New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-05
lSTHMIAN ORGANIZATION.
Open Sessions. Direct action, In
di1idual Responsibility.
frRoM rEE TRrRuxE BuREAu.l

washington. April ENERGY, publicity and
direct responsibility promise 10 constitute the
chef characteristics Of the new Panama Canal
Commission. Without loss Of time the COM
mission has taken up the problems before II, and
s,resav considerable progress IS reported. II
was decided Immediately that there should be
M secret chamber" executive proceedings. ana
10 thai end the secretary Of the commission
win be Instructed 10 give 20 representatives OF
he press an account Of al the business trans
acted. the new value n the transactions and
discussions being left 10 the discretion OF the
newspapers.
notable instance Of the directness with
vrbieh The new organization purposes to place
she responsibility for is several functions is
afforded ~ The action already taken with re-
card 10 instituting system Of accounting. At
present the accounting methods Of the commits
son are a combination Of those in vogue in the
treasury Department. the Navy Department
and Some unique features devised by members
nj the former commission. Chairman Shonts
has already been directed 70 devise and install
: new system. which shall be uniformly adhered
- here and in the canal zone When IL was
--onosed thar this duty be placed upon the
csai-rnsn be suggested that he he rendered
assistance by other members Of the commission
IN 50 important an undertaking. but his col
leagues insisted that il was the effort OF the
former commissioners 10 act in groups. or as an
entirety. which resulted in perpetual references
and deliberations unattended by accomplish
rnent. and Is il was the purpose Of the new
commission 10 do things" it would be better
- rlace the entire responsibility Of each division
~ the work on a single member, and this ar
gumsHi prevailed
The avoidance Of reference and circumlocu-
lion end The attainment Of the most direct meth
%
of the commission to-day.
Some surprise is expressed AZ the apportion-
r,ent Of salaries among the three executive mem
hers Of the commission and belief is expressed in
some quarters that a readjustment viii event
.uaIr become inevitable. IN support Of this con-
fention II is urged that the remuneration of
CHEF Engineer Wallace and Governor MagOon
is hardly adequate I'm view OF the fact that both
MI be compelled 20 remain in the canal zone
continuously. II is further pointed out that
Governor MaRcon I'm his dual capacity Of Gov
e-nor and United States Minister viii devolve
The expense az more or less extensive entertain
rnents. while his remuneration is less than that
a. either Of his executive colleagues. Still an
other argument presented against the disparity
Il compensation is the fact that Minister Bar
rett has persis;ently educaed the Panamans 70
The understanding that il was beneath the dig
nifty CT Panama to deal with "a mere Governor"
when a United States Minister was on the zone.
j is now suggested that Panama, result OF
Nr. BarTett's rutelage, may object 10 dealing
with an Official who rated BY remuneration,
ranks third the commission.
Secretary Taft has minated, however. that
the present arrangement Of salaries is largely
tentative. and II IS possible that some rear
TaugeHneuf will be made If experience demon
strates that the existing disparity is impracti-
cable
Chairman shonts has impressed all who have
met him most farorah!y He appears 10 be
straightforward and direct, with a capacity for
eraspng the several sides Of a proposition and
promptly weighing their respective values.
Chief Engineer Wallace has already demon