New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
SHONTS FOR INTER-MET.
Continued from frst page.

tiring chairman vacates The headquarters Of
the commission will be removed 70 the isthmus,
IL is understood.
The principal organization Of such force as
Will be necessary under the new arrangements
to safeguard the interests Of the governments
has been completed. On the isthmus Mr..
Stevens. with the assistance of a number OF
competent engineers, will continue to supervise
the engineering features Of the work and TO In
spect the work OF the contractor Colonel Cor
gas will continue to have charge OF the sanitary
Arrangements etc. In Washington there is
competent office of administration, with fully
equipped purchasing division, which can care
for all the needs OF the canal without the addi-
ton Of other officials than those now In charge.
and the resignation OF Mr.. Shonts does not seem
likely 10 render necessary the employment Of
man to take his place.
CORRESPONDENCE ON RESIGNATION.
AIr. Shonts's letter Of resignation Is follows:
New York January %. 1907.
My Dear Mr. President:
hereby tender my resignation as chairman
OF tho Isthnian Canal Commission effective at
your pleasure, but not later than March 4. 1907.
1t is unnecessary for me to assure you OF my
great appreciation Of the confidence you have
Teposed in me and Of the splendid support you
have always accorded me since my first appoint
ment by you. Very sincerely yours sr,o,,rs
Tho President. the White House. washington.
The Presidents reply follows:
The White House. Washington Jan %. 1907.
My Dear Mr.. Shonts: 1 accept your resigna-
tion chairman OF the Tsthmian Canal Com
mission, 20 take effect on March L. with extreme
reluctance. do so merely because do not feel
justified IN preventing your acceptance Of tho
position you have been asked 10 take in New
merely TO the people with whom you viii be
sociated in the business management of the
enterprise. but to all the citizens OF New York.
You have shown throughout your association
with the Isthmian Canal Commission such en-
ergy. administrative capacity fertility OF re-
source and Judgment In handling men, together
with such entire devotion 10 your work that I
hardly know whether most 20 regret the fact
that the national government Is 10 lose YOU or
most TO congratulate those who are 20 profit by
your services In your new position.
With all good wishes for your future and with
rnent for what you have done In the last egh-
teen months, in the vitality responsible position
YOU have held, believe me, ever sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Hon. T. P. shonts chairman. Isthmian Canal
Commission.
Mr. shonts's retirement does not come wholly
as a surprise. II has been rumored persistently
that as soon as action had been taken on the
proposition to build the canal by contract
Mr.. shonts would sever his connection with tho
commission and resume calling moro con-
genial to his taste. Secretary Taft Of the War
Department to-day called attention TO the fact
that the work OF organizing the commission had
been completed, and that as Mr.. Shonts had
been brought here to assume the executive
duties necessary TO such organization. his con-
tinued presence Is not absolutely essential. It
was inferred that II had been known for some
time that when the work of reorganizing the
commission was completed Mr. Shonts would re-
sign.
The Ryan-Belmont syndicate. which has now
SOVght them time
ago. Before doing so. however. Paul Morton.
ex- x-Secretary OF the Navy and now president Of
the Equitable Life Assurance Society. called on
President Roosevelt and acquainted him with
the intentions OF the Interborough- metropolitan
company II is said the President then ex-
pressed regret at the thought Of losing Mr..
ShOnts's services, but agreed not TO stand in
the way IL he should be elected president of the
company That he had full information con-
corning Mr.. Shontss future IS shown by the
fact that he refers to it in his letter accepting
the resignation, though Mr.. shonts does not DO
so in his letter TO the President
WORK ON THE COMMISSION.
Mr.. Shonts became chairman OF the Canal
Commission on April 8. 1905. coming from the
presidency of the Glover Leaf Route, which
title he held for some time after taking UP the
canal work This connection, together with the
isthmus, caused considerable dissatisfaction in
the Senate. The two objections thus raised con-
tributed to the failure Of the Senate last session
TO confirm the nominations Of canal commits
sioners. and they have not since been confirmed.
The failure OF the nominations In the Senate,
however. had nothing TO do with Mr.. Shonts's
decision to resign. except insofar the Incl
dent caused him 10 chafe under the restraint of
the "red tape" through which he was compelled
to work because the Senate Canal Committee
was not in harmony with the commission. He
ditions and said to number of friends that,
were Il not for his friendship for the President
and Secretary Taft, he would resign and again
take up railroad work, where he would not
have TO ask permission TO buy a leadpencil"
In reorganizing the commission the President
was carrying out plan he had for securing
more effective work on the isthmus. He felt.
that the old Walker commission was too cum
bersome and asked authority OF Congress 10 re-
duce the commission 20 three members Con-
gress failed to take the action he desired, so
the President then called for the designations Of
the members of the Walker commission. Secur-
ing these, he named commission on April
8, 1905, follows: Theodore p. Shonts, chair
man; Charles q. Nagoon, John +. Wallace. chief
engineer; i. NJ. Endicott, General p. G. Hams,
Colonel o. NJ. Ernst and y. NJ Harrod. The
first three were later named as an executive
noxumittse 0f the commission. and thus the