Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-28
President Hard at Work
On the organization.
Expected That Army Men Will
Take Charge By April.
Contract Plan Not Barred and May
Yet Be Used.

Washington. Feb. 27.-The President
had conference at the White House
this afternoon with Secs. Taft and
Root regarding the working out of the
details OF the reorganization scheme
or the Panama canal work 1t is an
derstood that in addition TO the
changes in the commission already re-
,orted, it has been decided that Col.
Hams. Y. s. A., retired, and Benjamin
Harrod, civil engineers. both members
of the present commission, shall retire
Admiral Endicott, who is the only re-
naming member of the old commits
sion. as the law requires that one civil
in its membership.
III view Of the increased cost Of liv-
ing involved in their transfer to the
.sthmus, and the fact that they are to
be called upon to undertake profession
al work of high grade for which their
predecessors have been literally recon-
pensed, the three engineer offers of
the army, Goethals, Gaillard and Sibert.
who yesterday were named as members
of the committee of engineers to con-
1rOl the canal construction will be re-
cipients Of salaries considerably in ex-
:ess of those they now receive, name
y, $4,000 per annum. 1t is the intention
divide among them the salaries now
,aid to Messrs. Shonts and Stevens
ggresating 100000 Per annum, so long
is they are engaged in canal work,
rs the President has the power to fix
alaries of persons employed in this
york, there will be no legal obstacles
o this procedure.
1t is stated that Chief Engineer
;tevens resigned with the statement
hat he would remain iii charge on the
Sthmus until his successor arrive
here and was thoroughly initiated into
he new duties and prepared to take
hem over. Familiar as they are with
he conduct of large engineering enter
rises, it is believed that the army Of
GERS who are to relieve MIR. Stevens
,on will feel able to relieve him of
is responsibilities there and as they
all from New York about March for
lie isthmus, it rs probable that the
'ansfer can be effected early in
>pril.
1t is stated that it will be necessary
for these army engineers to make a per-
sonal inspection of every part of the
WOTk Ol the Canal DeIOTC
my determination can be reached as to
he method of conducting the work in the
future; that is, whether 1t should be done
~ contract, and if so. whether upon the
percentage plan or in accordance with
he method now pursued. The Presidents
etter yesterday indicated that there
night be a recurrence of the contract
plan in the future, but even if that should
oe the case, the army officers in charge
will, it is pointed out find themselves
lble TO manage the work in supervisory
capacity just rs they now do several Of
The large river and harbor projects in
his country.
number of kilograms have been re-
,eived at the White House today from
he South asking the President to name
w. J. Oliver. whose bid for the construc-
ion OF the canal was rejected, as a men,
Ter OF the Isthmian Canal Commission
secretary Taft tonight sand that he did
rot believe that the President was con-
sidering the appointment of Mr. Oliver
Is a member of the commission. Mr.. Oil
yer said that he would not accept a
place on the commission If it was ten
Tered him. When he has been officially
Notified that the bid Of the Panama Ca
lal Construction Co. has been rejected,
Mr. Oliver will give out a statement for
publication.
"Orly last Thursday" he said tonight,
The President assured my friends that
would be given the contract, and he
vent so far as to say that he would be
1owE in Panama next November, and
aid that he was confident that by that
time ne would have the work well under
way"
The corporation organized by Mr. Oil
yer and known as the Panama Canal
CONSTRUCTION Co. will at once be dissolv-
ed. Mr.. Oliver says that he has spend
o.o0o in the preparation of his bids and
in the interests of the Construction co.