The Washington times., 1909-01-28
Bill Reported From Com
mittee Will ReOrganize
Panama Rule.
OLD COMMISSION
WILL BE DROPPED
Offices Carrying High Salaries
Not Considered Salts
factory.
Bv 7 c. WELLIvFR.

A fine bunch OF the best-paying ap-
pointmCuts under the Government is
IN the way Of going by the board, If
the legislation now framed by the
House Committee on Interstate Com
merce. and approved apparently by
everybody concerned except the holders
OF the jobs, shall pass, looking TO re
organization of the Panama Canal
Zone government
The measure is reported from the
committee, as a direct result Of the
holiday trip Of the committee to the
canal zone. It proposes to abolish the
present canal commission, and substi-
tute a form OF government at once
similar and less expensive, and, 1t is
believed more satisfactory.
The canal commission is composed
OF seven members. They are George
q. GOethaIs, chairman and chief en-
gineer; Lieut.. Col NJ. +. Hodges, Major
D. y. Gaillard, Major William l. ST
bert, NJ II. Rousseau, J. s @. Black
burn, and Col William @. GOrgas. They
draw $4,000 each, as does also Joseph
Buckhl Bishop secretary to the com
mission.
IndOrse New Plan.
President Roosevelt, President-eIect
Taft, and. the authorities on the canal
zone are agreed on the plan which the
govern nent. It designs to effect con-
centration Of authority on the Isthmus.
both as TO civil administration and as
70 the work Of cOnsu ucung the canal
The President is authorized to select
q chief engineer and a director. but
both these Offices may be consolidated
in one and held by the. same person. if
II is deemed deSira bic, or they may be
separated and held by two people. The
q IVY. fFFF rrr
as may be found necessary, under the
chief engineer and director, 10 conduct
affairs, and he is to nix the salaries.
In short II has been the aim 10 give
the President the largest possible meas
ure OF latitude in making arrangements
Tor details, within the general scheme
proposed by The committee Bill. The
PRESIDENT VIII continue 10 be more alb
EOlute in the zone than anywhere else
under the American dag.
Goethals to Remain.
Al present Colonel GOethaIs has both
administrative and construction duties.
II is expected he would continue iu
this dual capacity for an indefinite
time, at least until duties in connection
with the construction work should re-
qulre all his time, when q director would
be named.
An important provision is made fo
reorganization OF the judiciary system
O. the zone. The committee came hOmJ
convinced there was no occasion TO-
maintaining three United States circuI
judges on the zone. as IL was f0uul
that one ought TO be able To DC Lhi
work. Accordingly only one such 5udgJ
Is contemplated for the future.
There ls at present no appeal 10 th
United States Supreme Court from tht
zone courts Provision is made TO
such appeal It shall lie. first, 70 tht
Fifth Judicial circuit OF the Unite,
States. the New Orleans circuit cour
of appeals. To facilitate business. tn.
justice for that circuit may deslgnau
District judge to sit as the appel
late court for the zone.
TnaI by jury.
Some time ago q man accused o
murder was convicted on the zon
without trial by a jury. There wa
an appeal 10 the Supreme Court OF tn
United States, which found that It ha.
no Jurisdiction. Thereupon The sen
tence was commuted by the Executive
and an executive 0rCer was issued pro
viding trial by jury III such cases. Tn
measure reported by the committe
contemplate preserving this pIans pro
viding that trial by jury may be had l
case of felouies.
The serious question of land teuur
tu the zone ls also determined Dy IN
measure. a great area OF E0Veumeu
lands in the zone has 20 be worked O
approved under lease ana az preseH
leases ere limited 10 so short q perlo
that satisfactory Improvement Of then
is ImDCs5iDlC. II Is therefore pro
posed 10 increase tho leasenO-d perlo
10 TWENTY-FIVE years and 20 limit In
divtdUal holdings 10 fifty hectares.