The Washington times., 1905-03-27
MAGOON CHOSEN
FOR CANAL ZONE
Will Succeed Both Davis
and Barrett.
PANAMA COMMISSION PLAN
Reorganization Rapidly Being Perfect
ed-Appointments Expected
in Day or Two.
PANAMA COMMISSION PLAN

Judge Charles E. Magoon, law officer
of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, War
Department, will be the rev governor
and minister Of the Panama canal zone.
He will have the combined executive
and diplomatic duties as a result of the
reorganization of the Isthmian Canal
Commission, now being made by the
President and Secretary Taft.
Judge Magoon has done important
work for the Government in connection
with the legal administration in the
Philippines. He is qualified i'll every way
to undertake the organization of the
canal zone government
Change Soon to Be Made.
Plans for the reorganization of the
commission are rapidly being perfect
ed by the President and Secretary of
War Taft Announcement of the re-
tirement of the present members of the
commission and of the appointment of
their successors is expected to be made
within the next day or two
Although the President has been adj
vised that under the law there must be
seven commissioners, it is possible that
Up to this morning he had not, it is
understood, definitely determined upon
all of the appointments. When made
the duties of each will be so defined
blings in the commission and conflicts
of authority viii be reduced to mini
mum.
Magoon Will Be One.
Judge Charles E. Magoon will be
designated to act as the governor OF
the canal zone, in place of General
Davis. He will also assume the duties
as United States minister plenipoten-
tiary to Panama, now being performed
by Hon. John Barrett
1t is understood that Minister Barrett
will shortly be given leave of alb
sence- He will then be provided for in
another diplomatic post
John Findlay Wallace, at present chief
engineer of the canal will also be q
member of the nev commission. He Will
pe given practically supreme authority
IN all matters pertaining to the engi-
neeling features Of the work The other
engineer members OF the commission
will act as a consulting board, and it is
understood will include two of the fol-
lowing present members of the commits
sion. William Barclay Parsons William
ID. Burr, and Benjamin NJ. Harrod
For Executive Work.
Fer The purely executive work of
supervising the letting Of contracts, the
shipment Of materials to the isthmus,
and the auditing of accounts, the Presi-
cent is looking among men who have
had experience in handling large enter
prises. like Horace G. Burt, former pres
tdent of the Union Pacific; Leonor F
Loree, president of the Erie railroad, ant
ex-president of the Baltimore and Ohio
and Samuel FELTON,. ex-president Of the
Chicago and Alton
Under the proposed plan, the present
expensive offices of the canal commits
sion in this city will be abolished and
comparatively few Of the small army .,1
clerks now employed will be retained
here Those remaining here will be
transferred to the Bureau of Insular At
fairs IN the War Department, and al
s.f the accounts Of The commission will
be handled thare
The. organization and management OF
the Panama Steamship Company will b1
greatly sirnplitied. and the expenses OF
the office In New York. which are now
atout sl50,0Oo year, viii be cut to less
than half that amount. The Panama
iaslroad on the isthmus viii be placed
rnGer the direct coutrol and manage.
NEXT Of Chief Engineer Wallace