The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-04
THE NEECANAL BOARD NAMED
BENZ. ". HARROD THE ONLY
OLD MEMBER RETAINED.

kuuer 1AatoV0-lOAfu ul EuHAuNNIu "
Investigate and Recommend whether
u shall he a sea Level Canal
WARRINGTON, April s.-Just as President
Roosevelt was starting on his Western
trp this morning tho War Department
announced the details OF the Presidents
plan for the reorganization Of the Panama
Canal Commission. Al the outset Of his
order Of reorganization the President said
frankly that the work Of the old commission
had not been satisfactory. The personnel
Of the new commission was announced az
follows:
Theodore P. shonts Of Illinois, chairman
Of the commission.
Charles E. Magoon Of Nebraska, who In
addition 20 his duties as Commissioner will
he Governor Of the Canal Zone.
John +. Wallace Of Illinois, who will
retain his place az Chief Engineer Of the
canal
Rear Admiral Mordecai T. Endioott. L.
s. ~ now Chief of the Naval Bureau Of
Yards and Docks.
Brighten. Peter c, Hainos, L. s. A., re-
tired,
Col Oswald H, Ernst, Corps Of Engineers,
L. S. A,
BENJAMIN NJ Harrod Of Louisiana.
Mr. Harrod is the only member Of the old
commission who is retained and his selection
was surprise. Two members Of the old
commission William H. Burr and William
BARCLAY Parsons who were supposed TO
be down for disappointment. were made
members Of the consulting board Of en-
gineers which will include seven others.
some OF them foreigners,
The President fixed the salaries Of the
Commissioners at $500 each, or ~ 500 less
than the members Of the old commission
received but he directed that Chairman
Shonts should receive additional compensa-
ton Of S22, 800, 80 as 10 bring his salary to
$4,000; Mr.. Wallace an additional 1880
20 as 10 bring his salary TO 5000, the
amount Of compensation received by him
when he was chief engineer, but not mem
Der Of the commission, and Gov. Magoon
an additional $4,000. 80 as TO give him
1880. In addition to their salaries the
Commissioners are TO receive travelling eI-
penses, and the head Of each department
created. namely, the chairman, the Governor
and the chief engineer, Il 10 have the use Of
a furnished house on the Isthmus. The
total allowed for salaries ia ti02, 800, or
ti7,DOO loss than the aggregate salaries re-
oeived by the members Of the commission
when Rear Admiral John Walker was at It's
bead.
Five Of the new Commissioners we're
sworn in to-day. The Others are Chief Engi-
neer Wallace, who is on the Ithmus and
Col Ernst, who u In Chicago. Col Ernst
viii be detached from his duties in charge
Of river and harbor work. Admiral Endi-
colt will continue to perform the duties Of
Chief Of the Naval Yards and Docks Bureau.
Immediately after being sworn in the. new
Commissioners met and afterwards made
this announcement
The m Getting perfected its organization and
appoint 60 an executive committee, cons listing
Zone Magoon and Chief Engineer Wallace.
Pending business was all despatched and the
Commission viii hold daily sessions 70 dispose
NAMED that its headquarters will be on the
lsthmus Of Panama.
II Acknowledgement Moody had notTde-
cided that Il was obligatory on the Presi-
dent 70 appoint seven commissioners, Mr..
Roosevelt would have appointed only
three, and the selection would have been
confined to Messrs. Shonts Magoon and
Wallace. As II Is, these three men will
practically dominate the commission and
the others will act merely as advisers.
Gov Magoon and Chief Engineer Wallace
and Chairman Shonts will spend most OF
the time there These three, by the Presi-
dents direction, are TO be elected by the
other commissioners as an executive board
which will tran sact business when the full
commission is not in session and will sub
nit reports to the commission OF what they
decide 70 do.
Chief Engineer Wallace Is In favor Of a
sea level canal and he will have a free hand
In carrying out his ideas although some
people think there il a possibility Of more
friction In the commission from the fact
that Gen. Haines, one Of the new mem
hers has declared in a recent magazine
article that a lock and dam canal was the
most feasible project. Messrs. Parsons
and Burr, the former Commissioners who
have been retained as members Of the board
Of engineers with which Mr.. Wallace ia to
consult. are in favor Of a sea level canal.
Both Of them are civil engineers. Com
missioner Harrod Is a civil engineer also
and so are Gen. Haines, Col. Ernst and
Admiral Endicott the latter being a mem
her Of the Corps Of Naval Civil Engineers.
The Presidents order for the formation
for the commission was dated April J..
IN part II Is as follows:
The practical result Of the operations Of
The Isthmian Canal Commission appointed
and acting under previous Executive orders
has not been Satisfactory, ana requires a
change In the personnel Of the commission
end in the Instructions for its guidance
The commission will hold quarterly sessions
the first OF January, April July and October
of each year at the ONCE OF the Governor
on the Isthmus Of Panama, and will continue
each session as long as public business may
require Further notice Of such meetings
shsn not be necessary TO their regularity,
The commission may hold special sessions
az the call Of the chairman. -Four members
shall constitute a quorum and the action Of
such majority shall be the action Of the com
mission.
The commission, under the superyision
and direction Of the Secretary Of War and
subject TO the approval Of the President,
IA CHARGED with the general duty OF the
abortion OF plans for the construction and
maintenance Of the canal and with tho eVecu-
ton Of the work OF the same, with the pur-
chase and delivery Of supplies, machinery
and necessary plant the employment Of the
necessary. officers, employees and laborers
and with the fixing OF their salaries and wages
with the commercial operation Of the Panama
Railroad Company and is railroad lines a.
common carriers, with the utilization Of the
railroad as a means Ct constructing the
canal with the making o. contracts FOR con-
struotion and excavation Hnd with all other
matters incident and necessary 20 the build
ing OF A wateTwev across the IEthmus Of
Pana ma, as provided by the Act Of Congress
81 june 2s, 1902.
For convenience and to secure the unin-
errupted course Of the work, an executive
committee OF not less than three members
commission 20 act in place Of the commission
during the Intervals between the meetings OF
the commission, and to report It's doinRs In
full 70 the commission Of the next regular
meeting. minute Of every transa elton Of
the executive committee shall be made and