The Washington times., 1909-11-29
Committee on Appropria-
tons Closely Studying
the Estimates.
PROGRESS OF WORK
OUTLINED IN REPORT
Statement Prepared Under Colonel
Cocktails Direction Is Compre-
hensive and in Detail.
BY WALTER ]. FAHY.
Special Correspondent OF the Munsey
Newspapers With the COnEressioI al
Committee in Panama.


Committee i'm Panama.
HAVANA. Nov. 25.-NIembers Of the
House Appropriations Committee who
have been studying the estimates sub
mitted by the canal commissioners have
determined to devote considerable time
IN questioning the canal officials re
garding the extremely high wages being
paid on the isthmus
An examination Of the estimates for
appropriations submitted by the com
mission discloses the fact II is pro
posed TO pay employees in the canal zone
wages far in excess Of those paid in the
States for similar work This is the in
tention, in spite Of the fact employees
on the isthmus enjoy many advantages
which are equivalent 10 considerable
additional sums Of money each month.
In the first place the employees have
their quarters free. These quarters are
comfortably furnished at Government
expense; light and fuel are free; ice is
sold at cost, as is also the food and
clothing sold at the commissary. Ply
sicians are furnished by the Govern
ment without cost to the patients and
drugs are free. Churches are erected
and maintained at Government expense.
the salaries Of the clergymen are paid
not by the worshipers, but by Uncle
Sam. Men belonging 10 fraternities are
not given charters. as in the United
States, but the Government provides
them with club houses.
Agree to Comforts.
Members OF the Appropriations Com
mittee are not disposed to ind fault
with the manifold comforts provided by
Uncle Sam. They are curious to know.
however, If, with such comforts and
money saving privileges. It is necessary
for the commission to pay wages which
IN some instances are twice as high as
those paid in the United States where
the cost Of living IS infinitely greater.
As pointed out In a previous dispatch
the members of the Appropriations
Committee are not at all satisfied that
II should cost the Government nearly
s15.OO0,o0o more to carry on the work OF
making the dirt fly during the fescaI
year, 1901 than il is costing during
the present fiscal year. The estimated
cost for the current fiscal year is S33-
$4,000. The estimates submitted for
1911 call for SIS, O63. 524. The proposed ex-
penditures are subdivided as follows:
Salaries In the United States. S1e5. 900
incidental expenses in United
states .,-------------- .-----.--- 5000
Pay Of officers and employees on
isthmus .-....................... 4.292, sso
Isthmus pay olls-.--,-...-.----- 1854, O3s
Miscellaneous material pur-
ehases .......................... 2O.21s. 1888
Re-eouipment Panama rail-
road ..;.......................... 100000
Incidental expenses on 18th
mus .:......................... 1,1es4O0
Pay officers and employees
civil administration ...... $4,000
civil administration pay rolls. s7,7s1
Material and expenses, civil
administration ......-.-....-... IO4,531
Pay, sanitary officers and en-
pioyes on isthmus .-.......... 73l,1sO
Sanitary ray rolls on Isthmus 24l. 942
Material and expenses, sani-
tary partment....-...-....... LOIS, 7O4
Relocation Panama railroad. $500 900
Total aS oso s9s