New-York tribune., 1907-06-28
CANAL BOARD CHANGES.
Secretary Bishop to Go to Panama
Washington Office To Be Reduced.
from Tie Tribune Bureau.l ]


Washington. June 27.-The Secretary OF War has
practically completed plan for the reorganization
OF the Washington headquarters of the Isthmian
Canal Commission whereby the secretary. Joseph
Buckln Bishop. will be transferred the isthmus
and the Washington office reduced the smallest
organization compatible with efficient service.
Under the new plan the auditing division will be
abolished, much OF the correspondence division
is practicable will be transferred the isthmus.
ana there VIII remain here the purchasing division.
the disbursinG division and three sections devoted
10 records. appointments and correspondence re-
spectivey.
There will be no formal head OF the Washington
office. each Of the divisions and sections reporting
directly 10 the Chairman OF the commission the
Army Engineer Corps, who will be chief OF the
purchasing division. will be designated as "ex
hereafter be done through the engineer corps
This IS the programme which Secretary Taft took
70 Oyster Bay, although it is possible there may
be further changes before formal announcement
is made by the Secretary his
Colonel Goethals, chairman. and ex-senator
Blackburn, member OF the commission. have both
. urged Mr. Taft send Secretary Bishop to the
isthmus. as II is desired to place him at the head
of committee which will be charged with tho
duty of investigating all complaints and reporting
the facts 10 the chairman The designations OF
the present purchasing agent David w Ross and
OF Ernest s. Benson. general auditor. have already
been announced. Mr.. Ross resigned 10 associate
himself with c. n. & II. III. Hewitt, OF New York.
at considerably greater compensation than he
ceives from the Canal Commission. Mr.. Benson's
resignation due 10 the decision that the audit
was superfuous. Mr.. Bensons plans for the future
are not known.
There IS some doubt regarding the permanency
OF the present form of organization of the WASH
ington office, IL is believed It Will be found i'm
perative 10 designate single individual as chief
or ONCE with plenary powers over TIE local Iorce
and II IS suggested that this may be accomplished
by assigning Colonel Hodges 20 that 5uty and ap
pointing some other officer chief Of the purchasing
division. or by the assignment OF some person not
yet selected full chief of Office. The difficulties
of maintaining number OF separate ana distnct
divisions and sections. all reporting TO the commis-
sion. which cannot be communicated with by mail
in less than week or oy cahe at great expense,
obvious. but Il IS probable that the present
programme will have trial
The fact that certain changes In the Washington
office OF the commission have been under contem-
plation for time has given rise TO some more
or less inaccurate reports among them being one
that Chief Engineer Goethals has asked 10 be
lieved, and another that Jackson Smith. tho mem
Der of the commission in charge of labor, housing
and subsistence. cOntemplates reslgning. There is
no 10 be found in Washington for either OF
these reports Mr.. Smith is enjoying acCumu-
lated leave OF absence but expects return to the
isthmus on its expiration Colonel Goethals. ac-
cordng the latest reports from the isthmus. has
no intention OF asking TO be relieved.
There Is evidence, however. that there is a
moro or less organized campaign foot TO under
mine the discipline and discredit the work OF the
army engineers. and rumOrs of trouble the
isthmus constantly reaching Washington. At
the canal headquarters these reports strongly
deprecated. and the suggestion is made that In
force of approximately 1900 persons there must
inevitably be a percentage of malcontents, and
that IL is from those who return the United
of these reports emanate.
The recent resignation OF Joseph Ripley. expert
engineer. employed 10 design the locks, while off,
cially explained on the ground that he had offer
of higher compensation in the United States, Is
Vehementy asserted to have been lue friction
with the army engineers, who. 1t is declared
ell Mr.. Ripley with dscourtesy. 1t is further
ported that the chairman of the commission desires
10 dispense with the services of F. Is. MaItby,
gineer in charge Of dredses. who is now In this
country to test recently purchased machinery. but
trustworthy confirmation be found for the
report
There are pretty strong indications Of a desire
make political capital out of every Instance OF
friction in the canal organization a possibly in
evitabe result of the same political opposition 10
the administration, and of the fact that the Secre-
tary of War Is himself a factor In the political
situation and possibly obstacle to certain Ioltt
cal ambitions. The prospects for an extremely
lively session OF Congress bright. and
shrewd judges OF things political predict that at
tacks the administration Of canal affairs will
play an important part in the political tactics of
the minority. IL not in those of some members OF
the majority.
1t has been suggested that realization OF the
political phases OF the situation, of the necessity
of the exercise of extreme tact loyal cooperation
and thorough grasp of canal affairs IN the Wash
Ington office have been factors which led Colonel
Goethals TO recommend the appointment OF Colonel
Hodges. Of the engineer corps, as EEK officio chier
of office in Washington, although the Suggestion
does not seem TO bo seriously entertained by the
War Department. 1t is asserted, however that
the Strengthening out of complaints on the 18TH
mus which has been assigned to Mr. Bishop. VIII
constitute work of the utmost Importance as
tho greater number of "soreheads whose COM
plants can be locally attended TO. the less VIII De
the number OF those who come home 10 attack the
work of the army engineers.
The prospect which seems certain is thae
Congress will turn the cdlc'Im hght on All Cehal
affairs at the coming session, and that tne ress-
nation of Chief Engineer Wallace CHAIRMAN
Shonts Chief Engineer Stevens, Expert Engineer
Ripley and similar occurrences Will De thrashed
over ad hbitum IL not al nauseuth'