Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01
MR., SHONTS ACCEPTS
Will Be the New Head of the
Canal Commission.
NOTIFIES PRESIDENT L
HAS A LONG CONFERENCE AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.
Another Consultation to Be Held This
Afternoon-HisP Probable
Associates.
NOTIFIES PRESIDENT T

The announcement was MADE TO-
dav that Theodore P. Shonts, presi-
dent of the Toledo, St. Louis and
Western railroad, had accepted the
craftsmanship of the isthmian canal
commission. 1t is believed that
Chief Engineer Wallace, Charles +.
Magoon, William Barclay Parsons
and William H. Burr will also be
members of the commission.
Reorganization Of the Commission.
President Roosevelt has completed the re-
organization of the isthmian canal commis-
sion and the whole thing Will be mace
public Monday morning. So far as the facts
are concerned they could be made public
now but Secretary Taft will not return to
Washington until Sunday afternoon, and 1T
is desired that he shall be consulted before
the announcement is made. Theodore +.
Shonts, president of what is known as the
Glover Leaf railroad, is to head the COM
mission. He today notified the President
that he would accept the offer made to him.
His acceptance is gratifying to the Presi-
dent, who has hear6 the highest praise of
his executive ability
Mr.. Shonts came TO Washington last night
with Secretary Morton and had talks today
with William Nelson Cromwell, general
counsel of the Panama Railway Company;
Col. Edwards. head of the insular affairs
bureau of the War Department and Judge
Magoon, who will be governor Of the canal
zone. Mr.. Shonts was anxious to learn the
nature of the duties of the past and the
state of affairs on the isthmus before he
made final answer to the President.
White House Conference.
At noon he went to the White House
with Col. Edwards and had a long con-
ference with the President, who explained
to him some of the difficulties under which
the old commission had worked On COM
ing out of the White House Mr. Shonts
had little to say except to admit that he
would accept the tender made him. 1t is
understood that the President will fix his
salary at large figure to compensate him
as far possible for the financial sacri-
flee he is probably making in leaving his
position.
Secretary Morton, who was in conference
with the President this morning. praised
Mr.. Shonts ability and predicted that he
would make a success of the work he is
going into.
w Nelson cromwell, VINO has been
advising the President and Secretary Taft
as to certain matters connected with the
canal, talked with the chief executive this
morning as to the reorganization, and
thought that the best possible selection had
been made in Mr.. Shonts
Horace G. Burt, former president of the
Union Pacific road, who was talked of
the head of the new commission, will not
have a place on the commission. His name
was under consideration among others.
Another Conference This Afternoon.
Mr.. Shonts is to have another conference
with the President this afternoon, at which
the situation in the canal region will be
discussed In detail according to the Presi-
dents desire. The question will then be
determined of the line that will be drawn
between the executive head and the chief
engineer, who is to do the engineering work.
The President will outline the duties that
are to be performed by each and will try
to arrange matters so that there will be no
conflict. as heretofore. 1t is recognized
that this will be a delicate undertaking.
Mr.. Shonts said that the officers OF the
Glover Leaf road do not desire him to re-
tire from his present position, but that he
would not reach any conclusion on this
question until he has talked with the Off
GERS in New York.
Mr. Shonts was born in Crawford county,
Pa, and has been in the railroad business
since 1881. He has been successfully gem
eral superintendent, general manager and
president of the Toledo ST. Louis and
Western railroad. He Is a graduate of
Monmouth College Qllinois) and a brother
in-law of John Drake, partner of John w.
Gates.
The Other Members
While the personnel of the new commits
sion is not positively known, the prospects
are that five of the members will be Mr.
Shonts, Chief Engineer Wallace, Charles L.
Magoon, William Barclay Parsons and
William II. Burr.
There was a rumOr this afternoon that
Col. Clarence Edwards, chief of the insular
affairs bureau of the War Department, and
William Nelson Cromwell would be the
other members of the commission which Is