Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-23
SENATORS MAY GUST HIM FROM
HEAD Of CANAL COM
MISSION
HE HAS TOO MANY JOBS
Members of Senate object to One Man
Being Chairman Of Canal Commits
sion at $4,000 and President of a
Railroad at s25,ooo, at One and the
Same Time.

Washington, d. c., Dec. %. - The
President has returned to the senate
the combinations Of the six isthmian
canal commissioners which were re-
quested yesterday in executive ses-
sion, and the senators will sharpen
their ak for Chairman Shonts during
the holiday recess.
Secretary Barnes took them to the
capitol yesterday afternoon and deliv-
cred them to the senate, although the
return of the names did not appear as
matter of public record.
There is no instance on record
where President has refused to re-
cognize the request of the senate for
the return of appointments after con-
firmations, although his right to deny
such a request is generally conceded.
If the President had acted promptly
on the combinations of last Saturday
and issued new commissions he could
not have returned the nominations. A
request for return must be made be-
fore new commissions are signed. The
President was telephoned yesterday
before formal request was made,and
announced that the commissions were
not yet issued.
Referred to Committee.
The entire commission was refer
red to the committee on interocean
canals for action. There was brief
renewal of the discussion on railroad
/ ing combinations The sentiment of
several senators was yesterday ex-
pressed that this practice must cease,
and that hereafter every nomination
must be referred to a committee and
Tgo over one day, as prescribed by the
lrules. Opinions were alsaost unani-
tmous that the plan of polling commit
i tees without holding a formal meeting
! should also be discontinued. The
general tendency of the brief debate
was toward reform in the matter of
handling nominations from the Presi.
dent.
The interceanic canals committee
will not take up the matter Of confirm.
ing the commissioners until after the
holiday recess. rhe subject then will
be given careful consideration Messrs
4 the targets of criticism when the com.
mittee meets.
!. The almost unanimous sentime ent in
IuS SSudle is ludL CHAIRMAN SlOQLS
must relinquish his position as presi
dent of the Glover Leaf if retained as
head of the. commission.
i Shonts Must Stand Fire.
There is a decided conviction that
he shall not be permitted to draw $50,
4 900 as chairman of the commission and
i $25,000 as president of the railroad
] Judge Magoon also will be severely
hammered by Senator Morgan and
some of the democrats. He receives
S17,5OO a year and holds three posi-
tions-minister to Panama, governor
of the canal zone and canal commits
sioner. 1t is felt that he should sur
render some of these places.
| Mr.. Bishop will be held up because
of the Presidents determination tha
he shall get an aggregate salary O.
$4,000 year, while three other mem
bers of the commission receive bu
81, 500 each The plan is to have Mr.
Bishop attend the four quarterly meet
ings of the commission, serve as sec
5 retary and keep the minutes, being al
/ lowed an extra compensation of $3.50
year for this service.