The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-24
Too Much Red Tape For
Chairman Canal Commission
ACCEPTED BY ROOSEVELT,
Follows Wallace and Is to Be Presi.
dent of New York Subway, Where
He Can Buy a Lead Pencil
Without Asking.

Washington, January 23-The resigna-
tion OF Theodore ?. shonts as chairman
of the isthmlan canal commission. was
announced at the White House today,
having been rendered to the President
and accepted by him yesterday accord
ing TO correspondence made public IL
will take effect not later than March
T. Mr. Shonts having been elected to-
day as president of the Tnterborough-Met
ropolitan company, which controls the
Rapid Transit and many surface lines in
New York
No announcement was made to who
will succeed Mr.. Shonts as chairman
of the commission. but 1t was learned
authoritatively that headquarters would
he removed from Washington to the 18th
mus, and high-salaried chairman to
serve in that capacity alone, will Not
he named. This being admitted. 1t follows
that John f. Stevens, the engineer in
charge of the construction of the canal.
would not be made subordinate to an
other official on the isthmus. Without
definite announcement, therefore, 1t Is
regarded as a certainty that Mr.. Stevens
will be named as chairman of the conf
mission, and will assume his duties as
such in connection with his post as chief
engineer.
Not Surprise.
Mr. Shonts' retirement does not come
wholly as a surprise. 1t has been ru-
mored persistently soon as action had
been taken upon the proposition to build
the canal by contract that Mr.. Shonts
would sever his connection and resume
a calling more congenial to his taste.
Secretary Taft of the war department
today confirmed that rumor by saying
that Mr.. shonts' resignation was volun-
7 tary. which fact is borne ont by the.
letter Of the President accepting 1t. The
| correspondence follows:
New Yor..,
! MY Dear Mr.. President:-I hereby ten-
der my resignation as chairman of the
| isthmian canal commission, effective at
! your pleasure, but not later than March
4, 1907
ut is unnecessary for me to assure
| you of my great appreciation of the con-
| fdence you have reposed in me, and OF
the splendid support you have always ac-
corded me since my first appointment by
| you. Very sincerely yours,
IN p. shONTs."
The Presidents reply follows:
| "rhe White House,
! Washington January Y, 1907
MY Dear Mr. Shonts:-I accept your
resignation as chairman of the tsthmian
| canal commission to take effect on March
| A. with extreme reluctance. do so mere
| " because | do not feel justified In pre-
| venting your acceptance of the position
you have been aslSe1 to take In New
| York-a position of such great eonse-
| quence. not merely TO the people with
whom you will be associate In the bus
lness management of the enterprise, bur
! to all the citizens of New York. You
have shown throughout your association
with the isthmian canal commission such
| energy administrative capacity, fertility
| of resource and judgment In handling
men, together with such entire devotion
to your work that hardly know whether
most to regret the fact that the national
| 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 be-
| half of the government for what you
| have done in the past eighteen months
in the vitally responsible position you
have held believe me. ever sincerely
| yours,
Organization incomplete.
| Secretary Taft tonight 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 continued pres
| ence Is not absolutely essential. The
| RYAN Belmont syndicate which has now
secured his services sought them some
time ago. Before doing 50, however, Paul
Morton former Secretary OF the Navy,
and now president OF the Equitable LIE
Assurance society called on President
Roosevelt and acquainted him with ths
Intentions of the Interborough- Metropol-
itan
Ii is said that the President then ex-
pressed regret at the thought of losing
Mr. Shonts services. but agreed not to
stand in the way II he should be elected
president OF the company.
Mr.. Shonts became chairman OF the
canal commission on April 3, 1905, coming
from the presidency OF the Glover Leaf
route, which title he held for some time
after taking up the canal work This con-
nection together with the fact that Mr..
Shonts spent little time on the isthmus
caused considerable dissatisfaction In the
Senate The two objections thus raised
contributed to the failure OF the Senate
last session to confirm the nominations
of canal commissioners. and they have not
since been confirmed The failure of nom-
nations in the Senate, however. had Moth
ing to do with Mr.. Shonts' decision to
resign. except insofar as the incident
caused him TO ehafe under the restraint
of the 'red tape" through which he was
compelled to work by reason of the Sen
ate canal committee not being In harmony
with the commission. He frequently
pr essed dissatisfaction with conditions.
and said to a number OF friends that were
T. 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 lead pencil"
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 cumbersome, and
asked authority of Congress to reduce tho
| commission to three members. Congress
failed to take the action he desired, so
the President then called for the resig-
nation OF the members of the Walker
| commission. Securing these, he named a
| new commission on April 8. 1905. as fol-
! lows
/ Theodore p. Shonts. chairman: Charles