The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-09


Seyer His Connection With the
Clover Leaf Road if This Was De-
= manded of Him-He Would Not
Consent to Take His Family to tn
Isthmus-A Free Hand Promised
by the President i'm Carrying Out His
Policies.
Washington, D. c., March CHAR
q Theodore 2. Shonts, of the 18th
miEn canal commission, under exami-
nation all day by the senate canal
committee, answered questions, teeh-
nical and personal, concerning the
plans for the construction of the great
waterway, and his relations to the or
g~anzation. Incidentally, he left the in
ference that he would gladly sever his
connection with the Clover Leal route
if this was demanded of him, but that
he would not lake his family to the
isthmus. He gave former Chief Eng
neer Wallace a good record, and said
that he was entitled to considerations
in the matter Of taking his family to
the isthmus. Mr.. Shonts touched upon
nearly every subject IN which other
witnesses we're examined, and closed
by urging congress to take action i'm
mediately on the type of canal to be
constructed. He said that economical
procedure on the part OF the canal
commission demanded such action
Mr.. Taliaferro asked Mr.. Shonts for
names of employees, and their former
railroad connections. The witness men
toned himself as connected with the
Clover Leaf route, Purchasing Agent
Ross, the Illinois Central, Auditor Ben
son, the Southern Pacific, and Chief
Engineer Stevens, the Chicago Rock
Island and Pacific.
DO you intend to continue your
connection as president OF the Clover
Leaf?'' asked Mr.. Taliaferro.
That depends" replied the wit
ness.
On what?"
Well" said the witness, the presi-
Dent spoke to me about that and l told
him that on account of my large hold
ings ! did not want to give up the
presidency. l talked with President
Roosevelt more frankly THAI ! am talk
ing with you. ! did not want to en-
barrass him. He said he thought there
would be no objection to my holding
the place if ] served without salary,
that is, if l was merely the nominal
president"
Then you do not know what your
intentions are?" asked Mr.. Taliaferro,
The president will tell me what he
wants me t do. ! suppose" replied
Mr.. Shonts.
In to a number of questions.
Mr.. Shonts said that he was now nego-
tiating to get rid of his interests in
the Clover Leaf, but that he did not
know how i would terminate. Mr..
Taliaferro attempted to show that all
of the officials named had had init
mate relations with trans-continental
lines. Mr.. Shonts said that the Glover
Leaf was not in any way associated
with trans-continental lines, but h a
the other roads mentioned might be
regarded as related to trans-contiaen-
tails, although they would not be SO
called in railroad parlance."
Senator Morgan took up the sub
ject of MI. Shonts' conversation with
President Roosevelt concerning his
services with the Glover Leaf route.
IF the president asked you to re-
sign the presidency of the Glover Leaf
and sell your holdings, would you feel
free TO resign your commissionership?"
asked Mr.. Morgan.
Il never had it presented that way
said the witness. LAS long as the
president wants me to stay, n his
agreements with me are carried out,
I think ! should remain in the 10
ploy of the government
He explained that by agreements
he meant that the president had prom
ised him a free hand in carrying out
his policies, and his sympathy and
supper in administration matters con-
nected with canal matters. Mr.. Morgan
asked the witness what he should do
if the president told him he must love
to the fsthmus and live there, and to
take the members Of his family there
and compel them to live there.
Il don't know replied MIR. Shonts.
"A man must be just to his family"
Ought not Mr.. Wallace to have the
same consideration" asked Mr.. Nor
gan.
Mr.. Shonts said he thought Mr.. Wal
lace had the same right TO eonsldera.
ton and called attention to the fact
that he never had criticized WallAees
action.
Morgan demanded of Mr.. Shonts a
a statement as to what his course
would be if the president insisted that
he should take his family to the 18TH
mus, and the witness said he could
not afford to do so, for the reason that
the future prospects Of his children
would be impaired.