The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-10-18
Metcalfe Dose Not Agree
with Col. Goethals'
Scheme
WILSON TO
DECIDE ISSUE
The President Is Likely to
Support Builder of
Canal

Washington, Oct ls.--The issue has
been presented to the Wilson admin
istration in clean cut sway whether il
will stand by or desert Col. George w
| Goethals, the builder of the Panama
canal The cause of the issue is Rich.
ard Metcalfe, who was editor of Will
liam j. Bryan's Commoner until fouI
months ago, when through Bryan's in
fluence he was appointed to the Panama
canal commission.
Metcalfe, after four months expert
ence on the canal zone, has formulated
set of opinions as to what the future
government of the canal and zone ought
to be. These opinions do not coincide
with those held by Col. Goethals and
developed through years of actual ex-
perience on the spot The question is:
Will the Wilson administration support
the views OF Bryans man, Metcalfe and
advocate radical amendment OF the
Panama canal act passed at the last
session, or win the president continue
to depend on Col, Cocktails opinions and
stand by him?
The most radical suggestion made by
Commission Metealfe is that the per-
manent government of the canal and
the canal zone should be by commits
sion, probably ef three members. Col.
Cocktails has urged from the start a
one man government of the canal zone
and that idea was incorporated into
the Panama canal act passed at the last
session of Congress.
The commission form or government
was urged at that time, but Col. Goe-
thals presented strong arguments
against it, and he was warmly support
ed by President Taft. The builder of
the canal eontended that centralized
control in Panama, upon whom would
rest full responsibility for the operation
of the canal and the government of the
zone, was the only form of government
that should be considered
Congress finally accepted Col. Goe-
thals' views and President Taft made
known his intention to install the per-
manent government at once through the
appointment OF Col Goethals himself as
governor 1t was understood that the
colonel would consent to take the place
only until the canal was formally
opened and in operation.
The Inauguration of the permanent
government at once drew a howl from
the friends of the Panama canal COM
missioners, who would lose their Jobs
as soon as this move was taken. Dem
oeratie senators served notice that they
would not permit the confirmation of
Goethals' nomination, not because they
were opposed to him, but because they
believed the entire matter ought to be
left to President Wilson. President
Taft, on account of this opposition, was
compelled to abandon his plan, and that
is the way the situation has remained
up TO this time.
Col. Cocktails has insisted that there
is urgent necessity for the training of
an operating force; and that this force
ought to be in readiness to handle traf-
fic as soon as the canal is opened. Tn
til the new law is put into effect by
the president, however, he will be I'M
able to organize this operating force,
and the Indications now are that the
Wilson administration win favor the
continuance of the present commission
form of government until the canal is
opened. The presidents advisers con-
tend that those who have helped in the
building of the canal thus far should
share in the final honors.
II was denied at the war department
yesterday that there is any personal
break between Goethals and Metcalfe
In fact Metcalfe's suggestions were for
warded to the war department through
Goethals. Col. Goethals will submit
giving his views.
Besides the change in the form of
government Metcalfe, it Is understood,
favors allowing private interests to OPP
crate the Panama railroad and to run
a commissary ON the zone. Col. Goe-
thals was in favor of government OPP
GRAFTON of practically all activities on
the zone.
The outcome of Metealfe's recommen-
dations will be watched here with the |
keenest interest. The belief is that |
President Wilson will stand by Colonel |