The Washington times., 1905-04-02
SHONTS WILL MOVE
HEADQUARTERS FOR
CANAL TO PANAMA
New Chairman VIII
Spend Much Time
There.
WOULD BE ON THE SPOT
Too Soon for Him to Out
line His Plans for
Work.
WOULD BE ON THE SPOT

Panama and not Washington will be
me headquarters of the new Isthmian
Canal Commission
Theodore P. Shonts announced the
plans Of the commission in this regard
to reporter for The Times last night
Mr.. Shonts, who is q Chicago railroad
man of the bright, energetic and breezy
type, was yesterday formally appointed
by the President as the head of the
newly organized commission
While on a cruise In Cuban waters
with Secretary OF the Navy Morton Mr..
Shonts received q cablegram from the
President offering him the position He
old not have a chance to answer as the
vessel put to sea from Guantanamo be-
fere the message had been deciphered.
Came to Washington.
Therefore Mr.. Shonts waited until he
got TO Washington before he gave his
consent
That Mr. Shonts is the type of man
who will hustle work on the canal
is indicated by his manner and by his
past achievements.
THE reason why I will recommend
that the headquarters be removed tes
Panama" said Mr.. Shonts last night.
is because Panama is the scene Of
action. / believe in trapsacting busi-
ness on the spot =
I expect tot devote myself TO the
work of the commission and to be on
Il expect to devote myself to the
time. To keep things hustling it seems
to me best that the commission should
have its headquarters where IT can
keep in closest touch with what is go
ing on.
.SOf course there will be Offices for the
keeping of duplicate records in Wash
ington, bnt the main plant itself viii be
on the isthrrus.s'1s-@5 sz
Too Soon to Talk.
Asked to further elaborate his plans
for carrying on the work in Panama
which President Roosevelt intends shall
be pushed by new men as it has not
been pushed before, Mr. Shonts said:
1T is scarcely possible for me to OUT
line my plans in this regard yet The
whole matter has in fact been SO rather
sudden that 1 have not had time TO
study out its details.
I must first return TO Chicago and
settle up my interests and then I shall
be prepared to plunge into the work
with vim Just now cannot talk about
tl-ase plans -
Mr.. Shonts, in addition to his confer
ences yesterday with the President, con-
suited with William Nelson Cromwell
and Col Clarence r. Edwards. chief of
the Bureau of Insular Affairs, both of
whom have heen mentioned as nossible
selections for the new commission.
Good Compensation.
1t is understood that the President
viii fix the salary of Mr.. Shonts at a
large figure, to compensate him as far
as possible for the financial sacrifice he
is making in leaving his railroad posi-
ton
Mr. Shonts is at present president Of
the Toledo, ST. Louis, and Western rail-
road. otherwise known as the Clover
Leaf He is a brother-in-law of John
Drake. partner of John ". Gates
Mr.. Shonts has been practical rail-
road man all of his life. He has been
successfully general superintendent,
general manager, and president OF the
Toledo. St Louis. and Western railroad.
AS superintendent OF construction, Mr..
Shonts showed great practical bent and
successfully undertook much difficult en-
gineering work. It is principally his
executive ability, however, which won
him the recognition of the President as
a desirable choice for the president Of
the commission His powers of organt-
zation are notable.
Friend Of Secretary Morton.
MIR. Shonts is an intimate friend Of
Secretary Morton. They knew each
other in Chicago
The new chairman of the commission
is also boyhood friend. of John Find
ley Wallace the chief engineer in charge
or construction work They are on the
most cordial terms.
The President will formally announce
the new members of the Isthmian Canal
Commission tomorrow. 1t is understood
that w &. Parsons and William H. Barr
viii be retained.