Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-12-13


experience sought 70 repress rather than
encourage political power. 1t takes long
time and much experience to ingram POI
litical habits 9f steadfness and efficiency.
Popular self-government ultimately must
rest upon common habits of thought and
upon reasonably developed public opin-
lon. No such foundations for self-gov-
eminent, let alone Independence, are now
present in the Philippine Islands. Disre-
gardtng even their racial heterogeneity
and the lack OF ability TO think as ma
ton, II is sufficient to point out that un-
der liberal franchise privileges only about
s per cent of the Filipinos vote and only
per cent OF the people are said TO read
tie public press. To confer Independence
upon the Fflipinos now Is. therefore, to
subject the great mass of their people TO
the dominance OF an oligarcidcal and.
probably, exploiting minority. Such
course Will be as cruel TO those people as
u would be shameful to us.
Our true course is to pursue steadily
and courageeesly the path we have thus
far followed; to guide the Filpinos into
self-sustaining pursuits. 10 contisae the
cultivation OF sound political habits
through education and political practice;
to encourages the diversihcation OF Indus
tries. and To realize the ivantages OF
their industrial education by conserva-
lively approved cooperative methods, at
once checking the dangers of concentrate
ed wealth and building up a sturdy inde-
pendent citizenship.
Regulation of Water Power
There are pending before congress a
large number of bills proposing 70 grant
privileges Of erecting dams for the pur-
pose of creating water power I'm our nayi-
gable rivers. The tendency Of these bills
has brought out an important defect in
the existing general dam act. That act
does not In my opinion. grant sufficient
power to the federal government in deal
ing with the construction of such dams to
exact protective conditions in the interest
of navigation. II does not permit the
federal government as q condition OF its
permit, TO require that a part OF the
value thus created shall be applied 10 the
further general Improvement and protec-
ton of the stream. believe this to be
one of the most important matters of
internal Improvement now confronting
the government Most of the navigable
rivers OF this country are comparatively
long and shallow. In order that they
may be made fully useful for navigation
there has come into vogue method Of
Improvement known as canalization. or
the slack-water method. which consists
in building a series OF dams and locks.
each of which will create a long pool of
deep navigable water. At each OF these
dams there is usually created long pool
of deep navigahle water At each of these
dams there Is usually created also water
power of commercial value. If the water
power thus created can be made available
for the further Improvement OF naviga-
ton in the stream, 1t is manifest that the
improvement will be much more quickly
effected on the one hand, and on the
other, that the burden on the general tax
payers of the country will be very much
reduced Private interests seeking per-
mits to building waterp0wer dams IN
navigahle streams usually urge that they
thus improve navigation, and that II they
do not impair navigation they should be
allowed to take for themselves the en-
tire profits of the water-power develop
ment Whatever they may do by way OF
relieving the government Of the expense of
improving navigation should be given due
consideration, but It must be apparent
that there may DE a profit beyond rea-
scnably liberal return upon the private
investment which is a potential asset Of
the government In carrying out a COM
prehensive policy Of waterway develop
ment. 1t Is no objection to the retention
and use Of such an asset by the govern
ment that a comprehensive waterway
| policy viii include the protection and der
| velopment of the other public uses Of
| water which cannot and should not be
| ignored In making and executing plans
for the protection and development OF
navigation. 1t Is also equally clear that
inasmuch as the water power thus Gre
ated is or may be an incident Of a gen
eral scheme OF waterway Improvement
within the constitutional Jurisdiction Of
| the federal government. the regulation Of
| such water power lies also within that
| jurisdiction In my opinion constructive
| craftsmanship requires that legislation
| should be enacted which will permit the
| development of navigation In these great
rivers to go hand In hand with the udl-
! ization of this by-produet Of water pow
/ er, created in the course OF the same I'm
| provement, and that the general dam act
| should be SO amended to make this pos
| sible. l deem II highly important that
| the nation should adopt a consistent and
| harmonious treatment at these water
! power projects. which viii preserve for
| this purpose their value to the govern
| nent, whose right ii Is to grant the per
| init. Any other policy Is equivalent TO
throwing away a most valuable national
| asset.
The Panama Canal.
| During the past year the work OF con-
| struction upon the canal has progressed
| most satisfactorily About 81 per ceut OF
| the excavation work has been completed.
/ and more than 80 per cent. OF the con
| crete for all the locks is in place In
| view Of the great interest which has been
| manifested as to some slides in the Guile
| bra Cut. ! am glad TO say that the report
| of Col Goethals should allay any APP
| profession on this point. 1t Is gratifying
! to note that none of the slides which oc-
/ cu,.ed during this year would have in
| Uttered with the passage Of the ships
I rad the canal. in fact. been in operation.
! ard when the slope pressures will have
been finally adjusted and the growth Of
| vegetation Vail minimize erosion In the
| banks OF the cut. the slide problem will
| he practically solved and an ample sta
| bilitv assured for the Culebra Cut
Although the official date Of the open
/ ing has been set for January !, 1915. the
| canal will. In fact from present indica-
! ttons, be opened for shipping during the
| latter half Of 1912 No fixed date Gan as
| yet be set but shipping interests viii he
/ advised as soon as assurances can be
/ given that vessels can pass through with
! cat unnecessary delay
| Recognizing the administrative problem
! ir the management of the canal. con-
/ gress In the act OF August q. 1912 has
/ made admirable provision for executive
| responsibility In the control Of the canal
/ and the government of the Canal Zone.
! The problem of most efficient organiza
] ton is receiving careful consideration So
/ that scheme Of organization and con
/ troll best adapted TO the conditions Of the