Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-12
Jack iAto inefilciency and disorder

lack iAto inefflciency and disorder.
An enormous increase in the com
mercial development Of the islands has
been made since they were virtually
granted full access to our markets
three years ago, with every prospect
OF Increasing development and diversi-
fed Industries. Freed from American
control such development IL bound TO
decline.
II the task we have undertaken Is
higher than that assumed by other ma
tions. its accomplishment must de-
mand even more patience. We must
not forget that we found the FflipinoS
wholly unframed In government. up
to our advent all other experience
sought to repress rather than encour-
! age political power. 1t takes long time
and much experience to ingram po-
litical habits Of steadiness and effi-
cheney. Popular self government ultl-
mately must rest upon common habits
Of thought and upon a reasonably de-
vel0ped public opinion.
present declaration even Of future
independence would retard progress by
the dissensiOn and disorder 1t would
arouse. On our part 1t would he dis
Ingenious attempt, under the guise OF
comforting benefit on them. to relieve
ourselves from the heavy and difficult
burden which thus far we have been
bravely and consistently sustaining.
1t would be a disguised policy Of scut-
tie. II would make the helpless Fill
Pine the football Of oriental politics,
under the protection Of guaranty OF
their independence. which we would
be pOwerless to enforce.
Regulation Of Water Power.
There are pending before congress a
large number of bills proposing to
| grant privileges Of erecting dams for
the purpose Of creating water power
: in our navigable rivers The penden-
cy Of these bills has brought out an
! important defect in the existing gen.
eral dam act That act does not. in
my opinion grant sufficient power to
the federal government in dealing
with the construction OF such dams to
exact protective conditions in the in
terest Of navigation. 1t does not per-
NIT the federal government. as a con-
dittOn OF Its permit, to require that a
part of the value thus created shall he
applied to the further general i'm
provement and protection Of the
I stream. ! believe this to be one of the
most important matters Of internal i'm
provement now confronting the gov
eminent
In my opinion constructive states
manship requires that legislation
should be enacted which will permit
the development Of navigation in these
great rivers to 20 hand in hand with
the utilization of this byproduct Of
water power, created in the course of
general dam act should be so amend
ed as to make this possible.
deem it highly important that the
nation should adopt consistent and
harmonious treatment Of these water
power projects, which will preserve
for this purpose their value to the gov
eminent. whose right it Is to grant the
permit Any other policy is equiva.
lent to throwing away most valua-
bic national asset.
The Panama Canal.
During the past year the work Of
construction upon the canal has pro-
crossed most satisfactorily. About 81
per cent OF the excavation work has
been completed. and more than 80 per
cent Of the concrete for all the locks fs
iu place. In view Of the great interest
which has been manifested as to some
slides in the Cnlebra cut | am glad to
say that the report of Colonel Goethals
should nllay any apprehension on this
point. 1t is gratifying to note that
none OF the slides which occurred dur
ing this yenr would have interfered
with the passage Of the ships had the
canal in fact been In operation. and
when the slope pressures will have been
finally adjusted and the growth Of veg.
etation will minimize erosion in the
bnnks OF the cut the slide problem will
be practically solved and an ample stn
hility assured for the Culebra cut.
Although the official date of the open
Ing hns been set for Jan. l. 1913. the
anal will In fact. from present indica-
tons. be opened for shipping during
the latter half Of 1913 No fixed date
can as yet be set. but shipping interests
will be advised as soon AS ASSURING
can be given that vessels can pass
through without unnecessary delay.
! Recognizing the administrative prob
lem in the management Of the canal,
congress in the act OF Aug. "a, 1912.
has made admirable provisions for ex-
ecutive responsibility in the control OF
the canal and the government Of the
canal zone. The problem of most eff
Gent organization is receiving careful
consideration. so that scheme OF or
ganization and control best adapted to
the conditions of the canal may be
formulated and put in operation as ex
peditiously as possible. Acting under
4 the authority conferred on me by con.
q gress ] have by executive proclamation
promulgated the following schedule Of
tolls for ships passing through the ca.
. ma. based upon the thorough report OF
Emory Il. johnson. special commission
er on traffic and tolls:
/ First. - On merchant vessels carrying
passengers or cargo. Sl2O per net vessel
ton-each 100 cubic feet-of actual earning
capacity.
second.-On vessels in ballast without
passengers or cargo. 40 per cent less than
the rate OF tolls for vessels with passen-
gers or cargo
Thtrd.-Upon naval vessels other than
transports, GOLFERS. hospital ships and