El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-17

MAJ ITH the Panama canal now
wv safely past the half way stage
Of completion, it appears that
the most serious la Dor problems have
been solved, and that aside from occa-
sional acquisitions on the West Indies
for negro workmen, there will be no
need for worry about the supply of Ia
borers to finish the work. Last fall
there was trouble with the European
laborerS that threatened TO grow into
serious affair, but it was handled so
adroitly by chief engineer GOethals and
his associates that ii resulted in posi-
tive advantage.
Contract Laborers.
When the digging of the canal was
begun 1t was shown thar a Spanish Ia
borer could do as much as two or three
negroes from the West Indies. 1t was
upon this basis that the wage scale
of the canal was fixed In view of the
working qualities of the Spaniards,
they were recruited by the canal COM
mission, their transportation expenses
advanced and a certain amount of work
guaranteed them
For several years everything went
well. but gradually the European Ia
borer, realizing that there was a con-
tract with the Spanish government back
of him, grew Indifferent. Gradually his
efficiency declined until in many cases
he was no better workman than the
West Indian, although he was drawing
double the pay. When urged to buckle
down TO work he reminded the boss
| of his contract
This state of affairs continued for
| awhile. and then Col. Goethals issued
an order that any European laborer
who was not giving a satisfactory re-
| turn for his hire should be told that
| his services were no longer needed, his
pay check taken away from him and
| the contract with the Spanish govern
ment marked satisfied and completed.
Thereafter, if the laborer wanted to re-
| turn to the job he would be hired IN
the open labor market, which relieved
the commission of all further respon-
sibility TO Spain under the recruiting
contract.
Days Work for Days Pay.
The effect was magical. At first, the
Spaniards who were discharged appeal
ed 10 the Spanish consular representa-
tive at Panama, and he pretended to
believe that their contract rights had
been violated, and that the commission
was getting around the spirit of the
contract, If not around the letter of it.
But. Col Goethals informed him that
the canal could not be dug with recall
citrant labor, and that if the Spaniards
did not work they could go home or
starve.
After being made TO understand that
the commission required a days work
for a days pay. and that the penalty
for refusing to work would be instant
dismissal, they soon got down to hard
work again, and from that time TO this
they have had nothing more to say
about their contract rights.
Col. Goethals's attitude has been no
less salutary on those who continue to
labor under contracts than upon those
who were discharged from the contract
roll and reinstated from the open mar
ket- II also has stimulated the West
Indians, who are doing more work than
ever before.
Labor Now Plentiful.
AS the canal nears completion there
is a gradual increase in immigration
from the West Indies TO the isthmus.
Realizing that the canal will be the
worlds greatest highway of interna-
tional trade, the negroes of the Carib-
bean seek 10 avail themselves Of the
opportunity to get a cheap home in the
bush. and an opportunity TO live where
the business of the world is passing.
The result is that the commission
gets practically all the labor it needs
at its own doors. Aside from one or
two recruiting agents in the West In
dies, to be called on in case of unex-
pected demand, 1t has called in all Of
its representatives from the labor mar
kets of the world.
That this desirable situation has been
attained is largely due TO two things
the sanitary work that has changed
Panama from a byword of unhealthful-
ness into an object lesson of sanitary
excellence, and the broadly planned la
Dor system laid out by Jackson Smith,
who died only few weeks ago.
Before coming to Panama, Mr.. Smith
had engaged in many big railroad con-
struction jobs in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador
and elsewhere. He successfully organ
lied the force which built the Guaya-
quill & Quito railroad IN the heart Of
the Andes. When he finally resigned
from the Panama commission TO go into
private business again, the president
stated that the canal would ever be in
debted to him for the magnificent labor
force he had built up
Labor Enticed Away.
Not long ago another rather serious
labor trouble arose. Throughout South
America there are many engineering
undertakings being carried forward,
and the supply of labor for these pro-
iects is not equal TO the demand. In
asmuch as these projects usually give
no attention to sanitation or the fur
nishing of proper quarters, but on the