Consistency. thou art n jewel! Fancy
our government for the sake of 500
OO0 or $4,000 per annum sacrificing
the health and lives Of It's employees.
Gambling Is prohibited within the ca
nal zone. but Of the two evils II would
seem TO me better to suppress the sale
Of Intoxicating liquors, because. WITHIN
that climatic belt they cannot be- used
with any degree Of safety. While l
know that a certain class OF. perhaps
well meaning people viii demur mere
TO. nevertheless, / assert there Is noth-
ing. absolutely nothing. meritorious or
elevating about a whiskey dive but
there Is much less harm about
"a gaming room. especially so when
intoxicating liquors are eliminated
and the games are operated On the
square
Uncle Sam and the Tiger.
As another evidence Of the irration-
aI inconsistency Of our government
the canal commissioners induced the
government Of the Republic OF Pana-
ma TO suppress all games OF chance
within It's realm. but the lottery
sure thing game-is allowed 10
squeeze its patrons once a week. Sec
rotary Of Wal Taft might. perhaps, be
able to explain why Il is thus permit
ted to fleece the general public.
Furthermore. as the general pun
lie understands Il. the Panama rail
road. In connection with the canal. y
operated by the government. Never
theless, Of all the railway lines IN up
Grafton under our national flag. IL Is
By long odds the hold-up. llustrat-
ing. a tourist or business man disem-
barks az either La Boca or Colon. ana
after s~o1ourning a few days az either
UiAffs ne TAXES AHt AdAM 10 FAAtAfA
Corozal or Empire. or to FrijOles or
Gorgona. and. as a matter OF course
he moves his luggage along. But IN
place ~ being allowed q certain
amount OF baggage free. as OF all
other railway lines operated on this
planet. he Is charged at the rate of
: cents In United States gold a pound
on any and an luggage put into the
baggage car. IL makes no difference
whether u be checked to Corozai. En-
pire or Colon. or TO Friioies. Gorgona
ar Panama. the hold-up. rate j. the
rame.
Tourist Fccls Buncoed.
Necessarily the traveller feels that
he j. being worked to a finish by Tn
Gle Sam. and no matter whether he
b q preacher. lawyer. journalist or
u,fnirv operator. ~ IT, apt o. -ay nasty
things about this Naturalization This
unprecedented rate applies to all per-
ANS COATED On and doing business
along this railway n md, / MAJ