Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-05
DAVIS ORDERED HOME
Was Unwilling to Leave His
Post.
h E 81 A s M A L A RI A
OUTBREAK OF YELLOW FEVER
PRONOUNCED UNDER CONTROL.
Col. Gorgas Will Act as Governor of
the Canal Zone Until Executive
Committee Arrives
d E 81 AS M AL A RI A

Secretary Taft today cabled Gov. Davis at
Fahama to return at once to the United
States, leaving Col. Gorgas in charge of
the administration of the canal zone until
the arrival there of Gov Magoon Gov
Davis is suffering from malaria and his
physicians advise him to leave the isthmus
10 recLperate. He has resisted their ap-
peals, however, fearing that his departure
"a a time when the health conditions on
the lsthmus are adverse would be misun-
derstood. Consequently Secretary Taft was
Obliged today to send the following peremp-
tory order for Gov. Davis to come home:
Gov. Davis. Panama.
I'm spite of your dislncl.nation to leave
al this time, l must issue the order that
you turn over control to Col Gorgas as
actlng governor, and that you come by the
next steamer. Magoon suggested Gorgas
as your substitute. L thank you for your
eil!ciett enorts TO sustain the status quo
until the new executive committee reaches
the lsthinus. But your maIarial condition
makes 1t necessary for you at once to have
a change or air after a years hard and
dangerous service. No one who knows as
do your courageous fidelity to duty in
face of all obstacles will attribute any un-
worthy motives to your coming when il is
my order against your VIII. You will make
this public. TAFT"
Yellow Fever Under Control.
1t is the Secretarys purpose to appoint
Gen. Davis member of the board of con-
sulting engineers, which will consist OF
twelve members, eight of whom have now
been selected.
The report that determined Secretary
Taft to summon tn ex-governor home was
the following cablegram received from Col.
Gorgas, dated "a Panama today:
-Four yellows in hospital: none since Nav
l. Outbreak under control. General con-
oluons excellent. Have advised Davis
home health May 16''
1t is the Secretary's plan to have tho ay
ecutive committee of the canal COMMISSION.
Chairman Shonts, Gov. Magoon and Chief
Engineer Wallace. sail for the isthmus on
the 18th instant.
They will be followed by the remaining
members of the commission July l. and the
entire body will make a thorough examina-
ton of conditions on the isthmus with mar
ticular reference TO the formation of plans
for the conduct of the work of canal con-
structlon. In that connection will be
treated the important question of tide level
or lock canal. These plans will be sub
mitted through Secretary Taft to the board
of consulting engineers, which will be
called in session for the first time in
Washington September l or 10 next Sec
will be sufficient to enable the board to
form final plans upon which can be based
a presidential recommendation to Congress
at the next session.
Col. Gorgas' Estimates Approved.
The isthmian canal commission, at re-
cent meeting in this city, approved the
estimates submitted by Col. w. c. Gorgas
Medical Corps, United States army chief
sanitary officer on the isthmus, and which
We're favorably recommended by Commits
soner Magoon, in charge of government
and sanitation.
These estimates provided for the allot-
mo of ba
ming July l. 1905 for the payment of sal
aries and wages in the health department.
including professional employees and skilled
and unskilled labor, which is a net increase
of $3.50, 40 over the allotments for the pre-
ceding year, which increase is based upon
the proposition that the forces of the COM
mission will be largely augmented by July l.
This allotment for the coming fiscal year
does not include the cost of construction
of necessary buildings and hospitals or for
the purchase of medical supplies and other
necessary equipments, but is merely for the
payment of the professional corps and the
large number of laborerS engaged in work
looking to the sanitation of the isthmus.
Increased Salaries Authorized.
AS the expansion of force adds increase
of duty and responsibility to the heads of
the several offices and institutions included
within the department of health, the COM
mission authorized approximately a Is per
cent increase IN the OF the heaQS
of the departments and fixed them as fol-
lows:
Chief sanitary officer, $4,000; director of
hospitals, $S,O00 chief quarantine officer,
81, 900; superintendent of Ancon hospital,
81 900; superintendent of Colon hospital
So 600; health officer of the Panama health
office, $780, health officer of the Colon
health office, 5000; resident physicians of
hospitals along the line of the
canal. $1,000; chief sanitary inspector,
So, 600
The commission also authorized the i'm
mediate erection of an additional hospital
building in Colon at the estimated cost of
$40, 600.