Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-04
THE WAR DEPT.
Announces Personnel OF
lethmian Commission.
Six Other Members Get $500 Per
4Nr Annum.


E Annum.
washington April THE President
has carried ont his plans for the re-or-
ganization Of the isthmian canal COM
mission as to personnel and business
methods. generally on the lines Of the
legislation he suggested to Congress at
the last session, which failed in the
crush of business in the closing hours.
Today, within half an hour after the
Presidents departure from Washington.
Secretary Taft. directly in charge OF
canal matters. made public the person
mel of the new commission and the d.
vision of duties among them. Only one
member Of the old commission was re-
appointed, Benjamin NJ. Harrod. Other-
wise. the commission is new from top
to bottom. for there is top ana Dot
tom and considerable difference be-
tween the functions and pay OF the
commissioners. Finding he was Obliged
legally to appoint seven commissioners.
the President did so. but he carried out
his own plan by making three of them
practically the commission. The othe''
four though bearing the title of COM
missiOners not only receive mucn low
er compensation, but are assigned mucn
smaller fields of activity. The President
has also carried out his scheme of di-
vjding up the work of canal building
among the commissioners, SO that
nominally acting as a body on stated
occasions, each individual member
would operate i'm special field. The
head Of the commission is a trained
railway men. chosen for his administra-
tive ability in the financial and pur-
chasing field: the new governor of the
zone is a lawyer. who also has had to
do with state affairs: the engineer COM
missioner already is known for his abili-
ties in the execution of the practical
work of canal cutting. The other men,
bers of the commission are placed to
comply with the law as to the number
Of the commission. but are men of high
ability as hydraulic engineers. Secre-
tary Taft told them today that they
were expected to show results and that
is said to be the keynote for the Presi-
dents action, today.
Washington. April 9.-The personnel
is as follows:
Theodore P. Shouts. chairman;
Charles E. MagoOn. governor Of Canal
zone: John F. Wallace. chief engineei';
Rear Admiral NJ. +. Endicott. u. s. N:
Brig. Gen. Peter Z. Haines. L. s. A..
retired: Col. Oswald NJ. Ernst, Corps
engineers. U. S. A.; BENZ. M. Harrod.
These names were announced at the
I'D in,
nection with the announcement. Secre
tary Taft gave out for publication a
statement showing the allotment 8 of
salaries to the new commissioners and
his own letter to the President and one
from the latter explaining the plan of
reorganization Of the commission. the
rea sons therefore. and the particular
duties 10 be assigned to each commits
sioner. The first reads:
THE President has made an order al
lowing a salary of $500 with travelling
expenses, to each member Of the COM
mission. and to the chairman of the
commission the additional compensa-
ton Of &22,5O0: to the chief engineer the
additional compensation Of $3.50, 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 travelling expenses when travelling
OH the business of the commission.
THE total is $102.5 The salaries and
allowances under the former commits
sion amounted to $12O.OCO. The total
compensation Of the governor Of the
zone and the chief engineer are in eff
feet unchanged.
Prof. William H. Burr and William
Barclay Parsons. civil engineers. will
be appointed as members Of the consult
ing board Of engineers"
Secretary Tafts letter to the Presi-
dent follows:
War Department. Washington.
March 80
Mr.. President: In the matter of the
reorganization of the machine by which
the Panama canal is to be built I beg
first to call your attention to the ex-
treme Importance Of fixing a definite
plan with respect to which you may
feel reasonable certainty. first that it
can be practically executed and will re-
suit in q navigable canal. and. second.
that the navigable canal will be the one
hest adapted to the demands which
may be made upon 1t by the commerce
of the world.
.'The act of Congress evidently con-
templates a canal with locks the cost
Of which shall be in the neighborhood OF
$o00.0000O0 including the money already
expended. 1t Is quite within the bounds
Of possibility that the best form of ca
nal will be a sea level canal with a
nY1tN ut I'D 10
the cost of it may exceed the $500. 600. =
900 in the mind Of Congress by at least
$1oO.000.0 900 more.
THE work Of the engineering depart
ment Of the present commission has
been largely devoted to obtaining the
data upon which the plan Of the canal
must be determined The data includes
typographical measurements. borings.
the charter Of the soil. the flow Of water
in the rivers-all stated with SUFFICIENT
exactness to secure the closest calcula-
tons by experienced engineers though
not on the ground IF iS nrOho I,lo tho