The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-10-06
URGE SAVING
OF s5,OOO,OOO
EVERY YEAR
Commission Proposes That
More Tropical Labor
Shall Be Employed In
stead of American Labor
Because Latter Costs
Considerably More

Washington, ID. G., Oct. 6, lBy the
Associated Press Thorough reorganii
zaticn of the administrative machinery
In the Panama canal zone with radical
changes in existing policies affecting
employment of labor, physical opera
tion Of TIE canal and rairoad, pay OF
employees and other important sub
jects is recommended in the prelimi-
nary reports sent to Secretary Weeks
by the commission which recently in
yestigated conditions in the canal zone
at his request.
The commission estimates that an
annual saving of $5,000.000 would re-
suit from adoption of its suggestions.
Chief among the recommendations is
) that the governor Of the canal zone be
directed mot TO make agreements or
understandings with the canal en-
ployes or any class thereof, for any
period of time, but that the, wages be
periodically. adjusted in accordance
with the law, which bases the canal
wages on the pay OF similar employees
ln the government service in the Unit
ed States and that the government
sshall not deal with labor organiza
lions as organizations but shall deal
with committees of employees"
'It is further recommended" the re-
port says, that the open shop princi-
pie be actually put into effect on the
lsthmus and that in all departments
/ substantial proportion of non-union
men be employed"
In another section the document as
serts that the "open shop policy, "in
theory. is followed on the canal, but
in some departments it is only a the
sory. and the employees are completely
anionized.y
Another recommendation is that all
agreements limiting the use of trop-
lcal labor be abrogated.'
Representatives OF union labor in
he zone have been IN conference with
Hecretary Weeks and Governor Nor
Tow regarding the recommendations of
lhe commission affecting slabor, which it
Is said. they came to Washington to
resist.
Naval Base Not Justified.
Asserting that it has failed to find
inything TO justify continued expendi-
lure of canal funds TO maintain a ma
raj base at the canal, the report recon-
ncnds that operation of various fa-
,ilities for naval purposes cease inn
nediately and that hereafter the canal
se operated entirely as commercial
lgency until Congress shall otherwise
Indicate
Recommendation also is made that
.,ny of the canal activities not neces-
tary for ordinary commercial OF, canal
letivities be closed up.
Finding the employment Of United
States white citizens" instead of ma
lives to be another item of expense.
lhe commission recommends that
tropical workers be employed ito the
lxtent possible. taking into considera-
lion the fact that the canal is to
iertain point. an element of national
lefense and that there may be certain |
positions in which aliens ought not to
,e employed
Other recommendations include dis |
continuance of free housing. light. heat !
ind other prerequisites given white
Employees on a canal at cost of $780, |
400 year TO the government; divorce
nent OF operation Of the Panama rail |
pad from that Of the canal; operation |
ind management of the railroad and |
steamship line of the Panama railroad 1
pmpany ~as are similar commercial
letivities in private life, and ers I
enlargement of agriculture in the zone /
hat-if the Recommendation are 4
,idoptcd the returns to the govern.
nent will increase year by year and 1
hat within a period Of ten Of fifteen /
Fears. the canal viii return a fair in
pme on the investment Of the federal |
government therein" the report adds.
ind estimates the total cost to date
II the canal at approximately $780,
10000.
The commission was headed by 1
briradier General A. d. Connor. assist 1
ant chief Of stat: Captain A r. FRY
4 the treasury department: r A.
nolitor. New York engineer. and II.
, Wilson. New York banker and bust
tcss man.