The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-04
HOW ROOSEVELT
RIDES THE LAW
He Appoints Seven On
Canal Commission.
BUTLO! FOUR CYPHERS
The Powers of the Commission Are
Practically Vested in Three Men.
That Was RooseveIt's Idea,
and You See He Carries
1t Out.
(By the Associated Press.)

by the ASSOCldl6u GTeSS,J
Washington, April 3.-The Presi-
dent has carried out his plans for the
organization of the Isthmian Canal
Commission as to personnel and busi-
ness methods, generally on the line of
the legislation he suggested to Con-
gress at the last session, which failed
in the crush of business in the closing
hours. Today, within half an hour
after the Presidents departure from
Washington, Secretary Taft, directly
in charge of canal matters, made pub
lie the personnel of the new commits
sion and the division of duties among
them. Only one member of the old
commission was re-appointed, Benja-
min M. Harrod. Otherwise the COM
mission is new from top to bottom, for
there is a top and bottom and con-
siderable difference between the func-
tions and pay of the commissioners.
Finding he was obliged to appoint
seven commissioners, the President
did so, but he carried out his own
plan by making three of them practi-
Acally the commission. The other four
though bearing the title of commits
sioners, not only receive much lower
compensation, but are assigned much
smaller fields of activity. The Presi-
dent also has carried out his scheme
of dividing up the work of canal
building among the commissioners, so
that, nominally acting as a body in
stated decisions each individual MEM
ber would operate in a special field.
The head of the commission is
trained railway man chosen for his
administrative abilities in the finan-
cial and purchasing field, the new
governor of the zone is a lawyer who
also has had to do with state affairs;
the engineer commissioner already is
known for his abilities in the execu-
tion of the practical work of canal
cutting. The other members of the
commission are placed to comply with
the law as to the number of the COM
mission, but are men of high ability
as hydraulic engineers. Secretary
Taft told them today that they were
expected to show results, and that is
said to be the keynote for the Presi-
dents action of today.
The personnel of the new isthmian
commission is as follows:
Theodore 2. Shonts, chairman;
Charles E. Magoon, governor of canal
zone John F. Wallace, chief engineer;
Rear Admiral M. T. Endicott, U. S. N;
Brigadier General Peter C. Hams, T.
S. A., retired; Colonel Oswald NJ
Ernest corps of engineers, U. 5. A;
Benjamin NJ. Harrod.
Statement by Taft.
Secretary Taft gave out for publica-
tion a statement showing the allot-
ments of salaries to the new commits
sioners and his own letter to the Presi-
dent, and one from the latter explain
ing the plan of reorganization of the
commission the reasons therefor and
the particular duties to be assigned to
each commissioner.
The first reads as follows:
'The President has made an order
allowing a salary of $500, with trav-
cling expenses to each member of the
commission, and each man Of the
commission the additional compensa-
ton of $2,500 to the chief engineer
the additional compensation of $17,-
500 and to the governor of the zone
the additional compensation of $4,000
''The head of each department is
allowed the use of a furnished house
upon the isthmus, and his travelling eX-
penses when travelling on the business
of the commission.
"The total is $102,50 The salaries
and allowances under the former COM
mission amounted to $120,OOO. The
total compensation of the governor
of the zone and the chief engineer are
in effect unchanged.
Prof. William II. Burr and William
Barclay Parsons, civil engineers will
be appointed as members of the con-
quilting board of engineers
Secretary Tafts letters makes q
number of recommendation as to the
reorganization of the commission, all
of which are embodied and set forth
in the Presidents order. Particular
attention is paid to the question of
an advisory board of engineers to de-
termine the matter of a sea level ca
nal and to the delegation by the COM
mission itself to most of its work to an
executive committee.
Duties of the Commission.
The Presidents reply, which en-
bodies the action of the executive
provides that the commission shall
hold quarterly session on the Isthmus
of Panama; and that,
"The commission, under the super
vision and direction of the Secretary
of War and subject to the approval of
the President is charged with the gen.
eral duty of the adoption of plans foi
the construction and maintainance of
the canal and with the execution of
the work of the same, with the pur-
chase and delivery of supplies, ma
chinery and necessary plant; the en-
ployment of the necessary officers, enn-
ployes and laborers and with the fix
ing of their salaries and wages; with
the commercial operation of the Pam
anna Railroad Company and its steam
ship lines as common carriers; with
the utilization of the railroad as a