Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-04
CANAL BOARD
IS COMPLETE
SECRETARY TAFT ANNOUNCES
ENTIRE PERSONNEL OF NEW
COMMISSION.
EXPENSES RESMALLER

S0iosiSo anu Nl0WdHSSS IoT lV0 NSW
Board VIII Be $1o2,5oo, AS Com
pared with $12o,ooo for the Old
Commission.
Washington, D. c., April 3.-Secre-
tary Taft today announced the person
mel of the new Isthmian canal commits
sion as follows: Theodore P. Shonts,
chairman; Charles e. Magoon, govern
or of the canal zone; John F. Wallace,
chief engineer; Rear Admiral M. T.
Endicott, Brigadier General Peter G.
Hams, Col Oswald M. Ernest, and
Benjamin H. Harrod
Expenses Cut Down.
Each commissioner will be allowed
salary Of $500 per year. The chair
man receives an additional compensa-
ton Of $22,50O, the chief engineer $17,-
500, and the governor $4,000. The
head of each department is to be al
lowed the use Of furnished house
upon the isthmus and travelling ex-
penses when travelling on business of
the commission. The total is $102,500.
The salaries and allowances under the
former commission amounted to $780,
900. The total compensation Of the
governor and chief engineer are in
effect unchanged.
Prof. VIM. III. Burr and William Bar
clay Parsons, civil engineers, will be
appointed as members of the consult
ing board of engineers.
Reasons for Change.
In connection with the above an
nouncement Secretary Taft gave out
his letter to the President and one
from the latter explaining the plan of
the reorganization of the commission,
the reasons therefore and the particu-
lar duties assigned to each commits
sioner. The headquarters Of the com
mission are transferred froIn Wash
ington to Panama
The commission will hold quarterly
6 sessions on the first of January, April,
July and October of each year and is
under the general supervision and di-
rection of the secretary of war and
subject to the approval of the Presi-
dent. In his letter the President says:
President Was Dissatisfied.
"The practical result of the opera
lions of the Isthmian canal commits
sspn acting under previous executive
orders have not been satisfactory and
requires change in the personnel of
the commission and thea instructions
for its guidance.
shonts Begins Work Today.
Mr.. Shonts found it necessary to re-
main in Washington Sunday in order
to consult Secretary Taft in relation to
the order which the President will is
sue in respect to the duties of the COM
mission. He went this morning to the
Offices of the canal commission and
formally relieved Rear Admiral
Walker of the direction of the canal
construction.
1t developed Sunday that besides
giving Mr.. Shonts general charge of
the work the President decided to give
him the full responsibility for the
financial end of the great enterprise.
No restriction what ever is to be
placed upon him in regard to expendi-
lures. Mr.. Shonts proposes to exer-
else this power in the best way calcu-
lated to safeguard the interests of the
country. 1t is his purpose to place all
the contracts in the United States and
give every section of the country an
opportunity to furnish material This
will be accomplished by requiring de-
liveries at the different American ports
which are in steahship connection
with the isthmus. &
Panama Minister'S Plan.
The construction of the Panama ca
nal in four years is the main feature
of plan proposed to President Roose
velt by Mr.. Buneau-Varilla, the first
minister of the republic of Panama tc
the United States.
The President received a lengthy
description of the plan from well
known French engineer Sunday and
Immediately referred it to Mr.. Shonts
chairman of the isthmian canal com
mission. Mr.. Buneal-Varilla also has
been in consultation with Messrs
Burr and Parsons who will be con
nected with the commission.
Urges Use Of the Lock System.
The judgment of these officials is
not yet made up. All that can be
learned about the plan is that it is
based upon the multiple lock system
and In a general way it may be SAID
that none of the directing heads
knows the commission is in favor o
uiiJ sASn pie1n- IL WOulu require the
elevation OF vessels from one lock tc
another increasing the time they
would have to stay in the canal, ant
1t is believed, would be source o1
constant anxiety.
In any event, it would not be the
best system, which is the aim of the
commission. Before action is taker
upon Buneau-Varilla's proposal, it vii
be passed upon by Mr. Wallace, en-
gineer OF the commission, who will be
in Washington this week.
Experts Favor Sea Level.
The views of Burr and Parsons re
Gently were expressed in their report
on the engineering question involved