River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-11-22
roosevelt REFORMS
. PANAMA CANAL WORK
PRESIDENT PLACES WORK ON
isTHMIAN ZONE UNDER d.
REcTloN OF SHoNTs.
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR
is DONE AWAY With
Runner of Changes in Waterway Com
mission-chief Executive Sails for
Porto Rico After Expressing Pleas
ure at Progress on Ditch.

Washington. Nov. 20-An order
signed on the isthmus of Panama by
President Roosevelt making radical
changes in the organization OF affairs
of government for the canal zone was
made public Monday at the offices OF
the commission. The effect of the
order is to place the canal work and
the government of the zone under the
direction of Chairman Shonts, aided
by chiefs of bureaus who will report
directly to the commission, thus elim1
mating the office of governor.
Supreme Rule For Shonts.
The order gives to Chairman Shonts
supreme authority over all depart
ments. 1t reorganizes the entire
workings of the commission in ac-
cOrdance with the presidents views
of controlling the situation under his
plan to press the excavation as rapidly
as possible. The executive committee
of three members. each the head of
department has been abolished, and
in its stead seven departments are
created, and the chief of each will re-
port and receive instructions from
the chairman of the commission.
These departments will be under the
direction of John f. Stevens, chief
engineer; Richard r. Rodgers, gener-
al counsel; William C. Gorgas, chief
sanitary officer; d. w. Ross, chief
purchasing officer; e. S. Benson, gen.
eral auditor; J. William, disbursing
officer, and Jackson Smith, manager of
labor and quarters. The president will
take up the question of the appoint
ment of new commission upon his
return to Washington. 1t is believed
here that in addition. to Mr.. Shonts
Messrs. Stevens, Rodgers and Gorgas
will be members. At present the act
ing commissioners are Messrs. ShOnts,
Stevens, Rear Admiral Endicott, B. M.
Harrod, and Brigadier General Hams.
There are two vacancies. 1t is said
that Endicott, Harrod and Hams are
slated to retire. Chief Engineer
Stevens will be second in authority,
and will act in Chairman Shonts' alb
sence. The general counsel will ex-
ercise the authority heretofore in
vested in the governor of the zone.
President Leaves Panama.
Colon, Nov. 20.-The United States
battleship Louisiana, with President
Roosevelt and party on board, sailed
from this port 9at ten o'clock Sunday
night for Ponce, Porto Rico. The
president was given hearty farewell,
and said that he had enjoyed his trip
to the isthmus thoroughly.
At half-past eight o'clock President
Roosevelt reached pier No. IL, where
there was an enthusiastic gathering of
at least 500 persons, principally canal
employees at Cristobal and other points
along the line Here the presid ent
assembled the band stand and made a
Commute speech. In giving his inn
pressions of the work on the canal,
he said he was pleased swithswhat al
ready had been done, and paid his re-
spects to those who had adversely
criticised the work.
How about Poultney Bigelow?'
came from among the auditors.
With much deliberation the presi-
dent remarked that in every large
work there was always some one to
fine something that was not done as
it should have been; but the en-
ployes should on no account pay at
tention to such criticisms, as the crit
les would sink out of sight while the
work the men were doing and had
done would remain long after all criti-
cism had been forgotten.