Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-06
The Republic Of Panama
By Frederic J. Haskin.

The recent payment to the Republic of
Panama of the first annual rental of
$4,000 under the perpetual lease by
which the United States holds the Canal
Zone has caused the officials Of Panama
to consider many long-deferred public
improv ements.
One of these proposed Improvements
is a railroad connecting the capital with
David. the largest city Of the republic
outside Of the Canal Zone. This rail-
road has been projected for a number of
years. The president arranged with the
isthmian canal commission for a sur
vey of route between the two cities,
and planned to acquire some of the
equipment of the canal commission, with
which to build and operate it. However,
the plan was temporarily pigeonholed,
and the only connection between these
cities remained the water route across
the Bay of Panama. Since the accession
of DR.. Porras to the presidency, the
project has been revived and, If it is
carried through, it will be the first large
undertaking outside of the city of Pan
anna to which the government of the
republic has committed itself.
The failure of the United States to
make it's first annual rental payment at
the time appointed in the treaty MAY 4,
1919 was a matter of comment in diplo-
matte circles. Congress made the appro-
priation in due time, but the State De-
partment held it up until certain investi-
cations were made. Hereafter the Pana-
ma republic will get it's check for $780,
COO every May 4.
x x
In addition to this income the republic
has nearly $7.O0OOOO invested in first
mort ~,
Has Good Income New York
and No Big Expenses. ta,s This in
vestment represents that part of the
cash payment of S1O,OOO,OO0 made by the
United States which the Panama republic
did not require at the time. The result is
that the republic has an annual income
of some 100000, entirely outside of
moneys raised by taxation. When it is
recalled that Panama has no army and
no navy to support-items which usually
call for two-thirds of all the expenditures
of a governmental will be seen that the
republic is in very enviable condition
so far as taxation is concerned.
But. Notwithstanding the fact that its
annual budget Is only one-third what it
might be If the usual appropriations for
and the further fact that it has an annual
income of $6OO,OOO outside of the revenues
raised by taxes, the republic has been
very slow in the matter of making neces-
Sary internal improvements. 1t agreed
with the Canal Zone officials that if they
would build certain public highways to
the zone boundaries it would extend
them into the interior. The canal authori-
ties, acting under this agreement built
these highways to the zone boundary
but, aside from a small stretch of road
between the zone frontier and old Pana-
ma, the republic has precious little to
show in the way of promises redeemed in
this direction.
President Porras has resolved to sig
nalize his administration by carrying for
ward the work of internal improvements
outside of the city of Panama His
predecessors built very fine national
theater in conjunction with an admins
traton building. and also constructed at
an outlay of some $4,000 national in
sutute, or university. But this univer-
sity is more imposing from an archi-
tectural than from an educational stand
point. Although the population of the
about equals that of the city of
Washington, the number Of pupils in
school is only about 10000. There are
very few even of these who have en-
joyed educational advantages beyond the
primary grades. 1t will, therefore, be
many years, perhaps, before the national
institute will become a university In
much else than name.
* x
With a determination to extend the
aid to the population living
outside of!
Hopes to Better Panama nd
cnhool. Colon. the pres
ent president is
planning to give as many Of the capitals