The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-12-13

found the Eiiiplnos Wholly unframed IN
government. Up<to cur advent all other
experiences sought to repreae rather than
encourage political power. II takes long
time and much experience TO ingram po-
Iftical habits Of steadinegs and efficiency.
Popular self-government ultimately must
rest upon common habits Of thought and
upon reasonably developed public opin-
ion. No such foundations for saif-gov-
eminent let alone Independence, are now
present In the Philippine islands, Disre-
garding even their racial heterogeueity
and the lack Of ability to think az B ma
ton. It b sufficient to point out that I'M
der liberal franchise privileges only about
per cent. Of the Filipinos vote and only
5 per cent. Of the people are said to read,
the public press. To confer Independence
upon the FdNpinos now Is, therefore. to
subject the great mass Of their people to
the dominance Of an olisarchieai and,
probably exploiting minority. Such
course win be as cruel to those people as
It would be shameful to us.
Our true course Is to pursue steadily
and c0uraEeously the path we have thus
far followed; to guide the Filipinos into
self-sustaining pursuits; to continue the
cultivation Of sound political habits
through education and political practices
to encourage the liberalization OF indus
tries, and to realize the advantages Of
their Industrial education by conserya-
lively approved cooperative methods. at
once checking the dangers OF concentrat-
ed wealth and building up sturdy. inde-
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 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
of navigation. It does not permit the
federal government. as g condition Of its
permit to require that part OF the
value thus created shall be applied to the
further general improvement and pfotec-
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 ana shallow. In order that they
may be. made fully useful for navigation
there has come into vogue q method Of
Improvement known as canalization, or
the slack-water method, which consists
In building series Of dams and locks
each OF which viii 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. IL the water
power thus created can be made available
for the further Improvement OF naviga-
tion In the stream. it Is manifest that the
Improvement win 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-
nnits 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 It must be apparent
that there may be a profit Beyond a rea-
sonably liberal return upon the private
Investment which is a potential asset of
the government in carrying out a conn
prehenaive policy of waterway Develop
nerlt. IT is no objection to the retention
and use Of such an asset by the govern
meat that comprehensive waterway
poAcy Win inclnde the protection and de-
velopment OF the other public uses Of
water, which cannot and should not be
ignored IN making ana executing plans
for the protaation and development Of
navigation. It Is also equally clear that
inasInuoh as the water power thus cree
ated Is or may be an incident OF q gene
eral scheme OF waterway Improvement
within the constitutional jurisdiction Of
the federal government, the regulation OF
such water power lies also Within thats
Jurisdiction. In my opinion coustruc4iye
statesmanship requires that legislation
- -ll1.
development Of navigation In these great
rivers to go hand In hand with the util-
fzation OF this hySpreduct of water pow
er, created In the course OF the same Inn
pavement. and that the general dam act
should be SO amended as to make this pos
sible. I deem It highly iuportsnt that
the natien should adept consistent and
harmonious treatment OF these water
power projects, which Will preserve for
this purpose their value to the govern
ment, whose right 1t Is to grant the per-
NIT. Amy other policy Is equivalent TO
throwing away most valuable national
asset.
The Panama Canal.
During the past year the work Of com
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 cop-
crete for all the locks Is In place IN
view Of the great interest which has been
manifested az to Some slides in The Cule-
bra CUT, am glad TO say that the report
Of Col Goethals sholild. aliay any ap-
prehension on this point. Il Is gratifying
to note that none OF the slides which oc-
curred during this year would have In
terfered with the passage Of the ships
had the canal, in fact. been in operation.
and when the slope preasnres viii have
been finally adjusted and the growth OF
veRetafion viii minimize erosion IN the
banks Of the cut the slide problem win
be practically solved and an ample sta
bility assured for the Culabra Cut.
Although the official date Of the open
ing has been set for January I. 1915, the
canal viii. In fact from present indicR-
lions. be opened for shipping during the
latter half OF 1913 No fxed date can as
yet be set. but shipping interests WIN be
advised as sepn as assurances can be
given that vessels can pass through with
out unnecessary delay.
Recognizing the administrative problem
in the management Of the canal. con-
-. 49, L.