The San Francisco call., 1905-04-04

WASHINGTON. April 3-The Presi-
dent has carried out his plans for the
reorganization of the Isthmian Canal
Commission as to the personnel and
business methods generally. He fol-
lowed the lines of the legislation he
suggested TO Congress at the last ses-
sion, which failed in the crush of busi-
ness in the closing hours. Tonight,
within half an hour after the Presi-
dents departure from Washington,
Secretary Taft. directly in charge OF
canal matters, made public the per-
sCuneI Of the new commission and the
division OF duties among them. Only
one member of the old commission
was reappOinted, Benjamin NJ. Harrod.
The personnel of the new commission
is as follows;
THEODORE P. SHONTS, chairman.
CHARLES E. MAGOON, Governor of
the Canal Zone.
JOHN F. WALLACE, chief engineer.
REAR ADMIRAL NJ. T. ENDICOTT,
L s. n.
BRIGADIER GENERAL PETER c.
HAMS, L. s A. (retired).
COLONEL OSWALD NJ. ERNST,
corps engineer, Z. s. A
BENJAMIN NJ. HARROD.
With the exception of Harrod the
commission is new from top TO bottom
There is considerable difference be-
tween the functions and pay Of the
Commissioners. Finding he was
obliged legally to appoint seven Com
missioners, the President did so, but
he carried out his own plan by max
ing three Of them practically the full
commission The other four. though
bearing the title OF Commissioners, not
only receive q much lower compensa-
ton, but are assigned much smaller
fields of activity. The President has
also carried out his scheme of divid-
ing up the work of canal building
among the Commissioners. so that
nOminally acting as a body on stated
occasions, each individual member will
operate in a special field
DIFFERENCE IN SALARIES.
The head of the commission is a
trained railway man, chosen for his
administrative abilities in the financial
and purchasing field; the new Cover
nor of the Zone is a lawyer, who also
has had to do with state affairs; the
engineer Commissioner already is
known for his ability in the execution
Of the practical work Of canal-cutting.
The other members Of the commission,
chosen TO comply with the law as to
the number on the board, are men of
high ability as hydraulic engineers.
Secretary Taft told them to-day that
they were expected to show results,
and that is said to be the keynote OF
the Presidents action of to-day.
The President has made an order al
lowing an annual salary of $500, with
travelling expenses, to each member of
the commission, and TO the chairman
of the commission the additional COM
pensation Of $22.500; to the chief en-
efneer the additional compensation of
SI7.500. and to the Governor Of the Zone
the additional compensation of SO, 900.
The head of each department is al
lowed the use of a furnished house on
the isthmus and his travelling expenses
when travelling on the business of the
commission.
The total is sl02,5O0. The salaries and
allowances under the former commits
sion amounted to 100000. The total
compensation Of the Governor Of the
Zone and Chief Engineer are each un-
changed.
Professor William H Burr and Will
liam Barclay Parsons, civil engineers,
Will be appointed members Of the con-
sulting board of engineers.
TO HAVE ADVISORY BOARD.
In an order bearing on canal matters
issued to-day the President says:
There will hereafter be appointed by ths
standing having experience Ia work Of canal
construction and hydraulics. TO constitute q
board Of consulting engineers. 20 which VIII
be submitted by the Isthmiap Canal Com
important engineering questions arising in ths
selection OF the best plan for the construction