Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-12-10


Day, 1915. The secretary was absent
from Washington about three weeks.
Recently, stories have been publish
ed which would make 1t appear that
Colonel George w Goethals, the chief
engineer, is to be made the governor
of the Zone prior to the completion OF
the canal and that the commission is
to be abolished in order to make one
man government possible in the imme-
date future.
The chief engineer of the canal it
is known is in favor of a one-man gov
eminent after the commission is abol-
ished His views as to the wisdom OF
this system of ruling the Zone are
counter to those of Richard Lee Met
calfe, a member of the commission
and at present the head of the de-
partment of civil administration on
the isthmus. The main point to bear
in mind at present, in the face OF this
difference of opinion, is that their is
no apparent intention on the part
of the president of the United
States to abolish the commission for
ID months, and that whatever contro.
versy there may be between the chief
engineer and the head of the depart
ment of civil administration, it has no
bearing on the government of the ca
nal for many months to come.
All to Share in Honor.
1t perhaps is possible that the chief
engineer would like to be made gov
ernor of the Zone and to be the sole
of the isthmian canal
present in official capacity when the
waterway finally is opened, but 1t
seems certain to men in Washington
that the president has determined to
keep the commission intact until the
work finally is completed and to give
all of those who have had share in
the building of the waterway an op-
to share in the honors OF
the completing occasion"
All discussion concerning the differ
ences of opinion between Colonel
Goethals and Mr.. Metcalfe concern
ing plans as to the final form of gov
eminent for the Canal Zone has no
connection whatever with the work
Of completing the canal. 1t is pure
ly academic discussion, for the matter
is one for the congress of the United
States to take up or not as it sees tit.
In August, 1912, congress passed a
law for the permanent operation of
the canal and for the permanent gov
eminent of the Zone This law pro-
vides for one-man government. Mr..
Metcalfe favors change in the law
so as to make it provide for commits
sion of three, one to be an engineer
officer of the army, one to be versed
in tropical sanitation and one to be
a civilian who is to be the head of
the department of civil administra.
ton This plan has many friends in
and it may be that the adj
finally will come to con-
slider it as the best plan offered. 1t is
not at all unlikely that Mr. Bryan re-
this commission plan as the
best one which has been suggested
Won't Wait for Trust Reports.
1t seems likely that while congress |
1t the regular session is discussing
antitrust legislation the governments |
of corporations, Joseph |
o. Davies. will be making an investi- |
cation of the methods of the big cor
)orations as they exist, later to make a |
'eport to the administration thereon.
n Washington one hears considerable |
comment because of the apparent in |
ention of congress to legislate on a
subject while the subject is being in
to determine the facts in (
he case
1t is probable that President Wilson |
links there have been Investigations |
enough and reports enough in the past |
o enable the lawmakers to go ahead |
With the work of restoring the compe
itive conditions in trade which the |
Democrats seem to think it is possible |
o re-establish. 1t Is still the feeling |
If men who seem to know, that the |
PRESIDENT will carry out his 'one thing |
It time" program and will not ask |
congress to consider any question eX
,ept antitrust legislation at the time |
hat the subject is under discussion.
The tariff law has gone into effect |
md is now working along it's course !
o the end of good or of evil. While |
he law is being tested by actual op-
,ration a bureau of the department of I
is studying customs mat
ers apparently to find out definitely |
whether the law in the main is right I
II wrong. The thought seems to be
hat if the investigators discover that |
is being worked by one sec.
ion of the bill, correction can be
made by the party in power
Quantities of Data on Hand.
There are enough reports which /
ave followed trust investigations III
he past to provide material for book
helf of public documents. Some of
hese Investigations were instigated
" the Democrats when they were in
he minority in congress, and some of
hem were instigated by progressive
Taking it for granted
hat the officials who did the investi-