The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-04-09
PANAMA ZONE UNDER
PERMANENT GOVERNMENT

fENMANENT GOVERNMENT
Panama, April 1.-The Panama
canal Zone began business today un-
der II permanent form of government.
The Isthmian canal commission,
which has governed the zone during
the construction OF the waterway,
was dissolved, anda civil administra-
tior, semi-military In character, was
established.
Colouel George w. Goethals, by ap-
pnintment of the president nf the
United States, became Its hrst gov
eraor. His inauguration was remark
ale. There We're no ceremonies, no
speeches, no display. 10 his Office on
the top OF Culebra hill, overlooking
the now famous cut of that name,
Colonel Goethals, chairman and chieI
engineer OF the lsthmian canal COM
mis- ion, simply began his days
work under new title Governor
and Chief Of the Department of Op-
Grafton and Maintenance.
In the big cut below, while the
colonel figuratively transferred his
po er irOm one hand to another, the
steam dredees were tearing away at
the foot II the Curcaracha slide, and
.ocomooIves we're busy hauling away
more Of the daily spoil. Work pro-
gressed as usual along the whole route
OF the c'nal. There we're no extra
flags fly ing, no outward show of anv
kind that the government OF the zone
was undergoing any changes. These
were changes in name merely, so far
AS most Of the canal workers were
concerned. Ever since Colonel Goe'
thals became the guiding hand OF The
work he has been the benevolent
despOt' of the isthmus, ana there
are few new faces in the group OF
men who have found place in the
permanent government.
Only a small portion Of the perman
eDt organization actually became ell
fective today. 1t probably will not
be perfected until all OF the c0nstruc-
Jion work has been done, which will
require probably another year.
That part of the organization that
will feel the new order of things first
is the old department of civil admin
istraIion ovsr which Richard l.. Met
calfe presided. AS fast as practica-
ole, Colonel Goethals said this will
be reorganized and will be placed un-
der the new executive secretary. The
courts, which formerly we're consid-
cred part Of this department, al
ready have been separated and con-
solidated under the one federal judge
and his two assistants at either END
Of the canal.
The sanitary and health depart
n ents also will soon be on The per-
manent basis. The work practically
has neen completed and the new de-
part ueut OF health, with Colonel Ma
son at Its head, will in future look
after the sanitation OF the zone and
the Isthmus OF Panama generally.
Tue departments of operation and
maintenance will not he fully estsb-
lished until the canal has been fully
completed.
The accounting department Of the
permanent organization will succeed
To the work formerly done bg the
division of disbursements aud the ex-
aminer OF accounts. Nothing more
than consolidation and a slight
contraction OF working forces will be
nee 1pd t. make them ready for their
new work.
All departments will ne directly re-.
sp 5nsibie TO the governor OF tie Pan
ama canal. Who. IN turn, Is respousi-
hle 10 the president OF the United
States thro1gh the war department.
When IN operation IL is estimated
there will l,e about 1000 American
white employees on the canal and
perhaps a few hundred negro labor.
ers sill resiberts Is of the canal zone
Senator Myers of Montana las IN.
trodBoeI bili permitting nesspa-
pers TO exchange advertising At r@gu-
lar rates for transportation nv inter.
state carriers al the regular published
rate The bill also provides tha,
in time Of CALAMITY or pusi'c Beces.
sitr the railr ads may carry passen-
gers free.
John Dougherty returned from Pa
cific Grove CsiiforHis the fret Of the
week. H. spent tue winter there and
reports thAt he bad q good time. and
Saws rat be is long ways from he-
ing dead man. despite the fact %
his having been reported dead here
last winter.
ee Dryer for wire.