The Washington herald., 1906-11-29
WILL NAME new MEN
President Plans ReOfganiza-
ton Of Canal Board.
TO CONSULT SHONTS FIRST
Upon His Arrival Here, Executive
and Secretary Taft VIII Make
Public the Personnel of Board.
Some Members May Not BE Reap
pointed-New Blood To BE Injected.

The President and Secretary of War
Taft completed their plans for a reor-
ganization of the Isthmian Canal Com
mission at a long White House cor Ger
ence late yesterday afternoon. The Ca
nal Commission will be materially chang
cd and much new blood injected into it..
but there is no official announcement as
to the personnel of the reorganized body.
Before making an announcement the
President and MI Taft wish to consult
with Mr.. Shonts. chairman Of the pres
ent commission, in regard to the choice
of MS new associates.
AR Shonts will land in New York from
Panama on Sunday or Monday. and the
whole affair will be disposed of soon
after his arrival in Washington
No Change in Duties.
As the plans Of the President are un-
derstood, there is 10 be no particular
change in the duties Of the commission,
and the reorganization for which plans
were perfected yesterday affects only the
personnel of the body. Some Of the pres
ent members win not be reappointed.
Who the new members will be Is not
definitely known. The law requires that
there be seven members Of the commits
sion. There are now three vacancies. one
caused by the failure Of the Senate 10
confirm Mr.. Bishop. another by the trans
fer of Gov. Magoon, who is in Cuba as
provisional governor, and the other By the
resignation of Brig Gen. Oswald Ernst.
This leaves. accordingly. four members.
a quorum ard Il sufficient number for
business. It is understood. although not
definitely, that the President Will not
again present Mr. Bishops name 10 the
Senate for confirmation.
To Send Seven Names.
Seven names viii be sent from the
White House to the Capitol early in the
session. and it is expected that they will
soon be confirmed. During the Iast ses-
sion Of Congress the President recon-
mended that the Canal Commission be re-
duced to three members, but this did not
receive favorable action. It is possible
/ that the President viii repeat this recon-
mendation, but iu the meantime the law
requires commission of seven
The reorganization of the commission is
made necessary by the recent overturning
[
Of the canal This was done by executive
order while the President was in Panama
/ Its general effect was To place the entire
work of construction under the direction
of Mr.. ShOnts, as chairman of the com
mission. The work was divided into de
partments. the head Of each being re-
spousible directly 10 the chairman Of IN,
( commission.
Will BE Experienced Men.
/ The new members of the commission
/ viii doubtless be from among the head.
/ Of the newly created departments; met
/ who are in actual touch with the work
/ and some Of whom are on the ground
1 Richard R Rogers. general counsel o.
( the commission. viii probably be one O
/ the Presidents appointees. He Is IN tn
/ closest possible touch with every cOndi
/ ton surrounding the building Of tht
canal and especially the legal end Of il
/ and is valued by Mr.. Shonts. He ha,
| much 20 do with the drawing OF the form
/ OF contract which IS TO be followed in let
/ ting contracts for the construction work
/ Another appointee will be Col William
/ G. GoTgas. chief of the sanitary depart
/ ment in Panama. Col Gorgas' work oi
the isthmus has been OF tremendou
value. and he knows all about the canal
/ As a naval member, the most probable
/ selection Is Rear Admiral Nordecai T
/ Endic0tt, chief Of the Bureau OF Yard
/ and Docks Of the Navy Department, ant
/ now a member Of the commission. Mr.
! ShOnts and Mr.. Stevens viii, of course
/ be selected. There has been nothing Z
/ Indicate who the other members will be