Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-12-11

government Ip 10 our ADVENT ali other
experience sought TO repress rather than
encourage political power. II takes long
time and much experience TO ingram po-
fit.cai habits Of steadiness and efficiency.
Popular self-government ultimately must
rezt upon common habits OF thought and
upon a reasonably developed public cpin-
ion. No such foundations for self-gov-
eminent. let alone independence. are nov
present in the Philippine Islands. Disre-
gsrding even their racial heterogeneity
and the lack OF ability to think as a ma
ton. IL Is sufficient to point out that un-
der hbtEel franchise privileges only about
per cent. OF the Fiiipinos 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
course will be as cruel to those people as
II would be shameful to US.
Our true course is to pursue steadily
and courageously 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 practice;
to encourage the diyersifcation OF indus
tries. and to realize the advantages OF
their industrial education by conserva-
lively approved cooperative methods, at
Cd weclth and bailding up sturdy, indie
penden, citizenship.
Regulation Of Water Power.
There are pending before congress a
large number of bills proposing 20 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
= L., Fs1~tn
power to the federal government In deal
ing with the construction of such dams 70
exact protective conditions in the interest
Of navigation II does not permit the
federal government as q condition of its
permit to require that a part OF the
value thus created shall be applied 20 the
further general Improvement and protec-
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 and shallow. In order that they
may be made fully useful for navigation
there has come into vogue method OF
iupr lvement known as canalization. or
the s.acS-water method. which consists
IN building a series OF dams and locks,
each OF which will create long pool OF
deep navlgable water. AT each of these
dams there is usually created q long pool
Of deep naviGable water. At each Of these
dams there IS usually created also water
power OF commercial value. II the water
power thus created en- be made available
for the further Improvement of naviga-
ton In the stream. Il is manifest that the
Improvement viii be much more quickly
effected on the one hand, and on the
other, that the burden on the general tax
payers of the country win be very much
reduced. Private interests seeking per-
NH G IN hat 70
navtgable streams Usually urge that they
thus improve navigation. and that II they
do not impair navigation they should hc
allowed to take for them selves .ae en-
tire profits OF the water-p hwer develop
meHt. Whatever they may y by way of
relieving the government OF the expense OF
improving navigation should be given due
consideration. but Il must be apparent
that there may be profit beyond n rea-
scnably liberal return upon the private
investment which is potential asset OF
the government In carrying out a COM
prehensive policy of waterway develop
ment. II is no objection to the retention
and use of such an 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 I'm making and executing plans
for the protection and development Of
DaN1EdttnOs II Is also fnuHtiN cletlf INhI
iuasmuch as the water power thus Gre
ated is or may be an Incident OF a gen-
eral scheme OF waterway improvement
within the constitutional jurisdiction OF
the federal government ths regulation OF
ruch water power lies also within that
Jurisdiction. In my opinion constructive
statesmanship requires that legislation
should be enacted which will permit the
development of navigation In these great
rivers to go hand in hand with the util-
ization of this hy-product OF water DOW
er. created in the course Of the same i'm
proyement. and that the general dam act
should be SO, amended as 10 make this pos
sible. deem II highly important that
the nation shoald adopt consistent and
harmonious treatment OF these water
power projects. which win preserve for
this purpose their value to the govern
ment. whose right il is to grant the per-
nit Any other policy is equivalent 70
throwing away 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 90 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 10 say that the report
Of Col Goethals should allay any ap-
prehension on this point II 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.
ard when the slope pressures will have
been finally adjusted and the growth of
vegetation win minimize erosion IN the
banks OF the cut. the slide problem viii
be practically solved and an ample sta
bihty assured for the Culebra Cut.
Although the official date Of the open
ing has been set for January T. 49,. the
canal will. in fact. from present indica-
lions be opened for shipping during the
latter half OF 1913 No fixed date can as
yet be set, but shipping interests VIII 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. com
sress 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.
Tho problem Of most efficient organza-
ton is receiving careful consideration. so
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. have. by executive procla-
nation, promulgated the following sched-
uei OF tolls for ships passing through the
canal based upon the thorough report
Of Emory II. Johnson. special commits
sioner on traffic and tolls:
/. On merchant vessels carrying pas