The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-12-13

government Up to our advent all other
| experience sought to repress rather than
encourage political power. 1t takes long
uine and much experience to ingram po-
ntical habits OF steadiness and efficiency.
popular self-government ultimately must
rest upon common habits Of thought and
upon reasonably developed public opin-
Ion No such foundations for self-gov-
ernment let alone independence. are now
present in the Philippine Islands Disre
gardlng even their racial heterogeneity
anu the laCk of ability TO think as a ma
tion. 1t Is sufficient TO point out that UNI
oer liberal franchise privileges only about
per cent OF the FIlpinos vote and only
per cent OF the people are said to read
the public press. To confer independence
upon the Filipinos now is. therefore. TO
SUBJECT the great mass OF their people TO
the dominance OF an oligarchical and.
probably, exploiting minority. Such
course will be as cruel to those people as
IL would be shameful to
our true course is to pursue steadily
and courageously the path we have thus
far followed TO guide the Fflp.nos into
self-sustainlng pursuits; to continue the
cultivation Of sound political habits
through education and political practice;
TO encourage the diversfication OF indus
tries and to realize the advantages OF
their industrial education by conserva-
lively approved cooperative methods. at
once checking the dangers OF concentrat-
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 to grant
privileges OF erecting dams for the pur
pose Of creating water power In our navi-
gable rivers. The pendency 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
or navigation. 1t does not permit the
federal government. as a condition OF its
permit. to require that part OF the
value thus created shall be applied to 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 a method OF
Improvement known as canalzation or
the slackwater method, which consists
In building a series OF dams and locks,
each Of which will create a long pool OF
utSp DdNlEaDle water. AL edcn or tnpSe
dams there is usually created a long pool
OF deep navigable water. At each OF these
dams there Is usually created also water
power OF commercial value. II the water
power thus created can be made available
FOR the further Improvement Of naviga-
tiOn in the stream It Ia 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
y,
reduced. Private interests seeking per
mits to building waterpower dams in
navigable streams usually urge that they
thus improve navigation. and that X 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 be a profit beyond rea-
sonably liberal return upon the private
Investment which IS a potential asset OF
the government in carrying out COM
prehensive policy Of waterway develop
ment. II rs no objection TO the retention
and use OF such an asset by the govern
ment that a comprehensive waterway
policy will include the protection and de-
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. II Is also equally clear that
inasmuCh as the water power thus ere
ated Is 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 navigatio In these great
rivers to go hand In hand with the util-
ization OF this by-product OF water pow
or. created in the course OF the same i'm
prevement. and that the general dam act
should be SO amended as to make this pos
sible. ] deem 1t highly important that
the nation should adopt a consistent and
harmonious treatment OF these water
power projects. which will preserve for
this purpose their value to the govern
ment, whose right it is 10 grant the per-
NIT. Any other policy is equivalent to
throwing away 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 cent. OF
the excavation work has been completed,
and more than 90 per cent. OF the con-
crete for all the locks is in place. In
view OF the great interest which has been
manifested to some slkles in the Guile
bra Cut, ! am glad to say that the report
OF Col. Goethals should allay any ap-
prehension on this point It Is gratifying
10 note that none Of the slides which oc-
Cured during this year would lave In
terfered with the passage C. - ships
ad the canal, in fact been in operation,
and when the slope pressures will have
loen finally adjusted and the growth of
vegetation will minimize erosion In the
banks OF the cut, the slide problem will
be practically solved and an ample sta
bility assured for the Culebra Cut.
Although the official date OF the OPEN
ing has been set for January l. 1915 the
canal will In fact from present indica-
tions, be opened for shipping during the
latter half OF 1913 No fixed date can as
yet be set but shippin" interests will BE-
advised as soon as assurances can lie
given that vessels can pass through with
out unnecessary delay.
Recognizing the administrative problor1
IN the management OF the canal. con
gress in the act OF August -. 1872. las
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 consid' ration so
that a scheme Of organization and CON
troll best adapted to the conditions Of the
canal may be formulated and put In op-
Grafton as expeditiously as possible. Act
ing under the authority conferred on me