The Washington herald., 1908-07-22
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN

SPECIAL Corresrondsnoe The Washington Herald
Ancon. Canal Zone. July Il. The Ameri-
can people have set up a little country Of
thei- own here on the isthmus- They
hold the ground under a perpetual lease.
and have proceeded TO erect a stable gov
eminent. which IS abe 70 protect the
Americans on the isthmUs IN all their
rights and interests. The United States
prohted by the experience Of the French.
and when il took up the task Of building
the canal Il was only after treaty rights
had given Us fun control OF the territory
which would form the basis Of operations
The republic OF Panama ceded US per-
petuaI Jurisdiction over the Canal Zone
which IS a strip OF territory FIVE miles
wide on each side Of the center line OF the
canal. and extending into deep water
three miles beyond the ends OF the canal.
This new near-State Of ours has its own
little revenue department. its own postal
system. its own school system. its own
fire departments. and its own judiciary.
1t has sixteen Post-ohlces. and the postal
business IS probably heavier in proportion
70 the white population than anywhere in
the UQited States
When the French attempted 70 make
Culebra Mountain bow to the waters OF
the oceans they allowed Jurisdiction over
the canal 70 remain IN Colombia, since
they were but a private corporation It
was q costly experiment. and they lost
many thousand dollars by IT, They were
easy prey. IN one case. for instance. q
Colombian had thirty acres Of swamp
land which was needed IN the construc-
uon OF the canal II was worth $50 an
acre He demanded $1,000 an acre. The
canal company took the matter TO the
courts Of the republic, insrtuting con-
6emnation proceedings. Here the owner
admitted that the land was not intrin-
sically worth more than SO an acre, Yet
claimed that he had as much right 70 de-
rnand $4,000 for the tract as he would
have II il were situated in the very heart
Of Paris; that in either case IL was what
The land could be used for that would
determine its value The court shared his
view, and nothing was left for the canal
company 10 DO but 20 pay the S590r0
The Canal Zone has its laws made by
the President Of the United States. His
word IS the law of The land here, 50 far
as II does not conflict with the few enact
uents OF Congress For instance. until
recently men were condemned 10 death
IN the Canal Zone without having had
the right Of trial by jury In the course
Of hearings before the Senate Committee
on Inter0Ceanic Canals this fact was
brought out Many Senators had never
heard OF It before. and were inexpressibly
shocked 10 know that such q state Of af-
1alrs existed Gov Blackburn replied that
the Zone was being governed under the
laws that had existed there, IN 50 far as
they did not conflict with the written
laws Of Congress and the executive orders
Of the President The result OF this was
that as soon as President Roosevelt had
his attention called 10 II he issued an
order establishing the right Of trial by
Jury. So. for the drsL tine IN the history
OF South America, q man accused Of a
capital crime had the right Of a trial by q
jury Of his peers This system has work
ed admirably. and the laws Of the United
States are being rapidly transplanted 10
the isthmus-
The PanaDans are not a very pleasant
lot Of people 70 deal with The territory
under the perpetual control Of the United
States cuts their country halT in two
Both their capital and their next most
important city are under American con-
trOI. so far as sanitation Is concerned.
------ e--- ----Asl E1--A--5 mas A4-E -4E-L 10
step in and maintain peace whenever she
shall deem II necessary The one railroad
IN the republic. the chief means OF com
1nUnicasion between her principal cities.
Is owned by the United States. IN fact
so anxious was Panama 20 get the $1,000
COO the United States was 10 pay for the
privilege Of building the canal and for
TIE annual rental Of the territory, that
she made every concession the United
states could ask Now sorry that she IS
not getting more for Il. the republic pro-
ceeds 70 hold up the United States when
ever opportunity affords.
The United States has its own postal
system n the Canal Zone. When the mall
arrives in Colon from abroad Il IS tr,rue-
ciately put on American trains. hauled
70 American Post-otHces, and distributed
by American clerks When Il leaves the
isthmUs il IS mailed n American post-
Offices and is hauled by Americans untu
Il reaches the ship in which Il IS 10 be
carried away. No Panama Official touches
& al any stage Of its travels. Yet the
Panama government insists that il shall
have 20 Per cent Of the revenue from the
sale OF stamps on the Zone As the
stamp sales amount TO some $1,000 q wear
II viii be seen that the republics profits
are $4,000 IN that time.
Some time ago the Central and South
American Telegraph Company wanted 10
land the new 'AII-American'' cable in
the Canal Zone It applied to the United
States for permission 10 land II, which
was granted The Panamans fought
against it under every possible pretext.
their desire being 10 have their pernis-
sion regarded as essential, so that they
could get a good fee for the concession.
But In this case the United States told
her, IN effect. that she had no interest in
he matter, and so the cable was laid
me only way the republic Of Panama
can transport its prisoners from Colon 10 /
Panama IS through the Canal Zone. Each
lime II was necessary TO take any prison ]
2rs through the government notified the
Canal Zone authorities. The governor Of I
ihe zone always replied by granting per |
mission Some time since he received q 4
.etter from the Panaman secretary Of 1
state. IN which that official said that the I
aoUlcauons were sent. not for the pur-
pose OF asking permission to enter the /
Zone with their prisoners. bur FOR the /
purpose OF notifying the Zone officials SO !
hat they could aid the Panama police i
n Ine event OF necessity. He said there
vas no occasion 10 ask permission. since
he treaty gave them the right Gov
Blackburn replied that as he understood 4
The treaty there was nothing in il which 4
gave the Pauaman police any right 10 4
exercise their functions On the HIGHWAYS
II the Zone, and that they could only do 4
20 by permission OF the Zone government
si2ce then the Panamans have been Quiet
oR the subject