The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-02-05
TOO MUCH POLITICS
THAT'S WHAT is THE MATTER
WITH PANAMA.
J. NJ. Campbell, Sfontgomery Machin-
list, Returns from work ON
the Canal Where Pol
ifscn RmIe

According to a statement made by
j. NJ. Campbell, of 36S Martha Street,
politics Is being manifest in the en-
ployment of labor In the construction
other branches OF the Government. Mr..
Campbell has recently returned from
Panama, where he went under. the en-
ploy Of the Government.
Mr.. Campbell was formerly employ
ed in Montgomery at the shops Of the
Atlantic Coast Line. When an agent
OF the Government came through here
seeking experienced machinists to go
to Panama, he signed a contract and
was one of the few to go from this
city to The tropics He arrived at
Gargona on October 10, and soon FOUND
that unless one stood in with the pow
be all but pleasant. He said. however,
that he soon learned that unless one
stayed thirty days he would not be en-
titled to his passage money ana per
out as long as possible. and was fin.
ally turned loose. with hundreds OF
others.
The other which Mr.. Campbell ex--
hibits is like that which hundreds OF
expert machinists have received after
going to Pansma. It Is signed by
Jackson Smith. and states, in few
words, that the bearer Is discharged
from the service OF the Panama Canal
Commission, owing to the fact that a
general reduction in forces has been
decided on.
But it is Of the actual work that is
being done that Mr.. Campbell talks
at Gargona he was placed in one Of
the machine shops. To these shops
were brought all Of the Old French
machines which had been allowed to
lay out in the marshes for the last sew
| eral years These machines were
brought In for the purpose OF having
them worked over and put into condi-
tion for use on the canal.
1--WE fixed up engines that cost the
Government a great deal more than
new ones that could have been brought
| from this country said Mr.. Campbell.
land at the time we all agreed that
would discover that they are paying
| for a lot of high livers ana expert
menters An investigating committee
that goes to Panama is always shown
one side Of the work that is being
done. / do not believe that the au-
thorities at Washington really know
what Is going on down there. 1 saw
| a number of cartoons In American pa
pers soon after President Roosevelt
things I have ever seen. The work
| ing force has been reduced to such an
extent that the number OF idle people
that are hanging around, who have
4 lost their places, is much larger than
the active ones.
In speaking of the machinery left by
the French, Mr.. Campbell said that IL
| is all of Anticipated design and not
practicable for use on the canal. The
engines. he said, are too small and
/ light for the work required of them
He said that some of these were prac-
tically rebuilt, which costs more than
new engines from America.
At Culebra Cut conditions are alto
gether on a political basis, Mr.. Camp
bell said. He was, for short while,
in the machine shop there. Upon my
word of honor" he said, the foreman
and bosses of that immense, shop, where
but little work is done comparatively.
knew no more about practical machin-
lists work than a pig does about Sun
day. They were political appointees,
pure and simple. and 1t was joke
about the boss not liking certain
/ work done.
Mr.. Campbell says that the best part
| of the arrangements at CulebTa Cut
are the sanitary provisions made. un-
usual attention has been paid to this.
he said, and there Is remarkably little
sickness.