The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-10-28
Operating Force.

Operating Force.
The operation and administrative
force for the Canal will consist OF
about $500 persons, exclusive of san
itation and government. 1t is this re.
duction from the huge force of labor
ers and clerical employees to the min.
imum that raises some serious prob
lens directly for the Republic of Pa
mama, and indirectly for the United
States. While, in the beginning, the
merchants on the lsthmus objected
strongly to the United States feeding
and clothing its army of Canal EN-
ployes through the medium of the
army commissary, nevertheless, they
recognize that vast amount OF money
coming from them has been put into
circulation every month. All bust
ness prospered. Now, the larger part
of tins wage money is to be with
drawn; not suddenly, for the process
has been going ON Tor months, but with
certainty. 1t is possible to calculate
almost Inathematicdlly from the wage
rolls of the Canal commission to what
extent the sum is lessened month by
month All this means that dull times
in Panama, as compared with eight or
nine years of flush times, are likely to
follow the opening of the Canal. The
depression may not last long. There
is no reason why it should. But the
transition period is likely to be try
ing one until the volume of commerce
passing through the Canal and the
consequent activity of the ports of Pa.
I'D DnInu fauavyaH aati a
ity, although not on the scale of the
last few years. The administration in
power in the Republic of Panama will
be held responsible by the "outs" fol
the dull times. The government OF
the United States will also be cen
sured. 1t is the rather blunt opinion
of some American officials that Pana
ma s future depends more upon her in
teInal development and upon good ad
ministration than on the Canal. Thi
means the isthmus as a whole and no
simply the two cities at the terminal
of the Canal and adjacent territory.
Would Revise Old Treaty.
Some of the American officials woul,
have the Hay-Varilla treaty of 100
revised SO as to make more clear tn
rights OF the Unitel States on the 18th
mus in connection with the Canal, leay
ing the government Of Panama TO de
pend more largely ON the development
Of the resources outside the cana
sphere. In the future as in the past
there is no doubt Panama will do wha
the United States thinks is the RICH
thing to DO in connection with th
canal, but these American official
would leave nothing to disputed int
probation.
In connection with the possible Il,
velopment of the agricultural aud OIL
err resources of the country as ii
means of freeing il from too grei
dependence upon the canal zone, the Il
ture Of the zone is important, II
being depopulated, according 10 Il
act of congress, except for those wi
will be engaged IN the operation az
administration OF the canal. The can
labOrers will not be allowed to rema
within the limits. Land titles are d
ing eytingulshed aud vested In Il
United States, which In short tir
will be- d monopoly land owner of sOI
$50 square miles Of territory,
IL Is clear that this plan Of depOl
laiing the canal zone is desirable
the present time, A question Is raist
however. whether the zone should
continued indefinitely as d military q
eryation, sons Of the officials "
have been engaged in the canal "a
struetion and administration think I
United states later should lease
land ~ n zone 90 American citiu
who would care 10 engage in iropi
agriculture.
Tho ranamanians 40 not appear
b. enihnfiarile over these suggrsill
Another yiew 81 lhs appropriation
the canal S9ne Il ihe political 3
With ihe ions pp q military feterYni
initiating questions VIII Alisr ana
10 81 hf remembered thai in lnnh
30 0lffNhrrr No. lAiln AmrurH. lhrn
40 AMI Apsrigee elemepl nh''h b.