Semi-weekly herald., 1914-04-02
GOErHALs BECOMES CIVIL
GOV. OF CANAL TOMORROW

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 31.-I
The Panama canal enters upon an
other phase Of progress tomorrow
when civil government will be estab-
lished on Uncle Sans ten mile strip
from ocean to ocean. Colonel Georgej
w. GoethAls, who ~ chief engineer
during construction of the big ditch
has been autocrat of its administra-
tion is to be civil governor. Ever
since the United States undertook
building Of the zone, it has been tech
nically under military rule. A COM
mission form Of government had ac-
tual administration authority, but
practically all the commissioners were
military officers. Colonel Goethals
has been supreme in authority. Dur
ing the building Of the canal it has
often been said that Goethals' admin
istration was required II an employee
wanted to requisition q pencil.
The new civil government comes
automatically in effect tomorrow in
pursuance with a proclamation issued
two months ago by President Wilson.
The Isthmian canal commission like
wise dies. The Panama canal law,
approved August "a. 1912-the ex-
emption from tolls clause of which is
now under consideration in congress
makes the president the real ruler
of Panama, through a governor and
such other persons as he may elect
The president has told Goethals that
he is to have free hand in his ad.
ministration, which is taken to NEAR
that the civil governor will have near.
ly $500 jobs at his disposal. There
is no civil service on the canal either
In his new job Goethals' foremost
duty is to make the canal ready fol
use. He was given the place because
it has been his ambition when tht
canal was completed and the engine
ering and construction forces hae
done with their work, that he NIGH
actually have some hand in the start
ing of commerce through the water
way. OF course the task of rearrang
ing the administration in the zone il
an enormous one, but that Of drilling
the canal employees in their work ant
Of making the canal q success viii
from the start to finish be greater
On his recent visit here, the colone
made it plain that he intends to &
slowly in re-arranging the zone gov
ernnent. By law. all executive ord
ers and regulations will be continued
in force after tomorrow, so that tn,
switch from a commission to one
man government will be accomplished
with no apparent wrench. Specula
ton was rife there today as to wheth
er Goethals plans to continue tn,
semi-socialistic, paternalistic schem,
of caring for canal employees undel
the new government. Heretofore tn,
employee was furnished by the gov
ernment with a residence; he was sole
food supplies at cost, given free med
ical attendance and free schools, Will,
every effort was made to encourag,
establishment Of churches and re
creation buildings. Needless to say
there were no taxes at all.
Goethals thinks the canal will b,
in running order by July THAT is Il
will be constructively complete. Bu
the chief engineer wants his oper
ating force. the men who handle tn,
giant locks, the towing locomotives
and other delicate machinery to b,
thoroughly drilled in their respectiv,
jobs before the canal is thrown oper
to the commerce Of the world. That
may take several months.