The Washington herald., 1906-11-20

BY an executive order signed by the
President in Panama and cabled to the
offices of the Isthmian Canal Commission
here, the working forces Of the Panama
Canal are thoroughly reOrganiZed. A re
organization Of the Canal Commission it.
self is expected TO follow as soon as the
President returns 10 Washington. The
changes which have been made, and those
which are contemplated, have been under
consideration Tor many weeks. but the
President did not desire 70 take action un-
Ill he had visited Panama and looked
over the work personally. The general ef-
feet of the order which has Just been pro-
mUlgated is 10 give Chairman Shonts more
complete control of the administrative
portion of the canal construction and to
place Chief Engineer Stevens in absolute
charge in Panama.
One of the provisions Of the order shows
that there will be no new governor of the
Canal Zone to succeed Gov. Charles i.
Magoon. now running things in Cuba. II
IS provided that the duties Of the Office
OF governor shall be fulfilled by the gen
eral counsel, who happens to be Richard
Reed Rogers just at this time, through a
local administrator Mr.. Rogers viii con-
tiHue TO maintain his offices here. This
step will leave no division of authority on
the isthmUs between the chief engineer,
AIr. Stevens, and the governor.
To select New Members.
There has been no announcement as to
along what lines the President Will pro
Ceed in reorganizing the commission, but
ii is regarded as certain that any new
members viii be selected from the heads
Of the seven departments Of work Great
ed by the new executive order. Nr.
Shonts and Mr.. Stevens VIII, Of course, be
members. The commission, by law, must
consist Of seven members, but the Presi-
dent is not compelled 10 have more than
a quorum. There are now two vacancies.
one caused by the transfer Of Governor
AIagOon. and the other by the failure of
the Senate. at its last session, 10 confirm
Joseph B. Bishop, whom the President
nominated, to I'll an existing vacancy.
It is very likely that one Of the new mem
bers viii be Mr.. Rogers, the general coun-
sell
Establishes Seven Branches.
The order just issued provides for the
establishment Of seven executive depart
ments. Heretofore there have been but
three; administrative, under Mr.. Shonts;
engineering, IN the hands Of Mr.. Stevens,
and the third having TO do with the con-
troll Of the Canal Zone, Of which Gov
Magoon was the chief executive. These
three heads OF the department com
prised an executive committee. This or
ganization is abolished by the executive
order.
The new department VIII be admins
tered by the chief engineer, the general
counsel, the chief sanitary officer, the
general purchasing officer. the general
auditor, the disbursing officer, and the
manager Of labor and quarters John +.
Stevens is now chief engineer, Richard
z. Rogers, general counsel: Col. William
g. Gorgas, chief sanitary officer: u. w.
Ross. general purchasing officer r S
Benson, general auditor, +. J. Williams.
disbursing officer, and Jackson Smith,
manager Of labor and quarters.
All Must Report 10 shOnts.
All Of these heads Of departments viii
make their reports direct 10 Chairman
Shonts, who viii thus have general con-
troll. The chief engineer will have charge
of all engineering work. the construction
of the canal. and control Of the Panama
Railroad, ia so far as # relates TO c0nstruc-
ton, and the custody of all the supplies
and plant of the Commission on the 18th
mus The other officials viii perform the
duties which naturally come 70 their de-
paTtments.
The duties Of the Canal Commission are
changed only TO meet new conditions, and
are not of material Importance.