Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-24
SHONTS QUITS CANAL
Chairman of Isthmiau Commission Hands
Resignation to resident.
WILL RETIRE FROM OFFICE MARCH 4
Contract for Completing Ditch will Prob
ably Be Let Before That Date.
FRICTION WITH THE SENATE ONE CAUSE
Hostile Attitude of Committee Made Work
Unpleasant for Him.
BECOMES HEAD OF FRICTION COMBINE
Mr.. ShontH Has Been Elected Presi-
dent ~ InterborouEh MetropOIi-
tan Railway Company
of New York.
BECOMES HEAO OF TRACTION COMBINE

OF Theodore p. ShOnts chairma' 4 the
Isthmian Canal commission was iced
at the White House today. II ~ -e
effect not later than March 4, NJ. T., 4.
having been elected today as presi, ". y
the Interborough Metropolitas. com. =
which controls the rapid transit and m.
surface lines in New York.
No announcement was made as to who
will succeed Mr. Shonts az chairman Of
the commission. but II was learned au-
thoritatively that headquarters will be re-
moved from Washington to the isthmus
and that a high-salaried chairman to serve
in that capacity alone will not be named.
This being admitted. 1t follows that John
r. Stevens, the engineer in charge Of con
struction Of the canal. would not be made
subordinate to another official on the 18th.
mus. II is regarded as a certainty that
Mr.. Stevens will be named as chairman OF
the commission in connection with his post
as chief engineer.
Mr.. Shonts' retirement does not come
wholly as surprise. 1t has been rumored
persistently as soon action had been
taken on the proposition to build the canal
by contract Mr.. Shonts would resume a
calling more congenial to his taste. Sec
retary Taft today confirmed that rumor
by saying that Mr.. Shonts' resignation was
voluntary. which fact is borne out by the
T..
Letter OF Resignation.
The correspondence follows:
My Dear Mr.. President: l hereby tender
my resignation as chairman OF the 18TH
mian Canal commission, effective at your
1t is Unnecessary for me to assure you of
my great appreciation of the great conf
dence e you have reposed in me and Of the
Oerely yours, T. +, sHoNTs.
The presidents reply follows:
Nay Dear Mr.. Shonts: l accept your res
igaStion as chairman of the Isthmian Canal
commission to take effect March 4 with
extreme reluctance. do so merely be-
your acceptance of the position you have
been asked to take In New York-a position
OF 9t such great consequence not merely to
ated IN the business enterprise, but to all
the citizens of New York. You have shown
nlian Canal commission such energy, adj
lniniFtrative capacity. fertility of resource
with such entire devotion to your work,
that hardly know whether most TO regret
the fact that the national government is
TO loso you or most to congratulate those
new position.
and with the heartlest thanks on behalf of
the government for what you have done
in the last eighteen months in the vitality
responsible position you have held, be-
Heve me, ever sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Organization is Complete.
Secretary Taft tonight called attention to
the fact that the work of organizing the
commission had been completed and that az
Mr.. Shonts had been brought here to as
sumo the executive duties necessary to
ouch organization his continued presence
, Is not absolutely essential
The Ryan-Belmont syndicate, which has
T bf
them some time ago, Before doing So how
ever, Paul Morton, formerly secretary OF
the navy, called on President Roosevelt
and acquainted him with the intentions Of
the Interborough- Metropolitan. II is said
the president then expressed regret at the
thought OF losing Mr.. Shorts services but
agreed not to stard In the way If he should
be elected president of the company
That he had fun 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
shOntH Objects 10 Red Tape.
Mr. Shonts became chairman of the com
mission April g. 1906 coming from the presl-
dency ot the Glover Leaf route. This CON
\ nect.on. together with the fact that Mr.
Shonts spent little time the isthmus,
caused considerable dissatisfaction in the
senate. The two objections thus raised
contributed to the failure OF the senate last
session 10 confirm the nominations of canal
commissioners. and they have not since
been confirmed. The failures in the senate,
however, had nothing to do with Mr..
6hOnts' decision TO resign except insofar
as the incident caused him to chafe under
the restraint OF the red tape" through
which he was compelled to work by reason
of the genate canal cofnmittee not beinR in
harmony with the commission. He fire.
quentiy expressed dissatisfaction with con-
ditions and said TO number OF friends that
were It not for his friendship for the presi-
dent and Secretary Taft he would resign
and again take up railroad work, where he
''would not have to ask permission TO buy
q lead pencil"
Headquarters TO IsthmuH.
In removing headquarters OF the com
mission from washington 70 the isthmus.
extensive ohices here will be abandoned.
In the Washington once there has been
the secretary OF the commission with a
definite line OF work. the chief Of the Of
nee in active charge OF affairs In the alb
senoe OF the chairman. the auditing and
purchasing departments we'll as a num-
Der OF other branches. IL Is obvious that
some OF these departments will have 10 be
retained but It Is likely they will be placed
under a bureau OF the War department.
possibly again under the insular bureau.
Il Is expected that before Mr.. Shonts
actually sewers his connection he viii dis
pose OF the matter OF letting the canal by
contract now pending I'm his once. bids
having been opened more than a week ago.
Mr. Shonts LEFT here more than a week
ago for Kansas City. where he win make
an address tomorrow night