New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-23
DAVIS TO BE GOVERNOR.
WILL RULE CANAL ZONE.
President Issues His First InStruc-
fions to Panama Board.
r-ro,, -vr TRIBUNE prREAU.l


,--.-rtrr.o, -rarch 1.-THE President to-day
-rnde public his preliminary instructions 70 the
Panama Canal Commission. and chose "ener0i
S.aorRe W Davis 10 be Governor OF me A'i'ei-
ican zone on the isthmcs.
The President indicated reverai weeks ago
shat lie wished one Of the commissioners 10 y
main permanently upon The isthmus' ana az
he has had two or three conferences WIN ~
rri-a1 Walker he reached the conclusion Una
General Davis was the best man sVaiiAD'e iO-
a.. ,v,o.,,s work His splendid service as
Governor Of Porto Rico and his career III 1,0
army and in the Philippines all fitted him pecui-
iarly fer the administration OF alI'iiS ON '--0
istbu1us the President reasoned.
General Davis viii probably make his honne
either At Colon or Panama for a time. leaving
~. selection Of his permanent residence TO DC
determined later II may be that nome Ia
lreepinR with the Importance Of his once WIN
be built at some point in the territory 10 %
governed by the United States Mhen 'ne O"
racks for the marine guard are built II is more
than likely that the Governors house VIII 10
constructed in the neighborhood
The instructions 10 the members OF the lana
Commission were contained in a let'eF AiOii
7,~o.,5,-. Roosevelt 10 the commission under
date Of March s The letter. which was rea1
q, meeting Of the whole commission to-day
luncheon with She President and informally as
c,,ssed the situation with him.
White House. Washington. March 3 lsW4.
Sirs. have appointed you as the commission
which is 10 undertake the most imports 60. go
also the most formidable englneetlns ie "a. 80
has hitherto been attempted. You are 20 90 \
- ne doing Of which II well done, VIII re
feet high honor upon thus natleh' s.1o - 80 |
done VIII be Of incalculab.e peneht, not eI-'s
,bis nation but 10 civilized mankind. AS you
yourselves must individually know, ha nav
q osen YOU with reference 10 h oIilns 49, ,-oI,
belief after fun and patient inquiry, 'Ila1 -
sre among all the available men OF Whon 1
have knowledge those best htted 70 pIlLs .l,.s
great task 10 q successful CONCLUSION lou --le
baar chosen purely because OF your persona
and professional regulations ior IllesILs Sl-u
ability. You represent the "hole 'oey-I >. -.
rerresent neither section nor party nave not
sought 10 ind out the politics OF slhBle one
Of YOU and indeed. as 10 the MAJORITY pL 80;
/ have not the slightest tdea what your pol'''00'
affiliations are ,., - -,
/ believe that each one Of YOU viii serve not
merely with entire fidelity, hut with 'he ms
efficiency. il az any time feel tnal aLS S'iS "a
Won Isl not rendering the best service Whlch IL =
possible 70 procure ] shall feel callea upon -
disregard alike my feelings for the man anu
ststute for him the commission some cti -!
-,-sr7 ,rt7-77 I SHALL deem capable Of rendering
better service. Moreover. I shall expect. u az
srv time any one Of YOU feels that the NoIk -
too exhausting and engrossing for him 10 90 lu
the best possible manner ma = +E.t nav
own accord 50 INFORM ne IN ORDER luat ! il-as
replace him by some man VINO 10 ne re- 5
ari1fry- s0frc the will and the strength 10 XIV
all the effort needed. But 50 long as S"u - -
der Efficient service ~ the highest type IN lhe
work YOU are appointed 70 perform you nay
rest assured or my hearty support ana oacA''S
these are the conditions under which YOU have
been appointed and under which shan expect
YOU 20 proceed.
SHAH furthermore. expect YOU - apply pre-
cisely the same principles in the choice and re-
tcntion Cf the suhor1inates Who 90 lHe N"Ih
under YOU rs I have applied IN your choice ana
rrr.1r- frn ron rafn
YOU 10 appoint no man for reasons other thaIl
your belief in the aid he can render YOU IN GIG
ging the canal II. having appointed any man.
you find that your expectations about him are
rot fulfilled. or that from any reason he falls
short 81 his duty. ! shall expect YOU 20 dismiss
him out 81 hand. ] shall expect That unqer
sucn circumstances YOU will pay not the slight
est heed 20 any backing or influence the man
nav have.
ing with contractors YOU viii act on precisely
the PRINCIPLES which would apply in any great
Irivate business Undertaking. There is no man
among YOU 10 whom ] think r is necessary 10
say a word as 70 the standard Of honesty 70 be
eXacted from every enploye or contractor, for
y 7 has had the slightest ground for suspicion
that there was need TO say such word 10 any
ore of you 1 should not have appointed him.
But do wish 20 emphasize the need of unceas-
ing vigilance I'm tho performance Of this great
work AS To the details Of the work itself l
have hut little 10 saw. IL Is TO be done
peditiously as possible and as economically as
is consistent with thoroughness.
lnere Is one matter 10 WHICH WISH II ask
your special attention-the question Of santa
tion and hygiene. You viii take measures 70 Sc
cure the best medical experts for this purpose
whom YOU can obtain. and YOU viii. of course
make the contra ctors submit implicitly as
your own employees 10 all the rules and regula-
tions Of the medical department under YOU. I
presume YOU viii find 81 best 20 have one head
for this medical department. but that / shall
leave TO your own Judgment.
The plans 20 be carefully made. with a
view TO the needs not only Of the moment, but
OF the future The expenditures are 10 be su-
pervised al vigorously II they were. being
made FOR a private corporation dependent for
its profits upon the returns. You are to secure
the best taleu. this country can afford to meet
the. conditions created by every need which may
arise. The methods for achieving the results
must be YOURS. What this nation will insist
| upon Is that the results be achieved.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
/ The Isthrian Canal Commission.