New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-04
NEW CANAL BOARD NAMED
THE WORK TO BE PUSHED.
Complete Reorganization of Panama
Commission Effected.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.I

IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l
Washington. April 3.-President RooseveIts
order appointing the new Panama Canal Com
mission, signed Saturday, was issued this morn
ing just as he departing for the Southwest.
and, following his injunction to "go ahead and
get busy with the digging" the five members
now in the city promptly took the oath of Of
fee and devoted the whole day to executive
session in the Office Of the former commission.
Four Of them were already familiar with the
work in hand and the fifth, the new chairman,
T. P. Shonts. took hold Of the gigantic enter
prise with that characteristics push which
caused the President to select him for the place.
Judge Magoon has been the legal counsel of the
expiring commission. has twice visited the 18TH
mus, and knows everything that has been done
and just what questions require first attention.
Mr.. Harrod. the only reappointed member Of
the preceding commission, is perfectly at home
on all matters pressing for consideration. Gen
eral Hains and Colonel Ernst were members OF
the original IsthmiaD Canal Commission from
1899 to 1901 which made the choice between
Panama and Nicaragua, and~their interest in
the great waterway has never tagged. General
Hams only few months ago. with the latest
official data in his possession, publicly opposed
sea level canal and advocated locks. in order to
insure the earliest possible opening of the canal
to trafic. Admiral Endicott the chief Of the
Bureau OF Yards and Docks OF the navy, is an
expert on locks and dams. was a member Of
the Nicaragua Commission of 1895. and has
been frequently called into consultation by the
commission IN the last year. The executive COM
mittee OF the commission will meet on the 18TH
mus not later than May 10. and from that time
on. It is predicted "dirt viii fly"
Finding that the law obliged him to appoint
seven commissioners, the President did So but
he carried out his OWE plan by making three
OF them practically the commission. The other
four. although bearing the title Of commission
ers. not only receive much lower compensa~
tion, but are assigned TO much smaller fields OF
activity. The President also has carried out his
scheme Of dividing up the work OF canal build
ing among the commissioners. so that, nominally
acting as a body, on stated occasions each in
dividual member would operate in a special
field. The head of the commission is a trained
railroad man. the new Governor OF the zone is a
lawyer, who also has had 10 do with state
affairs and the engineer commissioner already is
known for his abilities in the execution of the
practical work Of canal cutting. The other
members are placed to comply with the law as
10 the number Of commissioners. but are men
OF high ability as hydraulic engineers. Secretary
Taft told them to-day that they were expected
10 show results, anc that is the keynote for the
Presidents action.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
The personnel of the new commission is as fol-
lows:
THEODORE p sHOSTs chairman.
CHARLES E. MAGooN. Governor of canal zone.
JOHN F. WALLACE. chief engineer.
Rear Admiral NJ T ENDICOTT. Z. S. ~
Brigadier General PETER g HAMS q S A, retired.
Colonel OSWALD H. ERNST. Corps Of Engineers
L. s.. A
BENJAMIN NJ HARRoD.
These names were announced at the War De-
partment this morning. Secretary Taft made
public a statement showing the allotments Of
salaries 10 the new commissioners his own let
ter to the President and one from Mr.. Roose-
Welt explaining the plan for the reorganization
Of the commission the reasons therefor and the
narticular duties to be assigned TO each
missioner. The statement regarding salaries is
as follows
any Of $500. with travelling, expenses TO each 1
member Of the commission and TO the chairman Of
80 800: to the chief engineer the additional com
pensation of 1880. and TO the Governor Of the
zone the additional compensation Of $4,000. The
head of each department Is allowed the use OF a
furnished house upon the isthmus and his travel
ling expenses when travelling on the business OF
ana allowances t;oo SIo The toaI coIonensatjon Of
s 5he g 5oTSTnoF enef 0nehanged or fng Shs anu
Professor william II. Burr and William Barclay
Parsons civil engineers, will be dppointed as mem
bers Of the consulting board Of engineers.
SECRETARY TAFT"s RECOMMENDATIONS
Secretary Taft's letter to the President IS as
follows:
War Depa rtment Washington. March 30. 1905
Mr. President In the matter Of the reOrganiza-
ton Of the machine by which the Panama Canal
Is 10 BE- built ! beg first 10 call your attention TO
the extreme importance of fixing a definite plan
with respecf to which you may feel reasonable
certaintv first that il be practically executed
and Will result ia a naviEable canal and second.
that the naVigabe canal will be the nest
sdapted 10 the demands which may be made upon
II bv the commerce Of the world.
THE act of Congress evidently contemplates a
canal with locks the cost OF which shall be in the
neiVbborhood of S2lO000.000. including the money
sires6y expended IT IS quite within the bounds
~ ToEsiblify that the best form Of canal will be
"a level canal with a tidal lock only at one end
and that the cost OF IL may exceed the 900
a. the mind OF Congress by at least 500 100000
81, s. =.
,resent commission has been largely devoted TO
12btoirine the data upon which the plan Of the
oarol must be- determined. These data include
o so.e~ra nhical measurements borinRs, the char
ser ~ fbe soil tire flow Of water in the rivers
an @tsfed with suficient exactness 10 secure the
oI6-es4 81 calculations by experienced engineers
st,o,,2b not on the ground. II IS probable that
bee 80 fuIIy ascertained by the chief engineer MI