Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-27
|SHONTS|SQUEST|ONED.
Chairman of the Canal Commits
sion Examined.
PAID BY RAILWAY COMPANY
Says He Gives No Time to It's Man
agement.
THE IMPORTATION OF WOMEN
Inquiry Into the Status Of William
N. Cromwell-Arrival Of Ex-
Chief Engineer Wallace.
HE IMPORTATION OF WOMEN

mat ne draws $lZ,Ou0 annually from the
Clover Leaf route was announced by Theo-
dore p. Shonts, chairman Of the isthmian
canal commission, yesterday to the Senate
interoceanic canal committee. He does not
give any time to the management OF the
road, but reports are sent to him, and fire.
quently officials of the road come to Wash
ington to consult him.
After getting into the record the fact that
Mr.. Shonts receives $4,000 year from the
United States, the chairman of the COM
mission was allowed to proceed. 1t was
stated by members of the committee, how
ever. that when they take up the question
of reviewing salaries Mr. Shonts' case will
be met.
Shelter for Employees.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Shonts tes-
tilted concerning the repair OF houses to
shelter employees. OF the 2, 100, houses left
by the French about / 600 now in good
condition The hotels have been enlarged
and new houses and hotels built said the
witness. He agreed with suggestion by
Senator Morgan that If change is made
by which the canal is built by contract
the present hotel and houses may be SUI
ficent for the needs.
mo matter how the canal is built he
said, there are two things over which the
United States should always exercise con-
troll, the government of the zone and the
sanitation. And the governor of the zone
should have his headquarters at Ancon,
which Is adjacent to Panama
In reply to questions by Senator German.
Mr. Shonts said the commission had plans
for six hotels, two of which are approach
ing completion.
He said that Ito make the dirt fly about
g. 500 white men and from 10000 to "a, 900
colored men are all that could be accom-
modated under the present conditions. He
believed that number of men was about
all that could be used at one time.
Senator German remarked that the gem
eral impression was gained, at the time
Mr. Shonts went to the isthmus. that he
had criticised Chief Engineer Wallace for
dilatoriness and that he proposed to make
a showing at once. Mr.. Shonts denied that
he had made a statement at any time.
Senator German conducted an extended
examination Of the witness concerning
conditions at the time Mr.. Wallace sur
rendered charge of the work and Mr..
Stevens took control. He showed that Mr..
Stevens had increased the payroll from
5000 to 5000 men in three months with
out doing anything toward digging the
canal.
Importation of Women.
Senator German asked concerning the
demand for the importation of women, and
the witness replied that this had been
brought about by the assurance that better
laborers could be obtained If their families
were taken 10 the istnmus. Mr.. Stevens
was said by Mr.. Shonrs to have been re-
sponsible for the importation Of families,
but Mr.. Shonts said he had later approved
his action. 1t appeared that the canal COM
mission paid 81 head for the importation
of these women. and Senator German
asked in what manner this money was re-
covered.
1--WE don't get It back, It is a gratuity,"
answered Mr. Shonts.
His attention being called to previous
r.%@& %tn hnA fhn cite
ship fare for these women cost the govern
men nothing he said that he had inferred
that from vouchers which showed that
only laborers had been brought in by the
authorities on the isthmus, 1t was re-
marked by Senator German that the ac-
counting system seemed to be lax when q
ton Of that kind. Mr. Shonts justified the
course by saying that most Of these women
found employment in the hotels and board
ing houses, and that, IN fact, they were
laborers.
Status of Mr.. Cromwell.
Senator Morgan kept the members of
the committee amused by an examination
of Mr.. Shonts concerning the position oc-
cupied by William Nelson Cromwell of New
York in the management Of canal affairs.
His name had been mentioned as partici-
pating In the creation Of currency sys-
TEN for Panama and several other busi-
ness ventures which had to do with canal
affairs.
Asked in what way Mr.. Cromwell was In
terested on the isthmus, except as a d.
rector of the railroad, Mr.. Shonts said he
knew of no connection. but that he had
heard that Mr. Cromwell was a small stock
holder in an electric light company on the
isthmus
well, that is the first time I ever heard
of Cromwell being small stakeholder In
anyt hing" commented Senator Morgan. IT
guess you will find that he has as much
stock as any one"
1t developed by further examination that
this electric light company is also engaged
in the manufacture of ice, and that a MEM
der of the company had protested against
the canal commission erecting plant for
the manufacture of it's own Ice.
Just prior to adjournment for the day
Senator German again assumed charge Of
the examination. and questioned Mr.. Shonts
concerning the value of material taken over
from the French company. Mr.. ShOntS said
that this material is very near worthless.
and II has been problem What to do with
II. He will continue on this subject on
Tuesday, to which time the inquiry was
adjourned.
Ex-Chief Engineer Wallace Here.
John F. Wallace, the former chief en-
gineer of the Panama canal, arrived here
yesterday, and spent the day in conference
with former Attorney General Wayne Mac
Veagh, whom, 1t is understood, Mr.. Wal
lace has retained as .COunSel ana dUVlSOr IN
hearing next Thursday before the Senate
committee on interoceanic canals Mr..
Wallace stated that his attitude toward the
canal and toward the administration is
friendly, and in this connection referred to
assistance he rendered to the board of con-
sulting engineers, which has just completed
its report recommending plans under which
the canal should be constructed. Mr.. Wal
lace added that he would be prepared to
discuss with the committee fully and frank
ly all matters connected with operations
during the year he was in charge of the
isthmus and to give his views In regard to
plans, methods of administration and con-
duct of work, his relations to that work
and the reasons which prompted his resg-
nation.
Though Mr. Wallace has refused to be
interviewed. except IN his formal reply to
Secretary Taft's statement last June. he
stated that Secretary Tafts quotation of
his fMr. Wallaces) views favoring the con-
tract system to expedite the construction
of the canal was correct, and expressed the
opinion that If this system is adopted there
Is no reason why the work cannot be SUI
pervised by the regular engineering estab-
hshment of the army.