New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-28
No MORE CANAL FRICTION.
DIFFERENCES SETTLED.
Secretary Taft and Chairman Shor'ts
Both Feel Deep Responsibility.


Washington, Oct. 27.-Frcton between the
Secretary of War and the chairman Of the
Panama Canal Commission has existed practi-
cally ever since the former returned from the
Philippines but official assurance is now given
that all differences have been adjusted and that
everything BIDS fair for perfect harmony in the
future. Friends of both officials and we'll wish
ers OF the canal would have preferred that no
record Of these differences should have found
its way into print. but certain developments.
inexplicable except upon the hypothesis that
friction existed have become known. and 1t is
with the purpose of preventing the public from
being misled by exaggerated and garbled re-
ports Of what has fortunately proved only a
furry that the facts here given.
The deep sense of responsibility entertained
by both Secretary Taft and Chairman Shonts
has been at the bottom of their differences, both
men approaching that each was entirely sincere.
but each feeling that on him rested the final
responsibility for the conduct of the canal work.
Chairman Shonts has recently declared to his
friends that he had understood he was to have
a free hand" in the conduct of affairs, while
Secretary Taft has declared to the President
that if he was to be held responsible for the
canal work it must be conducted in accordance
with his views
The Secretary went so far as urgently
20 recommend that the entire supervision of the
ment, but this recommendation did not meet
with the approval of either the President or
Secretary Root
Those most familiar with the recent progress
of affairs in the Canal Commission intimate
that certain malevolent influences at work within
the councils of the commission were largely re-
sponsible for such differences of opinion as have
arisen, and it is even intimated that certain
legal advice at least injudicious, played it's
ont
sHoNTs's POSITION DELICATE.
Friends of Chairman Shonts declare that his
position has all along been delicate one They
point to the fact that the only other member of
the executive committee OF the commission is
Governor Magoon, who is not only the subordf-
nate but the clos. personal friend of Secretary
Taft that the position the commission oc-
cupied by Chief Engineer Wallace has never
been filed and that the next ranking official as
sociated with the commission is Colonel Clar-
ence R Edwards, who is also a close friend Of
Mr. Taft and army officer as we'll. Mr.
shonts has therefore, it is asserted felt himself
somewhat an outsider, despite the fact that he
was chairman of the commission.
There is no denying the fact that the opinion
is rapidly gaining ground that the canal can
best be constructed by the engineer corps of the
army, acting, of course under the supervision
of the Secretary of War. and it is not unlikely
that this feeling has contributed to some extent
70 the discontinue of Chairman Shonts, whose
friends point to the fact that only tonight Sec
1etarv Taft started for the isthmus accompanied
bv a number of army officers. including Colonel
Edwards but unaccompanied by a single civil
ian The fact is that Secretary Taft is go
ing to the isthmus at the Presidents request to
investigate and report on plans for the fortifca-
ton of the canal zone. and that the personnel
Of his Marty which includes number of officers
on the Board of Fortifcations. was arranged
with that special end in view Nevertheless
those who are disposed to be jealous of the army
.nauence regard the expedition with concern.
WANTED APPROPRIATION FIRST.
It was hoped that all knowledge of friction in
the supervision of the canal affairs might be |
confined TO officers of the administration at
least until after Congress should have appro-
nriatad funds for the further conduct of the |
work as 1t is important that there shall occur |
no prolonged discussion of canal legislation in |
the national legislature but the injudicious con-
duct of certain officials and the peculiari-y OF
certain occurrences rendered that hope futile
rbat OH friction has now been dispelled and |
that the entire affair little more than a |
teronest In a teapot is emphatically asserted |
by those intimately connected with the commits |
efo, Nevertheless there are those who claim |
10 sneak with authority. who maintain that Mr.
shonts,s tenure of office is limited and that he
win resign from the commission within six
months.
The expert engineers who recently visited the
ts+h,r,,,s n,aintan that they found abundant evt-
dance oe the clashing of authority, and that 1t
anfesy difficult to discTmaate g rim sacrotapd AND
Of Wa senarate fGorn those Of the chairman
coutin--A seventh paE,. /