The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-12-12

DIV w " ooA oASSAS On OkiO
experience sought to repress rather han
encourage political power. 1t takes long
time and much experience to ingram po-
litical habits of %steadiness and efficiency.
Popular self-government ultimately must
rest upon common habits of thought and
upon a reasonably developed public opin-
ion. No such foundations for self-gov-
eminent, let alone independence. are now
present in the Philippine Islands Disre-
garding eve their racial h~eterogeneity
and the lack of ability to think as a ma
ton, it is sufficient to point out that UNI
der liberal franchise privileges only about
3 per cent. of. the Filipinos vote and only
s per cent. Of the people are said to read
the public press. To confer independence
upon the Fihpinos 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
1t would be shameful to us.
Our true course Is to pursue steadily
and courageously the path we lave thus
far followed; to guide the Filipinos into
! self-sustaining pursuits; to continue the
cultivation of sound political habits
through education and political practice;
to encourage the Investigation of indus
tries, and to realize the advantages of
their industrial education by conserva-
lively approved cooperative methods, at
once checking the dangers of c~oncentrat-
ed wealth and building up a sturdy, indie
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 tendency Of these bills
has brought out an important defect in
the existing general dam act. That act
| 1nnc WIT ~ ~oSy @-{~S-- ~>.Ad-i~-A
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 a part Of the
value thus created shall be applied to the
further general improvement and protec-
ton of the stream. I believe this to be
n 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 canalization, or
the slack-water method, which consists
In building a series Of dams and locks.
each of which will create a long pool Of
deep n%avigable 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
owe of commercial value. If the water
power thus created can be made available
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-
| vnifo 70 h,,sl1s-~ v,&---~-,-- -
naVigable streams usually urge that they
thus improve navigation, and that If the
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 COM
prehensive policy of waterway develop
ment. 1t is no objection to the retention
and use Of such al 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. 1t Is also equally clear that
inasmuch as the water power thus Gre
ated is or may be an incident of a gen.
era1 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 navigation in these great
rix-o~c f0 or ho~1 -, 1,1-1 -:kl 49, al
ization Of this by-product of water pow
er, created in the course of the same i'm
provement, and that the general dam act
should be so amended as to make this pos
sible. I deem it 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 to grant the per-
init. Any other policy is equivalent to
throwing ava a 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 SO per cent. Of the con-
crete for all the locks is in place. In
view Of the great interest which has been
manifested as to some slides in the Guile
bra Cut. I am glad to say that the report
Of Col. Goethals should allay any ap-
prehension on this point. It is gratifying
to note that none Of the slides which &C.
Cured 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 pressures will have
been 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 1, 1915, the
canal will, in fact. from present indioa-
tons, be opened for shipping during the
latter half Of 1918. No fixed date can as
yet be set, but shipping interests will be
advised as soon 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-
gress in the act of August "a, 1912, has
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 consideration, 50
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
by congress, I have. by executive procla-
nation, promulgated the following sched-
uel of tolls for ships passing through the
canal, based upon the thorough report