The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1905-06-20
SHONTS MAY QUIT
THE CANAL WORK

Washington, June 2o-Paul Nor
tons retirement from the cabinet on
July 1 will end an interesting chapter
in the history Of President Roose-
velt's administration, and Immediately
there will be another chapter which
promises to be of sensational sort.
Some people say-and with apparent
good reason-that the president is dis
appointed with Morton; that the direct
railroad has caused split in the cab
met; that the charges are to be follow
ed up and vigorously prosecuted.
Paul Morton is a bright business
man, a good fellow, and a personal
friend Of the president
He was induced to become secretary
Of the navy largely through the per-
sonal solicitation Of the president. At
the time he entered the cabinet the
railroad rate question had not assumed
the proportions which it took on a few
months later.
And when the charges against the
Santa Fe system, of which Paul Nor
ton had been vice president, were made
and proof offered that that company
had given rebates to certain big ship
pers, Paul Morton frankly admitted it,
but qualified the admission by saying
that there was no law at the time to
prevent granting rebates.
However that may be, Mr.. Morton
from the first has been against the ad-
ministration's policy in dealing with
railroads. A practical and successful
railroad man himself, he threw all of
his influence against the proposed fed
eral supervision Of making and main
tanning rates, and does not think that
any law which will give the interstate
commerce commission power and au-
thority to establish rates will stand the
gamut Of the supreme court OF the
United States
There have been, it is said, some
very warm arguments on this question
between the president and Mr.. Nor
ton.
Secretary Taft sided with the presi-
dent. and lost no opportunity Of Civ
ing it out cold that there would be a
new railroad rate making bill passed if
the administration could have it's way.
When Taft was "holding down the lid
last April and spoke before the interna-
tional railway convention, he served
notice on the railroads that the presi-
dent would press for a rate bill next
session.
This speech was delivered at ban
quet where the elite of the railroad
people of the earth were gathered at
the board. .
!. Paul Morton and Attorney General
Moody did not like Taft's speech. They
thought that it was out Of place, to say
the least. They took the position that
Taft, as the guest of the convention
should have refrained from talking
shop" & s~,&a ,&Aa ,. .....'
" But the doughty secretary OF war
who talked shop" was honored by an
immediate reply from Stuyversant
Fish, who presided at the banquet.
81 Dating from that event, there has
been q coldness between Taft and Nor
ton. Soon after the Taft speech, Nor
ton announced that he would retire
from the cabinet Last March, soon
after the Inauguration, it; was an
nounced that he would remain at the
head OF the navy department for at
least another year. ~ ~.
And now, according to the close
friends of Mr.. Morton, he is going in
to oppose the railroad rate legislation
proposed by the president. ...
Paul Morton's retirement may have
to do with the future OF
the Panama canal commission. 1t was
on the Recommendation of Morton that
Theodore p. Shonts was appointed to
head the commission. Morton and
Shonts were jointly interested in the
Clover Leaf line in Toledo. They
sold it to the Wabash, and cleared a
fortune apiece. Afterward they con-
trolled the Three Is" the Illinois, In
diana & Iowa belt line around Chi
eago.
Theodore P. Shonts thirty years ago
was a barefooted boy at Centeryille.
la. When quite young he married a
daughter OF Gen Francis Marion
Drake, who later became governor Of
Iowa 1T was General Drake who
started Shorts in the railroad business.
and he and J. Sterling Morton, father
of Paul Morton. were identified in sew
eral railroad properties.
When President Roosevelt decided
to make change in the personnel of
the Panama canal commission, Paul
Morton warmly recommended his
friend Shonts for the head of the COM
mission, and the president named him.
Since Morton is to retire, and since
there are SO many new troubles piling
up before the commission. there are in
timations that Mr.. Shonts' present POI
sition may not continue. lin fact, ii
lis limited today that he has been Of
fered the superintendency Of the sub.
way lines in New York, which was ten
dered to Paul Morton before lie en-
tered into ali agreement with tho
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