The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-10-17
CANAL PROFITS
TO REPAY j. s.

Continued from Page one.
these points for the guidance of Con-
gress In legislating next session.
The commission expressed the be-
lief that il can secure the best operat-
ing force for the canal from among
the workers now employed on the
canal. High wages were paid at the
outset when IL was difficult to obtain
Of the country and the temporary
character of employment. But the
commission contended that as the
death rate on the zone is much lower
than for most parts of the United
States, and as the operating work will
be permanent, much lower wage
scale can be adopted. The commission
regarded IL as essential that the cost
of operation shall be reduced TO a
minimum consistent with efficiency IL
reasonable tolls are To be established.
Get All Revenue Possible.
The total outlay for maintaining the
canal viii be for wages of the oper-
ative force engineering work, santa
ton and civil administration. The
commission was insistent that the rev.
enue of the canal should go to pay not
only the operating expenses. but to
repay the capital invested. Every legi-
innate means for raising revenue
should be adopted, said the report
which recommended that the govern
ment SHOULD not only supply coal and
oil for it's own vessels but should sell
them to merchant shipping. The exist
ing commissary, manufacturing plant
and laundry it was urged, should be
continued for the benefit of govern
ment forces and government owner
ship of public utilities was proposed in
sary furnish all these things To ship
ping passing drought the canal for ?
consideration. II was suggested thai
the Government should sell tools and
appliances needed by ships and. still
another forward movement, should ac.
| tually undertake To dock and repair
ships i'm the neighborhood of the can
al. For that purpose the construction
of a dry dock and a machine shop was
recommended; and II was pointed on
| that these would be available for tn,
use of our navy. A wireless station
for naval and commercial use wai
another adjunct required.
Want Americans in Zone.
The commission has given mucl
thought to the disposition of land II
the canal zone, important because o
| its bearing upon the future admins
tration of the zone and the operation
of the canal. OF the 1876 suare mile
of land i'm the zone the government
owns 3G4 of which &c miles are occu
| pied by the canal. A large part of tn
government land will be required 70
military, naval and other official pur
poses. 1t was deemed essential tina
the Spanish law shall continue to pre-
vail to prevent friction with the neigh
boring Panamanians in the cities o
Panama and Colon.
| Most of the land is unsuitable 70
extensive farming enterprises and tn
inducements are not such as would at
tract American farmers owing to diff
| hculties i'm obtaining title and the pc
culiarlties of the Spanish system o
taxation which must be continued
| Other occupants than Americans ar
not desirable. The commission want
to get rid of the great body of foreigl
| laborers, who were imported TO dig tn
canal, as soon as the work is complet
ed. They now populate the cstablshe,
town sites and the commission de
clared that they should be repatriate,
after work no longer can be givei
them 1t was stated that the create
the amount or land leased. and tn
number of town sites established am
| occupied, the greater will be the cos
! of sanitation and civil government.
Form of Government.
The report declared that for severa
years to come at least IL should be tn
policy to keep all government land
for government purposes. Whateve
military force is located on the 18th
mus will be charged with it's own SAM
| tation The reservation of all land
| for governmental use would result
! therefore, i'm minimum cost for thes
! two items.
As to the form of government 70
the zone the commission directed spc
cial attention to the military neccs
stiles, the canal being deemed mill
tary asset. In conclusion, the commits
sion holds il essential that an EMIT
be established, SO organized that an
military contingency can be prompt.
met.
! II was recommended that Congress
authorize the canal management &
pay damages to vessels injured i'm pas
sage inasmuch as this governmen
must insist on taking complete charg
of all vessels during that transit e
| guor1 n painst I'm iury tO the locks