Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-15
COMMISSION Will INVESTIGATE |
PANAMA CANAL MANAGEMENT
Basis for Investigation Rests On Report Of Senators
and Congressman Who Visited Canal
Zone

by several aspects of the paternal
government operation of the canal.
The board point made by Senator
Mckinley is that in 1920. the canal
was used by an average of 72.a ships
per day and that tho force of men
maintained on the Soverrmen. pay
roll to put this number of ships thru
the canal was 1850 this force con-
sists of roughly. 1000 white Arneri-
cans and i4.0OU cclorc,l West Indians.
of men maintained in proportion to
the work done. Sena:or Mckinney
and his fellow officials were impress
ed by the excessive amount of pay
given to the workmen.
Back in 1905 about the time the
United States began the work of
building the canal health conditions
, were bad at Panama and it was
necessary to give inducements to get
men to go there. But now, thru the
work of General Gorgas. Panama has
been made completely healthy and an
extremely agreeable place to live.
nevertheless, now the scale of wages
which were established at the begin
ming to induce reluctant workren tn
go to Panama are still maintained.
The basis of tho scale OF pay in
Panama is to give the current rate
of pay In the, United States. Plus 2S
per cent. according to Senator Nc
Kinley's report which melted Secre-
tary Weeks to action. some of the
rates now being paid are as follows:
Bricklayers s154 per hour. that
means fPr an eight hour day, the
bricklayts get s12.s2,. carpenters get
S133 per hour, electricians S1.3s per
hour, plasterers s1.52 per hour.
plumbers s1.35 per hour. marble set
ters &1.44 per hour.
In addition to these high wages
workmen at the canal get the follow
ing free advantage. two months vaca-
tion each year with full pay. free
transportation to the United States
for vacation free house rent. further
more. the lawns of the workmen are
cared for by the government When
ever an employee moves. the govern
ment supplies him with free carriage
according to Senator Mckinley. the
keeping each house in repair and the
total sum spsnt by the government
for the upkeep of the houses and
trimming Of lawns was about $780,
900 last year.
Tho two main points which the
, commission. now on tho way to Pan
anna ix to Investigate are the unnec-
essarily excessive compensation to
employees and the disproportion be-
tween the amount of use got out of
the canal and tho cost of maintaining
IT.
tho point that at Panama there are
ss3 mon on the monthly payroll for
lock operntion. for putting thru an
average Of Z 2-S vessels per day
whereas here in America, in the locks
Of Saul, ste Marie. an endless stream
Of vessels goes thru by their own
power. There are number of other
specifications of unnecessary expense
in Senator McKinley's report includ-
ing $4,000 alleged to have been lost
In one years operation of a govern
ment chicken farm.
In due course. Secretary Weeks
commission will return and report on
this matter Before that happens.
the Panama canal is likely to get into
for separate. Certain western
Senators intend to press bill er-
empting American ships from paying
tolls at the canal.
II is Understood that President
Harding very much favors the theory
that American ships should he free
from the payments of tolls at the
canal But between the Senste's
WAYS Of accomplishing this and Pred-
dent Harding's way of accomplishing
II, there IL something of the same
difference that there Is between the
Senate and President Harding in the
matter disarmament, II is understood
that President Harding very much
prefers that the exemption of Ameri-
can ships from paying tolls should
NOT be attempted by statute. but
should be brought by negotiations
with Great Britain.
Copyright. 1927. hy the New York
Evening Post. 1nc)