Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-06

Congress has many problems to con-
slider in the next few months with refer
ence to legislation providing for the oper-
alton of the Panama canal. While the
greatest problems arc those relating to
the questions of tolls and the permanent
force, others which promise to have a
considerable bearing upon the successful
operation OF the big waterway are those
of providing form OF government for
the Canal Zone. for the operation Of the
Panama railway and for the handling of
coal and other <commodities needed by
shipping.
Perhaps the most vexing of these prob
lens will be the one of determining the
plan of permanent form of
Government government for the Canal
Zone. This is question
VI AvA0' involving many important
considerations. In the first place, the
canal authorities declare that it would be
bad policy to permit the occupation OF
land in the Canal Zone to any large ex-
tent. II such occupation were permitted
it would multiply immensely the prob
lens of sanitation and would increase
proportionately the cost of maintaining
health on the isthmus. A portion of the
land lying within the Canal Zone is held
In private ownership. Many of the is
ian0s in Gatun lake are privately owned.
1t has been a question whether not IL
would be desirable for the government
to buy outright, by condemnation pro-
ceedings, every foot Of land in the zone.
That the government OWNERSHIP of these
lands would be desirable from many
points of view is asserted by the canal
authorities. They declare. however, that
IN anticipation of SUCH proceedings land
values have been forced UP 10 such a
height that it is doubtful whether the
benefits to be derived would be commen-
surate with the present cost of land.
The canal authorities feel that it would
be unjust to the people of the United
States to ask them to maintain a regular
civil government on the isthmuS. In the
first place, they consider that the Canal
Zone must be kept in a state of prepared
ness for war at all times. While they
with all other Americans hope that the
canal may always be used only for COM
mercial purposes, at the same time they
think the best way to insure such con-
dnion is to keep it in readiness for any
other condition that might arise. To do
this it seems advisable to regard the
Canal Zone as a great military reserva-
ton and the lands within it as essential
to the successful operation of the canal
under every possible condition.
1t is felt that no possible benefit can
come to the canal by the residence with
In its zone Of any other than American
citizens: while. on the other hand. as in
the case of war. the occupation Of the
zone by any one not in sympathy with
this country would be continue. men,
ace. All Of this would be, in addition
to the increased problems of sanitation
and the consequent increased cost of
maintenance that would follow. The
canal authorities believe that the course
prescribed by wisdom Is that every &C
livity on the C~nal Zone shall be con-
centrated into the hands of the perma-
nent head of the canal. 1t Is be ieved
tina; the method promising best results
ton Of the canaI would be to have the
entire authority of the Canal Zone con-
centrated in one man known as The di-
rector Of the Panama canal"
n
Col. GoetfaIs is advising Congress to
remove all Of the foreign labor from the
Canal Zone as soon
Removal of as the big waterway
Foreign Labor. wishes to wipe out
every one Of the native villages on the
zone. or at least as many Of them as
possible. AS soon as the canal Is nm
ished he would take the Panama rail-
road steamships. and with them trans
port back to their native lands all of the
Iaborers who have contributed to the
success Of the work. He feels that the
repatriation Of these people Is essential
to the best interests of the United States.
since it at once overcomes the necessity
Of maintaining such an extensive sys-
tenn OF sanitation and OF a civil govern
meut on the isthmus. 1t is easy to see
what bearing the presence OF nifty or