The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-04

of informing the President, the Secre- tary of War and the Congress of the amount of work done, the cost of the same, the amount of mopey available, the amount of money expended and the general financial condition of the en- terprise.
 There will hereafter be appointed by the President nine civil engineers of the highest standing, having experi- ence in work of canal construction and hydraulics to constitute a board of consulting engineers. to which will be submitted by the Isthmian Canal Com mission for its consideration and ad- vice the Important engineering ques- tions arising in the selection of the best plan for the construction of the canal. The recommendation of the board of consulting engineers shall be considered by the Isthmian Canal Com mission and with the recommendation of the committee shall be finally sub mitted through the Secretary of War to the President for his decision. Making Reports.
 'The executive officer of the com mission shall make duplicate reports upon the works and upon their respec- tive departments to the Secretary of War and the Isthmian Canal Commis- sion from time to time and as often as may be required by the Secretary of War or the chairman of the commits sion. The Secretary of War win make to the President a report at least an- nually and as often as he may deem advisable or the President may require.
 "All executive orders relating to the subject of the Panama Canal. except so far as this may be inconsistent with the present order remain in force" The order closes with the announce ment of the appointment of the new commission. The appointment of Judge Magoon as Governor of the Ca- nal zone shall take effect upon the date of his arrival on the Isthmus and the resignation of the present incum- bent of said office shall thereupon take effect.
 The commissions of Messrs. shonts. Magoon, Endicott, Haines and Harrod were delivered to them today and they took the oath of office as the Isthmian Canal Commissioners.
 Commissioners Consult. After their induction into office and their consultation with Secretary Taft, the commissioners met in the office of Governor Magoon and had a brief talk over the reorganization plans. but necessarily this was of a preliminary nature. because most of the new com missioners were unfamiliar by person. al experience with the mechanism which the old commission had created. It is said that there Is no disposition to make sudden change in 1t, though in the end a more or less complete re- organization is expected. Under the Presidents orders, the actual head quarters of the commission will be in Panama and there probably will be a partial transfer Of employees from Washington to that place, leaving here only a sufficient force to carry on the work of the administrative branch and to keep the duplicate accounts. Chair man Shonts, with Governor Magoon and Engineer Wallace, will spend most of his time in the zone, but as the administrative offices are directly in Mir. Shonts charge, ne will be in Washington more or less. The pur- chasing agent of the commission prob ably will establish himself in New York.
 Rear Admiral Endicott and Colonel Ernest at present are busy with im- portant duties in connection with the navy and army. The admiral Is chief of the naval bureau of yards and docks, and Colonel Ernest is not only in charge of important river and har- bor works in the neighborhood of Chi cago, but Is president of the Mississippi River Commission and a member of the International Deep Waterway Commisson which is to meet during the summer at Toronto
 Continuous Presence Unnecessary.
 Their continuous presence at the Isthmus is not necessary and 1t prob- ably will be sufficient if they are there only long enough to attend the regular quarterly meetings at Pana- ma. Tnis will enable Admiral Endi- colt to meet the Presidents wish and continue at the head of the bureau of yards and docks, though 1t may be necessary to detail another naval offi- cer to the bureau to act as chief in the absence of Admiral Endicott in connection with the canal work.
 Colonel Ernest will be relieved of the river and harbor work in the charge of division by Lieutenant Col onel William H. BiXby, corps of en- gineers, now on sick leave of absence at Detroit. Colonel Ernest has been detached by telegraphic orders from duty at Chicago and will repair to Washington at once to meet his fel- low commissioners. Engineer Wal lace. who Is now on his way from Panama also will be here by Wednes- day or Thursday.
 Colonel Ernest will continue to act as president of the Mississippi River Commission and member of the Inter- national Deep Waterway Commission.
 Governor Magoon will be required to reside permanently on the Isthmus and has resigned his present position as law officer of the Bureau of Jnsular Affairs It Is the present intention to refrain from filling the vacancy thus created.
 Later in the day the new body met at the offices of the commission and perefected its organization. The first action taken was the appointment of an executive commission. composed of Chairman Shonts, Governor Magoon and Chief Egineer Wallace. All pend- ing business coming over from the old commission was disposed of. Be- fore going to Panama the commission will hold daily sessions in this city.
 The question of the disposition of the minor officials and the clerical force was left open.