The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-20
TALK OF CHANGING
INAUGURATION DAY
April 80 Again Urged as More Suit
able Date.
WALKER A STORM CENTER
PANAMA COMMISSION SUBJECT
OF MUCH DISCUSSION.

Washington, March 10. - Notwith-
standing that the fourth of March
turned out to be a beautiful day, the
strain on every one concerned in the
success of it was so great that there
is strong and continued talk as to
changing the date of the inauguration
I'm the future to April 30. The last week
in April and the first two of May are
the most beautiful of the entire year in
Washington. The pleasure of visitors
would be enhanced tenfold by the
change. a bill at one time passed the
senate TO make such a change, but was
defeated in the house.
1t is asserted by men who ought to
know that this will be the last in
auguratiOn to be conducted by the citi-
zens of Washington. 1t is high time for
congress to act in this matter and ap-
propriate a sum sufficient for this cere-
mony- It is prompt enough to vote
money for other purposes not nearly so
worthy, though al the same time neces-
safy- II prince visit our shores the
committee on foreign relations immedi-
ately exerts itself to get a sum
always been liberal Fifty thousand
dollars were set aside for enter
tanning Prince Henry of Prussia, and
a similar amount for the officers who
'cililt lOE Iiie INOtndllDedu unNellllB-
Zen thousand dollars were expended
TO show the crown prince of Siam the
wonders of this great nation. and about
the same amount is the usual cOntin-
gent for visitors of note. Why should
congress refuse to pay the bills when
the president is inaugurated?
Trouble Over Walker.
President RooseveIt's attitude to-
ward the Panama commission is en-
gaging serious attention at the capital
one can recall the advance notices
when this commission was appointed
and how the people were told that
every man on the board was an up
right, worthy patriot, above sOrdid con-
Siderations, petty jealousies and par
tisan views Like all human instftu-
lions, the board has shown some frail-
ties. Congress has refused to take up
the Dill In earnest until some members
are stricken from the payrolls. Some
members object to Admiral Walker and
declare that he must go before another
dollar is appropriated for building the
canal. Some senators stand behind
Admiral Walker and maintain that he
VIII be the chairman with the power of
dictator, and only under such condi-|
ton viii they sustain the bill. Admiral
Walker has long been "A storm center
and he bears the brunt without dam
age, at least. 10 his pOcketbook. Some
four years ago there was much UNI
pleasant discussion because he and his
assistants continued to draw their daily
allowance of $l5 when there was absO-
lutely no work to be accomplished and
all the members OF the commission were
resting under their vine and fig tree.
There were acrimonious discussions in
congress. The admiral and his skilled
assistants were called before a board
OF inquiry For weeks there was much
ado. but nothing happened. not even the
CurtailinE OF the expense account.
Juvenile Engineers.
Meanwhile there is another aspect of
the Panama canal commission wherein
some of the legislators play an equally
serious role. 1t is claimed that through
the pressure of political influence ex-
erted at the war department d horde
of raw youths have been conveyed to
the isthmus and given places as civil
and mechanical engineers. Some of
these boys were in the schools study
ing the technical methods i'm vogue in
modern engineering as long as six
months or a year before receiving their
appointments. Many old debts have
been paid by getting these boys good,
paying places in the engineering de-
pertinent at the iSthmuS. The secre-
tary Of war is well aware of the jug
Cling which has been in progress, but
under present conditions he is power
less 10 remedy the evil. One of the
most pernicious features of these ap-
pOintments is the fact that not the
slightest excuse of an examination has
been required to get these soft beTths.
With these conditions. it IS easy TO
understand the lack of progress and
absolute confusion into which the work
has fallen. The president evidently in
tends to take the reins i'm a strong hand.
and according To the present outlook he
is going to kill the board by the
Strangling process. First one and then
another member will be cut off and no
vacancies will be filled When the en-
tire board is dead the personnel Of an
other Panama canal commission will
be announced
Wanted-A Big Man.
When a few months ago the president
announced that he would guarantee a
salary Of 500, 900 a year for the enGi-
ueer who was strong enough and brave
enough to undertake the gigantic task
alone, il seemed incredible that this ma
ton. which occupies the front rank
should not have produced one candi-
date. No man would risk his reputa-
tion and his fortunes where he would
have to be hampeTed by the caprices of
congress. The bid is still open and it
Is known that the president is now
considering the proposition of securing
two masters in engineering science.