The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-05
IN THE CANAL ZONE.
Executive Order ei20 Is Unjust and
Should be Revoked,

A'hi'o away Nll'to h"fll
what practically constitutes a colon!
or self-exiled Americans. and IL is Ii
their behalf that ! desire to bring a few
facts to tho attention OF the public.
When the United States first tool
over the work of constructing th,
Panama Canal the isthmus to be sew
cred was known as one OF the world.
worst pestholes. The French had tragi
cally failed In their attempts to butte
an ~interoceanic waterway. and thelt
failure had been born of ranks deci
mated by disease. That graft eaiste>
among the officials of the two French
companies cannot he refuted. but yellow
fever. malarial fever. hem%oglobinuric OF
'blark water fever and typhoid fevei
were the real causes of their defeats.
II is not TO be wondered at that
Americans had but little desire TO live
M work In such "A place. Tn chances
OF dying or else returning home q
broken. physical wreck were too great
to tempt n mar to whom exceptional in.
ducements were not offered.
Men being at a premium, the Govern.
'nent decided first to make the Canal
Zone and It's vicinity as healthy az mod.
ern sanitation and unlimited resources
would allow. Next they agreed to give
the workman many special advantages
that he could not enjoy elsewhere.
In pursuance OF the latter policy men
working on the canal or on the Panama
Railroad were to get salaries from "a
TO 30 per cent. greater than they would
receive for doing similar work IN tho
United states. Special steamship and
railroad fares were offered them and
their relatives they were allowed q six
weeks vacation with pay each year. and
should they be III there was no cause 20
worry about Doctors or hospital bills.
Fin V VI 6 A. buildings, and this
proved to be one Of the wisest IN ngs
that the commission I'D, were built for
their anus inent n as community
recreation centres. Most important Of
all. however. was the ruling that each
man was entitled TO free quarters II
he was single he had n room In "barhe-
Tor quarters while n he was married
he occupied n house or apartment whose
= ze and type depended upon the post
ton. salary and length OF service OF the
occupant, with which went furniture.
fuel. electric light and quartormaster's
service, all gratis
This happy stat. OF AFFAIRS lasted
from 1905 until 1915. With the advent
OF he present year Executive order No
2l20. signed by Woodrow wilson and
The White House. January IS.
was ssued This order an
nounced that In the future rent would
be collected from al, occupants of Gov
rms quarters IN the Canal Tore.
and that charges would be made fcr fuel
and electric light. Furthermore. section
8 OF this order IS as follows:
The FIRE. use OF quarters ire. ru.l and
free electric current are no.. under the
conditions o, emplovmen. now governing.
q vested or contract right OF employees
EuanaAfs VvfHgf..s aIA.G. a. 49,.
considered advisable 70 Hntnue Until
permanent for. Is organized The
revocation OF these privileges shR not b.
made the basis for incretsing salaries or
or otherwise Increasing compen-s-
lions.
In a previous executive order the
Of many workers had been ac-
,ually redured by the decree that IN no
should the compensated for ser.
vices ne more than 25 per c-nt greater
that paid In similar positions in
The United states.
Now that the facts are SET forth !
would Ike. IL possible. to shoy' tle un-
OF and the positive harm that
may result rom the frst OF the two
quoted executive orders.
From personal rcsid nee IN the Canal
Zone ! know that. statistics and maya
zine writer's 10 the contrary. Panama =
from being the %salubfious resort that
= is now 80 often said 20 he The truth
of the matter is that since each and
Nvcry ma OF the work has undergone
= thorough physical examination prior
~ entering the service. and since medi-
,nes are dispensed free and DOCTORS
,nd hospital bills are unknown. and
since six weeks vacation IN a temperate
is the rule for every worker. the
mortality OF the American population is
su pr.s!nglv low
But, and the but Is significant. many
men are unable TO stand the q. mate ana
TO come hAc to the states In q ron.
!!iion bordering o. Chroni' iuvalidl-m
There Was the case % the former engl-
Ger who AT one ume had charge o.
he lock gate err elton. Other men are
He'd with tne dread germ OF ttupi ma
aria ard are fo- ed To- speld part Of
heir time In the hospital with fever.
,h.ie # lew Colonel G,lltrd being t1e
most noted victim. have d ed martyrs
% tho work they helped % do Women
re usually nervous wrecks after tcirE
N tho lsthmus It wear and Rp boWe 20
he States 70 Icyupcrdte Wonderful
Rnitnry precautions and NJ deal N!gi-
auce Keep the death rate down. but
lrkness, and malaria IN p~Ht..nlar. is
Yer present
Panama City and Colon are putrid
With vice n debauch"rv. II IA" canal
10 unable 70 have his family on
he isthmus with him he j. more than
Kelly 10 seek hts nleasu - dmoug the
ifrdn OF the two cities. ami u ronse-
.uen suffer fetrfuIl> both morally
nd physically. With r. ma. 10 he PAD
or married quarters the economic nd
'antares Will al be with the bachelor.
nd tho morality and efficiency Of the