Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-24
President Replies

President Replies
The presidents reply follows:
My Dear Mr.. ShontS: | accept your
resignation as chairman of the 18TH
mian canal commission, to take effect
March 4, with extreme reluctance. l
do so merely because l do not feel JUS
titled in preventing your acceptance of
the position you have been asked to
take in New York-a position of such
great consequence, not merely to the
people with whom you will be aSso-
ciated in the management of the enter
prise, but to all citizens of New York
You have shown throughout your
association with the Isthmian canal
commission such energy, adminiStra-
tive capacity and fertility of resource
and judgment in handling men, to-
gether with such entire devotion to
your work. that l hardly know whether
most to regret the fact that the ma
tional government is to lose you or
most to congratulate those who are to
profit by your services in your new
position.
with all good wishes for your
future and with the heartiest thanks
on behalf of the government for what
you have done in the last eighteen
months in the vitally responsible posi-
tion you have held, believe me ever
sincerely yours,
v L.
Secretary Taft tonight called atten-
ton to the fact that the work of or
ganizing the commission had been COM
pleted and that as Mr.. Shonts had been
brought here to assume the executive
duties necessary for such organization
his presence is not absolutely neCes-
Sary.
The Ryan Belmont syndicate which
has now secured Mr. Shonts' services
sought them some time ago. Before do
ing So however, Paul Morton, formerly
secretary of the navy, called on the
president and acquainted him with the
intention of the Interborough Metro
politan.
1t is said the president then expressed
regret at the thought of losing Mr..
Shonts' services, but agreed not to
stand in the way if he should be elected
president of the company. That he had
full information concerning Mr. Shonts
future is shown by the fact that he
refers to it in his letter accepting the
resignation. though Mr.. Shonts does
not in his letter TO the president.
Mr.. Shonts became chairman of the
commission April 3, 1908, coming from
the presidency of the Glover Leaf route
This connection, together with the
fact that Mr.. Shonts spent little time
on 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 commissions and they have not
since been confirmed. The failure of
the nominations in the senate, how
ever, had nothing to do with Mr. Shonts'
decision to resign except i'm so far as the
incident caused him to chafe under the
restraint of the red tape" through
which he was compelled to work by
,f "a
not being in harmony with the commits
sion.
Dissatisfied with Conditions
He frequently expressed dissatisfac-
tion with conditions and said TO a num-
ber of friends that We're ii not for his
friendship for the president and Sccre-
tary Taft he would resign and again
take up railroad work, where he would
not have to ask permission 20 buy a
lead pencil"
In reorganizing of the commission the
president was carrying out plan hl
had for securing more effective work on
the isthmus He felt that the old
Walker commission was too cumhcr
some and asked congress for authority
to reduce the commission 10 three mem.
hers. Congress failed to take the
action he desired so the president thar
called for the resignation of the mem
bers of the Walker commission. SeCur-
ing these, he named a new commission
on April 8.
In removing headquarters of the COM
mission from Washiugtou to the 18TH
mus the extensive offices here will be
abandoned. In the Washington Office
there has been the secretary of the
commission with a definite line OF
work, the chief Of the Office I'm active
charge Of affairs I'm the absence of the
chairman, the auditing and purchasing
department as well as number of
other branches.
1t is obvious that some Of these de-
partments viii have TO be retained. but
1t is likely they viii be placed under a