The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1913-10-09
OF
FEATURE OF
Panama Zone Happiest and
Best Cared For Commu-
nifty In World.
r ANDING on the Panama canal

ANDING on the Panama canal
zone from the spacious decks
- of government owned steam
er, riding on government
owned railway, stopping at govern
ment owned hotel and reading a gov
eminent owned newspaper Of life on
the canal zone as conducted almost In
Its entirety under government auspices,
one is led to inquire: Has the United
States government gone into socialis-
tic paternalism in that locality, and,
II SO, has 1t been a success? So far
as any evidence has ever been offered
on the subject, writes Leroy T. Yer
non in the Chicago Daily News, either
in the hearings before congressional
committees or in the personal obser-
vations of members of congress, the
American colony at Panama, barring
petty jealousies Of an official nature,
has been the happiest and best cared
for community on this globe
A perusal of copy or two of the
Canal Record, the official organ Of the
isthmian canal commission, published
under the authority and supervision
Of that body, which furnishes one copy
free to all employees Of the canal and
the Panama railroad who are on the
gold" payroll, shows beyond dispute
the activity of the government in the
everyday life of the canal zone In
habitants. Substantially every want
is met by the government, which fixes
the price Of food, hotel rates, rail-
road rates and electricity and provides
churches. schools, clubhouses and
places practically all government prop
erty at the convenience of the canal
zone inhabitants whenever occasion
demands
Canal Medals.
The issue of the Canal Record of
June Is, besides the news of progress
in the construction of the canal, con-
tanned list Of the canal employees
who during that week were eligible to
receive canal medals for service on
that great work or additional gold
bars marking another year of service
on the part of the older employees. 1t
contained obituary notices and pro-
mulgated the fact that the treasury
department had consented to the GUS
toms examination of household goods
of employees leaving the zone in Or
der that they might not be. delayed
upon their arrival at an American port
The column Of social life" proclaim
ed the fact that for fifty years Christ
church, on Colon beach, built by the
original Panama Railway company,
still remained the official church Of
that road, now, however, resting in the
control of the American church. A
list of the societies connected with the
church and their varied activities was
set forth.
Among the official circulars carried
in the issue was one fixing officially
the rates at the Hotel Tivoli, operated
by the commission. These rates were
officially signed by the subsistence OIL
Ger of the canal commission and fixed
the prices to be paid per room by the
day, week and month. besides setting
forth the rates, with or without meals,
for meals only and the ''tea room serv-
ice," where tea is daily served between
3 and 6 p. M, just as In any first class
American hotel. Special rates for en-
ployees of the canal are made wher-
ever possible The last page contains
the items from the commission club
houses at Culebra. Empire, Gorgona
and Gatun, showing that moving pic
ture shows, tenpins, pool, glee clubs,
volley ball courts. tennis, gymnasiums,
running tracks. indoor and outdoor
baseball and teachers of Spanish are
provided to attract the employees OF
the commission within their influence
Celebrating the Fourth.
A week later the Canal Record
showed how generally the government
q, g. y .. X N.sO