Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-27
SH0NTS DRAWS
TWO SALARIES.
Gets $4,000 from the Glover
Leaf and $4,000 from
The Government.
TESTIFIES OF CANAL MATTERS
Engineer Wallace VIII Appear Before
Committee and Give His
Story.

washington, JIM 90 hHt Nv
draws $4,000 annually from the Glover
Leaf route is an admission today by
Theodore p. Shonts, chairman of the
isthmian canal commission. which may
have an important bearing on the canal
investigation. Mr.. Shonts was called
by the senate interoceanic canal COM
mittee today to make general state
ment OF all matters over which he ex-
ercises control He said that he had
been president of the Glover Leaf route.
He admitted that he still receives VIZ
600 year. and continues to hold the
title OF president. He said that he did
not give any time TO the management
of the road, but that reports are sent to
him and frequently officials of the road
come to Washington TO consult him.
After getting into the record the fact
that Mr.. Shonts receives 100000 year
from the United States, the chairman
of the committee was allowed to pro-
coed. II was stated by members OF
the committee, however, that when they
take up the question of reviewing sal
aries, Mr.. Shonts' case Will be met.
Mr.. Shonts admitted that the COM
mission had paid for the importation
OF women into the canal zone, the Voc
men being the families Of laborers from
Martinique. and that there liz no way
for the government to recover its
money.
Mr.. Shonts expressed the opinion
that the canal commission should feed
its laborers, but said that several old
er men in the isthmlan service believed
IN the contract system
At the afternoon session Mr.. Shonts
testified that of the 2lO0 houses left
by the French about 1000 were now I'm
good condition. The hotels have been
enlarged and new HOUSES and hotels
built He agreed with suggestion by
Senator Morgan that II change Is
made by which the canal IL built by
contract. the present hotels and houses
may be sufficient for the needs.
mo matter how the canal is built"
he said. there are two things over
which the United States should al
ways exercise control, the government
OF the zone and the sanitation. And
the governor of the zone should have
his headquarters NJ Ancon. which Is ad
jacent to Panama"
Mr.. Shonts said buildings have been
set aside for churches and Sunday
schools and houses for laborers, and
the food supplies are much better than
are usually provided for such purposes
IN connection with railroad construc-
ton work I'm this country. When
camps are located the surrounding
ground Is drained and the vegetation
cut down. IN order to make conditions
healthful. The water supply Is drawn
from the Rio Grande and IL npound-
ed near Ancon for use on the Panama
side.
In reply to questions by Senator Nor
gan, he said the committee had plans
for six hotels. two Of which are APP
preaching completion. He could not
tell Just how much more acc0mmoda-
tlons would be required until the type
of canal Is settled. Concerning the
division OF expenses In maintaining the
railroad. Mr.. Shonts said that al that
part recded for ordinary railroad bus
mess. exclusive OF canal work. should
be borne by the railroad. and other
work. even the building of wharves.
Should be paid from canal funds.
Senator German said that the general
impression was gained at the time Mr..
Shonts went to the isthmus that he had
criticised Chief Engineer Wallace for
dilatorness. and that he proposed TO
make showing at once. Mr., Shonts
denied that he had made statement at
any time.
Senator German conducted nm ex-
Ittlutu tNtIillndllpl OF lilt NillltHF Ntlt-
corning conditions at the time Mr.,
Stevens took control. He showed that
Mr.. steven. had Increased the payroll
from 5000 TO 10000 men In three months
without doing anything toward digging
the canal. Concerning the expenditure
OF $500 by Mr. Wallace To- estimate the
CO.'S OF removing the dirt from Cuebra,
which had been declared by the pres
ent officials far from what Will be the
real cost Mr.. Shonts said
IF Mr.. Wallace had received no
equipment from the French company
AMI had had to wait for suitable equip-
ment he would have spent the time In
improving sanitation and for the care OF
laborers Then he would have seen
that fair weather estimates for the
moving of dirt would vary from the
cost OF moving Il under other condi-
tions."
Mr.. shonts said he did not believe Mr..
Wal!ace's experiments had delayed
sanitary work
Senator German asked concerning the
demand for the importation OF women.
ard the witness replied that this had
been brought about by the assurance
that better laborers could be obtained
II their families were taken 10 the 18TH
mus. Mr.. Stevens was said 10y Mr..
Shonts to have been responsible for the
importation OF families. but Mr.. Shonts
said he had later approved his action.
II appeared that the canal commits
sion paid 81 q head for the importation
of these women, ana Senator German
asked In what manner II was recov-
cred.
I'VE don't get II back, II Is a gratu-
ity" answered MIR. Shonts.
His attention being called to state
ment that the steamship fare for these
women cost the government nothing,
he said he had Inferred that from YOU
cheers, which showed that only lahorers
had been brought In by the authorities
on the isthmus
II was remarked by Senator German
that the accounting system seemed 10 be
very lax, when a voucher could be
made 10 cover n transaction Of that
kind Mr.. Shonts replied that most OF
these women found employment i'm the
hotels and that In fact they We're la
borers.
II was explained by Mr.. Shonts that
authority had been issued to Mr. Ste
vens TO enter into contracts Of various
descriptions without submitting the
terms to the commission. but that his
acts were subject to review. Later Mr..
Shonts qualified his statement by say
Ing that on all matters Of consequence
outside OF routine, bids for material
needed by Mr.. Stvens We're obtained
by the purchasing department. For
routine purposes II appeared from Mr..
shonts statement there was no limit