The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-12-14


experiences sought to repress rather than II
encourage political power. 1t takes long
time and much experience to ingram po- 5
litical habits Of steadness and efficiency. I
Popular self-government ultimately must {
rest upon common habits OF thought and
upon a reasonably developed public opn- T
ion. No such foundations for self-gov- s
eminent. let alone independence. are now
present in the Philippine Islands. Disre- I
garding even their racial heterogeneity :
and the lack of ability to think as a ma +,
ton, II Is sufficient to point out that I'M /
der liberal franchise privileges only about {
per cent. of the Filipinos 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 a
course will be as cruel TO those people as
II would be shameful to us.
Our true course IL to pursue steadily
and courageously the path we have thus
far followed; to guide the Frlipinos into
self-sustaining pursuits: TO continue the
cultivation of sound political habits
through education and political practice
to encourage the diversifcation of indus
| tries, and to realize the advantages of
| their industrial education by conserva-
| lively approved cooperative methous. at
| once checking the dangers OF concentrat-
| ed wealth and building up a sturdy, indie
| pendent citizenship.
Regulation Of Water Power.
There are pending before congress
| 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 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, 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 l 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-wate 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 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
, for the further improvement Of naviga-
ton In the stream, It 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 waterpower dams In
! navigable 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 II must be apparent
that there may be a proit beyond a 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. 1t is no objection to the retention
- and use Of such an asset by the govern
ment that a comprehensive waterway
"a policy will include the protection and de-
- velopment OF the other public uses OF
:. water. which cannot and should not be
"a ignored in making and executing plans
~ for the protection and development OF
- | navigation. 1t Is also equally clear that
" fnasmuch as the water power thus ere
:, ated is or may be an incident of gen
- eral scheme of waterway Improvement
- within the constitutional Jurisdiction Of
the federal government, the regulation OF
=, such water power lies also within thai
- Jurisdiction. In my opinion constructive
craftsmanship requires that Legislation
= should be enacted which will permit the
- development OF navigation In these grea
~ rivers to go hand In hand with the util
- ixation of this y-product OF water pow
a, err created in the course of the same i'm
!. provement, and that the general dam &C
- should be so amended as to make this pos
~ sible. l deem It highly important tina
IN the nation should adopt consistent am
no harmonious treatment OF these water
% power projects, which will preserve 70
r. | this purpose their value to the govern
a ment whose right It Is to grant the per
W, nit Any other policy Is equivalent 4
~ throwing away a most valuable nationa
III asset.
No The Panama Canal.
he During the past year the work of con
,ut struction upon the canal has progresse
on most satisfactorily. About 81 per cent. o
be the excavation work has been completed
rol and more than % per cent. Of the cor
iu- crete for all the locks is in place. !
use view Of the great interest which has bee
TT manifested as to some slides in the Guile
lis bra Cut am glad to say that the repoi
of Col Goethals should allay any nj
err prehens,on on this point II is gratifyin
zen to note that none of the slides which ot
ted Cured during this year would have II
ars terfered with the passage OF the shiT
ing | had the canal, in fact been IN operation
les and when the slope pressures Will nav
rel been finally adjusted and thu growth I
OBJ vegetation will minimize erSion in II
in banks Of the cut, the slide problem wi
III be practically solved and an ample ST.
pad bility assured for the Culebra Cut
ian Although the official date of the ope,
ans ing has been set for January |, 1918, Il
OF canal will. in fact, from present indie
ven tons be opened for shipping during Il
ed latter half OF 1913 No fixed date can
are vet be set. but shipping interests will
EN- advised as soon as assurances can
it'll given that vessels can pass through wit
han out unnecessary delay
ven Recognising the administrative profile
Itch in the management OF the canal co
the gress In the act OF August "a, 1912, h
has made admirable provision for executi
eri- responsibility in the control of the can
elp- and the government OF the Canal Zor
city The problem of most efficient organic
tout ton IL receiving careful consideration.
mer that a scheme of organization and co
ON troll best adapted to the conditions OF
,nce canal may be formulated and put in O
8 to Grafton as expeditiously as possible. Al
,eri- ing under the authority conferred on
d to by congress, I have. by executive proc
lev nation, promulgated the following sche
uei Of tolls for ships passing through t
igh- canal based upon the thorough rep
) its of Emory r. Johnson. special comm