Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-12-06

fed Industries. Freed from American
control such development Is bound to
decline.
II the task we have undertaken is
higher than that assumed by other ma
lions, its accomplishment must de-
mand even more patience. We must
not forget that we found the Fltpinos
wholly unframed In government. Up
to our advent all other experience
sought to repress rather than encour-
g political power. 1t takes long time
and much experience to ingram po-
litical habits Of steadiness and eff
cheney. Popular self government ulti-
mately must rest upon common habits
Of thought and upon a reasonably de-
veloped public opinion.
A present declaration even OF future
independence would retard progress by
the ~dissension and disorder 1t would
arouse. On u part 1t would be a dis
ingenious attempt, under the guise Of
comforting a benefit on them, to relieve
ourselves from the heavy and difficult
burden which thus far we have been
bravely and consistently sustaining.
1t would be a disguised policy Of scut-
tie. 1t would make the helpless Fill
pino tho football Of oriental politics,
under the protection Of a guaranty Of
their independence, which we would
be powerless to enforce.
Regulation Of Water Power.
There are pending before congress a
large number of bills proposing to
grant privileges Of erecting dams for
the purpose Of creating water power
In our n~avigable rivers. The penden-
cy OF these bills has brought out an
important defect in the existing gen
eral dam act. That act does not, in
my opinion, grant suncient power to
the federal government in dealing
with the construction Of such dams to
exact protective conditions In the In
terest Of navigation. 1t does not per-
NIT the federal government, as a con-
dition of Its permit, to require that a
part OF the value thus created shall be
applied to the further general I'M
provement and protection Of the
stream. I believe this to b nj Of the
most important matters of internal i'm
provement now confronting the gov
eminent.
In my opinion constructive states
manship requires that legislation
should be enacted which will permit
the development Of navigation In these
great rivers to 90 hand in hand with
the utilization Of this byproduct of
water power, created TN the course Of
the same improvement, and that the
general dam act should be so amend
ed as to make this possible.
l deem 1t 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 gov
eminent, whose right 1t is to grant the
permit. Any other policy is equiva-
lent to throwing away a most valua-
BILE national asset.
The Panama Canal.
During the past year the work Of
construction upon the canal has pro-
crossed most satisfactorily. About 81
per cent OF the excavation work has
been completed, and more than 90 per
cent Of the concrete for all the locks is
In place. In view Of the great interest
which has been manifested as to some
slides In the Culebra cut am glad to
say that the report Of Colonel Goethals
should allay any apprehension OF this
point 1t Ia gratifying to note that
zone Of the slides which occurred dur
Ing this year would have interfered
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 veg
citation will minimize erosion In the