New-York tribune., 1913-05-18
GOETHALS LESS EAGER
FOR NEW CANAL RULE
Colonel Finds in Permanent
Government Act Provisions
That May Cause Trouble.
SUMMONED TO THE CAPITAL
Called Home by Secretary of
War to Clear Up Situation
Before the Presidents
Inspection Trip.

Washington. May 17.-Army officers
who have returned recently from the
Panama Canal Zone quote Colonel Goe-
thals as far less anxious TO substitute
the permanent government of the canal
for the Canal Commission than he was
when he was last in Washington, early
in January
This change Of view is attributed to
certain discoveries which the colonel has
made in the canal act, notably one which
provides that the compensation OF labor
on the isthmus shall not be more than %
per cent higher than would be paid for
the same class OF labor in the United
States This would mean a material re-
duction Of the wages Of the more than
1fty-fve thousand employees now on the
works. and would undoubtedly result in
serious dissatisfaction. perhaps even so
reducing the force as TO retard compile
ton of the canal.
The Secretary OF War who cannot find
time to 90 to the sthmus. has summoned
| Colonel Goethals 10 Washington TO clear
up this situation before the President
makes his contemplated inspection trip TO
| the canal. Colonel Goethals is expected
20 sail for Washington I'm few days.
| Whether there is a change in the form
| Of government OF the canal or not, Colo
mel Goethals is reasonably certain 20 rec
ommend that most of his military asso-
\ ciates remain on the work, notably Colo
nels Galliard, Hodges and Sbert, Of the
army and Civil Engineer Rousseau, Of
the navy. as we'll as Colonel Gorgas, Of
the medical department Of the army. It
is not expected that the civil governor Of
! the zone Mr.. Thatcher, will be retained
as he is a Republican and there are nu-
merous Democratic aspirants for his
$4,000 a year place, while there is no
reason to believe that Colonel Goethals
will object TO a change in his case, as the
duties Of the post are not eXacting.
Every effort is being made to carry the
canal to completion. and the force now
employed is larger than at any previous
time Exact information as to the prog
ress Of the work is not being made pub
lie. Data relative TO the slides and the
amount Of excavation and the concrete
laid are given out but these are in them
selves insufficient to enable one 70 form
an accurate estimate OF the actual prog
ress. because certain slides will in no way
retard the opening OF the big ditch, and
the progress Of the iron and steel work is
an essential key by which to determine
the nearness to completion.
President Wilson has met Colonel
Goethals. and was most favorably i'm
pressed with him. Secretary Garrison has
never met him. and is most anxious TO do
so. Military men Of every arm OF the
service arc awaiting the arrival Of the
colonel with interest because only when
he arrives will it be possible to ascertain
iust how near the canal is to compile
tion.
The latest estimate made public by
Colonel Goethas was that of last Janu-
ary. when he said that if those slides
which actually retard the work did not
exceed an additional 100000 cubic yards,
and if the contractors who were making
the gates for the locks did not get further
behind with their. work than they then
were. he would be able 10 close the locks
by July !. That would leave three months
Of the rainy season. all of which would
be needed, 10 fll Gatun Lake 70 its nor
NAL level and make possible the trans
portation of big ships through the canal.
A. the dry season begins in october and