Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-28
HOW TO GOVERN CANAL ZONE.
Good Prospect for Differences Of
Opinion.

one of the first big fights to come
on in the new Congress relates to Il
system of government for the Panama
canal zone 1t will be a fight to at
tract and hold the attention Of all the
countries of the world, for it will be
based directly upon the Fundamental
principles of government. Also, it Will
have to be settled by the 62d Congress,
FOR before the 63d Congress comes in
to existence the canal is likely TO be
completed.
The republicans. at least so far as
the oid-line regulars of the House are
concerned are on record in bill
which passed the House in January,
1910. IN this measure provision was
made for an unlimited monarchy, the
president OF the United States to be
king of the canal zone. The bill ex-
pressl- places all powers in the presi-
dents hands in the following IMAM
biguous language: "All the military,
civil and judicious powers of the
United states in the canal zone, in
Guiding the power to make all laws
rules and regulations necessary for
the government of the canal zone,
shall be vested in the president.
This bill also gave the president au-
thority for the appointment of vice.
regent to dwell in the zone and ad-
minister the laws promulgated by the
president. Likewise. it gave the
president unlimited power to create
all other offices considered necessary
nv him for the government of TIL"
zone and the operation of the canal,
ard to fill those offices. to fix the sal
aries and to remove officials to suit
his pleasure.
The president also is empowered to
appoint, courts. and the only limitation
fixed in this respect is provision Tor
an appeal to the supreme court or the
United States in the case OF man
sentenced to death or imprisonment
for life. or in civil suit where more
than $4,000 is involved. Trial by jury
Of his peers is not guaranteed to a
citizen of the zone, but by an I'M
perial jury"
TO this plan for the government oil
the canal zone the democrats so far
have offered violent, not to say neat
ed. objection. In protest filed at
the time the republicans brought the
bill into the House, the democrats say:
dent. even in a distant colonial pos
session. it is in conflict with the gen.
ius and spirit of our republican insti-
buttons. We DO not believe TINS eX-
traordinary power ought to De con-
ferred upon any one individual.
The democrats also objected win
equal vigor to the denial OF appear 10
ANYBODY sentenced for less than lie.
They held that man sent up TOT ~
years ought to have q Chance 10 get
into the supreme court of the United
States as we'll as a man sent up LOT
life or one designated to decorate the
galIows.
Their argument was in favor OF a
regular form of popular government
with elections and campaigns and all
the constitutional guarantees enjoyed
by an American citizen in any OF ene
states To that they still hold.
The republicans, on the other hand,
claim the canal zone will not be a
political subdivision of a kind to call
for any such complicated system
The canal zone. they asserted, is to
be nothing but great terminal and
machine shop. and it should not be
the policy of the government to en-
courage a large permanent population
If Americans there. The people should
be mostly canal employees, and their
government ought to be a simple and
| direct thing of easy, though arbitrary.
administration.
What the Senate thinks about the bill
has not been ascertained because that
| body has declined to consider it. The
s,lpposition in the House has been
that the Senate would not object to it.
but simply has put off its considera-
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