New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-27
MR.. SHONTS EXAMINED.
DRAWS OUTSIDE SALARY,
Tells Senate Committee of Canal
York MANAGEMENT.

was called by the Senate Interoceanic Canals Com
mittee to-day 10 make general statement OF all
affairs which he exercises control
Mr.. Shonts asked 70 state his former en-
pioyment He said that he had been president OF
the Clover Leaf Route After giving the mileage or
that road and some other general information ne
said that he still received S-.00O year. and con-
10 hold the title OF president. He said that
he did give any time TO the management OF
the road. but that reports were sent TO him ana
frequently officials Of the road come TO washington
% consult him.
After getting into the record the fact that Mr..
shonts receives $4,000 year from the United
States the chairman OF the commission was al
lowed 70 proceed. II was said by members OF the
committee. however, that when they take NJ the
question OF reviewing salaries Mr.. Shontss case
Will be met. Mr.. Shonts said that the commission
had paid for the Importation Of women OF the
families OF laborers from Martinique and that there
way for the government TO recover It's
money He expressed the opinion that the Canal
Commission should feed its aboTers, but said sew
eral older in the isthmian service believed in
the contract system. Prices for all foodstufs were
high when the present commission took hold Of af-
fairs on the ishmus, said Mr.. shonts, and he then
told Of opening the commissary department TO the
leborers IN order 70 remedy these conditions. He
discussed the Markell contract.
BUILDINGS on THE IsTHMUs.
At the afternoon session Mr. shonts testified that
OF the twenty-one hundred houses left by the
French about a thousand now IN good con-
dition. The hotels had been enlarged and new
houses end hotels built, he said He agreed with
a suggestion by Senator Morgan that II q change
were made by which the canal should be built by
contract the present hotels and houses would be
sufficient for the needs
No matter how the canal is built he said,
there are two things which the United States
should always exercise control-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"
Mr.. Shonts said buildings had been set aside for
churches and Sunday schools. and that the houses
for Iaborers and the food supplies were much bet
ter than those usually provided for such purposes
in connection with railroad construction work in
this country. When camps were laid out the sur
rounding ground drained and the vegetation
cut down IN order 10 make conditions healthful,
Mr.. Shonts said. The water supply Is drawn from
the RIO Grande River and iTnpounded near Ancon
for use On the Panama side Mr. Shonts, in
planning this supply, said that analysis showed
the water was pure.
In reply 10 questions by Senator German Mr..
Shonts said the commission hac plans for six
hotels, two Of which were approaching completion.
He said he could not tell just how much more
accommodations would be needed until the type OF
canal was determined. The appropriations had
been sufficient 20 carry on the work until July l,
and that Ito make dirt fly" about three thousand
five hundred white men and from twenty thousand
10 twenty four thousand coOred all that
could Re accommodated under the present condi-
tions.
tanning the railroad. Mr.. shonts said that all that
part needed for ordinary railway business, exclu-
Five OF canal work, should be borne by the rail-
road and other work even TO the building OF
7vharves. should be paid from canal funds. Senator
German said that the general impression
gained at the time Mr.. ShOnts went to the isthmus
that he had criticised Chief Engineer Wallace for
dIatorness and that he purDesed TO make
showing ct once MI Shonts denied that he had
made such a statement at any time.
Senator German conducted extended eXaU-
nation concerning conditions at the time Mr.. Wal
lace surrendered charge Of the work ard Mr. Ste
vens took control He showed that Mr.. Stevens had
increased the payroll from 5000 TO 1900 men in
three months without doing anything toward dig
ging tie canal Concerning the expenditure Of
S500O50 by M Wallace in forming estimate Of
the cost Of the Cuebra cut which estimate had been
declared by present officials far from what will
be the real cost. Mr. Shouts said: If Mr. Wallace
had received no equipment from ;he French com
pany and had had 10 wait for suitable equipment
he would have spent the time En- improving santa
ton and for the care OF labOreIs. Then he would
have that fair weather estimates for the NOV
ing Of dirt would vary from the cost OF moving 1t
under other conditions"
IMPORTATION OF WOMEN
Later Mr.. shonts said he did not believe Mr..
.Walace's experiments had delayed sanitary work.
no trouble experienced in getting plainly Of
Martinique and jamaican laborers but there had
been difficulty In getting the best class Of labor.
Senator German asked concerning the demand
Tor the importation Of women, and Mr.. Ehonts re-
piled THAI this had been brought about by the as
surance that better Iaborers could be obtained If
their families were taken 10 the isthrnus Mr.
Stevens said 20 have been responsible for the
importation OF families but Mr. Shonts said he had
later approved his action. i appeared that the
Canal Commission paid s. a head for the importa-
ton OF these women, and Senator German asked IN
what manner this money was recovered. We don't
set II back-t is a gratuity.' answered Mr. Shonts
bis attention being called a previous statement
that the steamship fare for these women cost the
government nothing. he said that he had inferred
that from vouchers, which showed that only Ia
borers had been brought IN by the authorities on
The isthrnus Il remarked by Senator German
that The accounting system seemed be lax when
voucher could be made TO cover a transaction Of
that kind. Mr. Shonts replied that most Of these
women found employment in the hotels and board
ing houses and that in fact. they were laborers
II was explained by Mr.. Shonts that authority
had been issued TO Mr.. Stevens 10 enter into con-
tracts Of various descriptions without submitting
the terms 10 the Canal Commission, but that his
acts under this broad instruction were subject 10
review. Later Mr.. Shonts qualified his statement
BY saying that all matters outside Of rotrrina
bids for material needed by Mr.. Stevens vera oh
tanned by the purchasing department. For routine
purchases IL appeared from Mr. Shonts's state
lnent that there limit concerning the amount
OF the contract. Mr. Shonts said that after tt
bids were scheduled and brought 10 him he ap-
proved the transactions without submitting them
10 the other members Of the commission He said
he received authority 10 do this from President
Roosevelts order OF April 3. 1895. Senator German
asked II the executive committee had daily sessions
There are only two members now said Mr.
Ehonts. Governor Magooa, who is on the isthrus
and myself There has been 10 third member
since the resignation OF Mr. Wallace"
Have you called the attention Of the President
10 ne vacancy asked Senator German.
signed was The response which caused merri-
Il stlpnose Won are e-,7,a e.a4 s-.-,,.,,., ,