Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-01-27
RAILROAD STILL
PAYING SHONT IS
GIVES CANAL COMMISSIONER
$4,000 A YEAR
Admission ls Made In Hearing Before
the Senate Committee by the
President OF Glover Leaf
Company
By Associated Press.

NApIl In GlON, Jam Eo'---I Ildt Ht
draws $4,000 annually from the Glover
Leaf route is an admission made today
by Theodore =. Shonts, chairman of
the Isthmian canal commission. which
may have an important bearing on the
canal investigation. Mr. Shonts was
called by the senate interoceanlc canal
committee today to make n general
statement over all matters over which
he exercises control. He said he had
been president of the Glover Leaf
route and he admitted that he still re-
celyes $4,000 q year and continues to
hold the title Of president. lie said
that he did not give any time to the
management of the road but that re-
ports are sent to him and frequently
officials Of the road come to Washing
ton to consult him.
After getting into the record the fact
that Mr.. Shonts received $50, 600 year
from the United States, the chairman
of the committee was allowed to pro-
ceed 1t was stated by members of the
committee, however, that when they
take up the question of reviewing sal
aries Mr.. Shont's case will be met. Mr..
Shonts admitted that the commission
had paid for the importation of wo-
being the families of laborers from
Martinique, and that there is 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 men
older in the isthman service believed
in the contract system.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Shonts
testified that of the 2100 houses left by
the French about 1000 were not in good
condition. The hotels have been en-
larged and new houses built. He agreed
with suggestion by Senator Morgan
that if a change is made by which the
canal is built by contract, the present
hotels and houses may be sufficient.
Government and Sanitation
mo matter how the canal is built"
he said, there are two things over
which the United States should always
have control, the government of the
zone and the sanitation And the gov
ernor OF the zone should have his
headquarters at Ancon, which is adj
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 in this country. When
camps are located the surrounding
ground is drained and the vegetation
cut down in order to make conditions
beautiful. The water supply is drawn
from the Rio Grande and impounded
near Ancon for use on the Panama
side.
In reply to questions by Senator
Morgan he said the committee had
plans for six hotels, two of which are
~, lztt \ -
tell just how much more accommoda-
tions would be required until the type
of canal Is settled Concerning the
division of expenses In maintaining
the railroad, Mr.. Shonts said that all
that part needed for ordinary railroad
business exclusive of the canal work
should be borne by the railroad and
other works Even the building of
warves should be paid from canal
funds.
Senator German said that the gen.
eral impression was gained at the time
Mr.. ShOnts went to the isthmus that he
had criticised Chief Engineer Wallace
for dlatoriness and that he proposed
to make a showing at once. Mr.. Shonta
denied that he had made such state
ment at any time.
Senator German conducted an ex-
tended examination of the witness con-
cerning conditions at the time Mr..
stevens LOOK control. he SIlOWSu lildL
Mr.. Stevens had increased the pay
roll from $4,000 to $4,000 in three
months without doing anything toward
digging the canal. Concerning the eX-
penditure of $5O0,OOO by Mr.. Wallace to
estimate the cost of removing the dirt
from Culebra, which had been declared
by the present officials far from what
will be the real cost, Mr.. Shonts said:
"If Mr.. Wallace had received no
equipment from the French company
and had to wait for suitable equipment
he would have spent the time in i'm
proving 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 it under other condi-
TONS"
Mr.. Shonts said he did not believe Mr..
Wallace's experiments had delayed SAN
itary work.
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 as
surance that better laborers could be
obtained if their families were taken to
the iSthmus Mr.. Stevens was said
by Mr.. Shonts to have been responsible
for the importation of families. but
Mr.. Shonts said he had later approved
his action.
1t appeared that the canal commits
sion paid 81 head for the importation
of these women and Senator German
asked in what manner 1t was to be re-
covered.
I'VE don't get it back: 1t is a gratu-
ity," answered Mr. ShontS.
His attention being called to a state
ment that the steamship fare for these
women cost the government nothing,
lie said he had inferred that from
vouchers which showed that only labor
ers had been brought in by the authorl-
ties on the isthmus.
IT was remarked by Senator German
that the accounting system seemed to
be very lax, when voucher could be
made to cover transaction OF that
kind. Mr. ShOnts replied that most OF
these women found employment In the
hotels and that In fact they We're labor
ers.
1t was explained by Mr. Shonts that
authority had been issued to Mr. Stew
ems TO enter into contracts of various
descriptions without submitting the
(OOntinued Ou PAGE exEO.l