The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-07
Would Not bs Wiling to Take
 Family to IsthnuS
GIVES WALLACE GOOD RECORD
He Leaves the Inference That He Would Sever His Connection With the Glover Leaf If the Presi-
 dent Demands 1t.

Washington March 6.-Charman Theo- dore P. shonts of the isthmian canal com mission under examination all day by the Senate canal committee, answered questions technical and personal concern ing the plans, for the construction of the great waterway and his relations To the organization.
 Incidentally he left the inference that h. would sever his connection with the Clover Leaf route if this fas demanded of him, but that he would not take his family to the isthmus. He gave Former Chief Engineer Wallace good record and said that he was entitled to consider aton in the matter of taking his family to the isthmus. MT. shonts closed by urging Congress to take action immedI- ately on the type of canal to be con strueted He said that economical pro- ceedure on the part of the canal commis- sion demands such action.
 Senator Taliaferro had read the protest of Hudgins and Dumas of New York to President Roosevelt against the manner in which the concession had heen granted to Jacob E. Market of Omaha and urging i its discontinuance on the ground that 1t had been entered into irregularly. The l New York firm said the proceedings in connection with. the letting of the con- i tract were irregular, ntimating collusion and a predsposition to award 1t to Mar 1 kel Mr. Shonts said the President had referred this protest to him and he read ; the reply he made to the President These documents were made public at the time.
 Higher Than Markes' Bid.
 The change Hudgins X Dumas made in their bids after certain conditions had been called to their attention said MT. sl;outs made their bid higher than that of MT Markel Referring to Mr shonts reply to the President wherein il was stated the commission had the right tci cancel the Market contract on giving thirty days notice, MT. Taliaferro asked MT. Shonts to point out in the contract the right of cancellation Mr. Taliaferro showed that at the time the contract was let there was no way in which the con tract could be cancelled as long as the eoncessionaire lived up 10 the terms O. i the concession.
 The witness was examined at length concerning the differences between the Market and the Hudgns X Dumas bids.
 Revertlng again to the Market contract, MT. Shonts said he understood the right l of cancellation" as he had stated in his letter to the President, but that he had not analysed 1t from legal point of 1 view.
 Was it not your duty to do so?" asked | Mir. Taliaferro.
 "I suppose it was but then l understood 1t as l said before" replied Mir Shonts. Personally, however, 1 had little 10 do l with preparing the contract. That was done by MT. Ross.
 Mir. Taliaferro asked MT. Snonts for names of the employees and their former railroad connections. The witness men toned himself as connected with the Glover leaf route, purchasing Agent Ross of the Illinois Central; Auditor Ben son of the Southern Pacific. and Chief Engineer Stevens of the C. I. ,S P.
 Connection With Clover Leaf
 Do you intend to continue your con- nection as president of the Clover Leaf?" asked Mr. Taliaferro.
 That depends replied witness.
 "On what?"
 We'll" said the witness, "the President spoke to me about that and l told him that on account of my large holdings I did not want to give up the presidency. r talked with the President more frankly. l than l am talking with you. I did not 1 want to embarrass him. He said he 1 thought there would be no objection 10 my holding the place if l served without 1 salary: if I were merely the nominal president"
 "Then you do not know what your ln- tentons are?" asked MT Talaferro.
 "'The President will tell me what he wants me to do, I suppose, replied MT. Shonts.
 In response to a number of questions MT. Shonts said that he was now negotl- ating to get rid of his interests In the Clover Leaf but that he did not know how these would terminate
 MT. Talaferro attempted to show that all the officials named had had intimate relations with trans-continental lines. MT Shonts said that the Clover Leaf was in no way associated with trans-continental lines, but that the other roads mentioned might be regarded as related to trans-con- tinentals although they would not be so connected" in railroad parlance. In referring to communications with officials on the isthmus, MT. Shonts spoke of cable charges. Do you think the government should have its own cable between the nearest points of the canal zone and the United States? asked Mir. Morgan.
 q do; and I have repeatedly recom- mended it." said Mir. Shonts.
 The committee took recess until 2;lo o'clock.
 Morgan Questions Witness.
 At the afternoon session MT. Morgan took up the subject of MT. Shonts conver- sation with President Roosevelt concern ing his services with the Clover Leaf
 .. ,f, chonts safd fha President told