The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-11
HUGE WASTE
IN PANAMA
OPERATIONS
Senator Mckinley Shocked
When He Learns 1850
Men Paid To Put 72.3 Ships
Through Locks.
HIGH WAGES ARE PAID
ny MARK SULLIVAN


ing to come into the news in two ways.
1t is expected that some senators will
introduce and push vigorously bill
for the exemption of American ships
from paying toll at the canal. More
Immediately there is likely to be
good deal of commotion about the
cost of operating the canal.
A commission appointed by Secre-
tary OF War Weeks, in whose jurisdic-
tion, the canal is, is now on his way
to Panama to investigate waste and
(, ineffciency in the management of the
4 canal. The beginning of this in
vestigaion rests on certain reports
which were brought back to the
United States by members of party
OF congressman and senators who
visited the canal during March. One
of this Official party. Senator Mctin-
ley, Of Illinois, was shocked by some
things he learned. Senator Mckinley
is business man who built and oper-
ated many hundreds Of miles of
electric railways in the middle west,
and he was deeply concerned by sever
al aspects of the paternal government
operation of the canal.
Use 1880 Men.
The broad point made by Senator
Mckinley is that in 1920, the canal
was used by an average of 1913 ships
per day and that the force Of men
maintained on the government pay
roll to put this number of ships
through the canal was 1880. This
force consists of. roughly, 1000 white
Americans and $4,000 colored West
Indians. IL addition to the excessive
number of men maintained in proper
tlon to the work done. Senator McKin-
ley and his fellow officials were i'm
pressed by the excessive amount of
pay given to the workmen.
Back in 1905 about the time the
United States began the work of build
ing the canal, health conditions were
bad at Panama and it was necessary
To give inducements to get men to go
there But now, through the work OF
General Gorgas, Panama has been
made completely healthy and an ex-
tremely agreeable place to live. Never
theless. now the scale of wages which
was established at the beginning to
induce reluctant workmen to go to
Panama are still maintained. The
basis of the scale of pay in Panama
is to give the current rate of pay in
the United States, plus 25 per cent,
according to Senator Mckinley's re.
port, which melted Secretary Weeks
10 action. Some of the rates now
being paid arc as follows.
Scale in High.
Bricklayers, $1.54 per hour. that
means for an eight hour day, the
bricklayers get s12.32; carpenters get
$l.33 per hour: electricians, $1.36 pei
hour; plasterers, $1.52 per hour;
plumbers, $l.35 per hour; marble
settlers, s1.44 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 State:
for vacation, free house rent, further
more, the lawns of the workmen arc
cared for by the government. When
ever an employe moves, the govern
ment supplies him with free carriage
According to Senator Mckinley. the
government spends s400 per year il
keeping each house in repair and the
total sum spent by the government fo
the upkeep of the houses and trimmin.
of lawns was about sS00.000 las
year
Probe Operation.
The two main points which the com
mission, now on the way to Panam;
is to investigate tile unnecessaril.
excessive compensation TO employs
! and the disproportion between th'
amount of use we get out of the cana
and the cost OF maintaining it.
Senator McKinley's report make
the point that at Panama there are So
men on the monthly payroll for locl
operation, for putting through a.
average of 1913 vessels per day =
whereas here, in America. in the lock
of Sauit Ste. Marie. an endless strear
of vessels goes through by their owl
power There are number of othe
specifications of unnecessary expens
in Senator McKinley's report includ
ing $46,000 alleged to have been los
in one years operation of a govern
ment chicken farm
Urge u. S. Exemptions.
In due course, Secretary Week:
commission VIII return and report o
this matter. Before that happens, tn
Panama canal is likely TO get into
separate controversy. Certain wester
senators intend to press bill exemp
ing American ships from paying toll
at the canal.
1t is understood that President Ha
ding very much favors the theory ths
American ships should be free frol
the payments of tolls at the cana
But between the senate's ways of a
complishing this and President Har,
ing's way of accomplishing it, there
something of the same difference ths
here is between the senate and Pre-
ident Harding in the matter of di
armament 1t is understood that Pre-
ident Harding very much prefers thu
the exemption of American ships frol
paving tolls should not be attempte
by statute, but should be brought
negotiations with Great Britain.
Copyright 1921 by the New York Ev
ming Post, Inc)