The Washington times., 1905-01-14
WANTS CONTROL Of
CANAL COMMISSION
President Asks Congress to
Change Law
'lNELASTIc AND CLUMSY"
Would Reduce Personnel Advisory Board
Of Engi1eers-Administr Should
Be Minister to Panama.
"lNELASTIc AND CLUMSY"

That the President be given greater
discretion in the organization of the per-
sonnel through which he is TO accom-
plish the construction of the Panama
Canal: that the Panama Canal Comnis-
sion be reduced 70 five, or preferably
three. members; and that the best engi-
neers OF the country act as an advisory
board Of the commission, are the main
points recommended by the President in
a message he sent to the House and
Senate late yesterday afternoon, trans
mitting to these bodies the first annual
report Of the canal commission.
Presidents Communication.
The Presidents message reads as fol-
ITO the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives-
Il transmit herewith the report of the
Isthmian Canal Commission, accompa-
MED by letter of the Secretary of War.
under who's supervision / have, by EX-
ecutive ords-, placed the work of the
commission
Il concur with the Secretary of War
IN the view that the present provision
of law, by TThich the work of building
the canal has TO be done only through
body of seven members, is inelastic
and clumsy, and l earnestly recommend
a change so that the President, who is
charged with the responsibility of build
ing the canal, may exercise greater dis
sonnel through whom he is to discharge
this duty.
Actual experience has convinced me
that II viii be impossible to obtain the
pest and most effective service under the
limitations prescribed by law. The gem
eral plans fer the work must be agreed
upon with the aid of the best engineers
of the county. who should act as an ad-
Elsory or consulting body.
Advisory Board.
be put on the commission, which should
be used only as an executive instru-
nent for the executive and administra-
tive work The actual work of execut-
ing the geaera1 plans agreed upon by
:he commission after receiving the con-
clusions OF the advising engineers, must
be done by an engineer in ciarge-and
we now haze an excellent engineer
therefore, 20 restrict the Executive's s
choice of commissioners to representa-
tlves. OF tbs Engineer Corps of the army
or the NAVY
The commission should consist of five.
or preferably of three, members whose
respective duties, powers, and salaries
should be assigned 10 them by the
President. and who should be placed
nnder the member of the Cabinet whom
the President desires. Of these men the
one appointed as administrator of the
to Panama.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
What Has Been Done
In the report attention is called to the
fact that ii is presented at time when
the several departments created for a
convenient subdivision of the work are
still in an Informative state For this
reason the report is restricted to a
statement of what has been done since
the first meeting of the commission
March %, 1901.
The commission is not yet ready to
recommend whether the canal be con-
structed on the sea level or with locks.
Continuation of surveys is necessa ry
not only to determine the practica bility
of sea level canal, but also as TO the
number and location of locks required
for high level waterway.
Final plans for TIE deep-water chan
re! and the inner harbor at the Colon
terminus of the canal. including about a
mile OF the canal line Immediately with
IN the entrance, viii be concluded with
In the next three months
Investigation of the location of the
dams to control the Chagres River are
nearing completion.
The construction OF the entire water
works system fer Panama is being rap
lelY pressed toward completion, and il
Is believed that the first pure water eve1
supplied TO tae ciry OF Panama will be-
mace available carly this year
Hopes to Cont:ol Disease.
The commission confidently hopes thai
diseases prevalent on the istilrnus
which have given il a reputation fol-
unheaithfu,ness will be brought under
control. and epiderics entirely pre-
vented
The organization of the health depart
ment. equipment, erection of buildings
medicines. and compensation of stan
and employees are estimated TO involve
ar expenditure of about $1.10o, coo for :he
len months from August 1874 and 70,
the following year about SS0g.G00
ne condllions OF the Panama Raf..
road and buildings is fair. bur the edIlfr.
Incat IS CID and fef';tirs are needed TIE