Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-23
CHANGE ON CANAL ZONE
Municipal Governments viii Re Abolished
on Order Of President
COMMISSION TAKES CHARGE OF TOWNS
Much Money VIII He saved by InnO-
walton and Local Negotiations
VIII he Brought Into
Harmony,

WASHINGTON, March Exchanges in
the local government in the canal zone
which will abolish all the municipal gov
ernments now in existence and result In
the harmonizing OF various parts Of the
zone will become effective April !. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has signed executive orders
providing for wholesale changes and Rich
ard Rogers, general counsel for the 18th
milan Canal commission, will go to the
canal zone with Secretary Taft and remain
there for some time to assist in reorganiz-
ing the government.
All the municipal councils all the may
ors and other municipal officers will be
done away with and the FIVE municipal
governments in the canal zone will be re-
placed by four administrative districts
which would be under direction Of the
canal commissioners. These districts will
be known as Ancon, Emperader. Gorgona
and Crstobal. Under the old organization
the FIVE municipal governments were under
control Of officers named by the commits
sion and not elected by the people Conse-
quently the abolition Of the municipalities
will not in any way limit the voice Of the
people in their government but will make
It possible for the commission to give the
administrative districts ordinances and
regulations which are in complete harmony
Town Governments Unsatisfactory.
The municipal governments were found
to be wholly unsatisfactory after COM
| plete test and all canal officers are con-
| WINGED that the new plan will be far more
| satisfactory. 1t will result in the abolition
/ Of the bureau Of municipalities on the
| lsthmus which costs about $4,000 a year
/ and will cut off about $4,000 in salaries in
! the municipal office, making a saving OF
| about $4,000 Many of the efficient munich
| pal officers will be retained in various
offices under the form Of government
Mr. Rogers win not go to Cuba ard
! Porto Rico with Secretary Taft's party, but
will remain in Panama for some time look
| ing after changes in the government. It
| is estimated that the total saving to the
! United States under the recognized gov
| eminent zone will be about 100000. Fur
thermore, there will be a Capitalization and
uniicauon Of the governments OF the
various sections which was impossible when
FIVE councils and FIVE sets OF municipal
officers were endeavoring to enact and en-
force ordinances which were widely at
variance in the different municipalities.
GOethaIs Succeeds stevens.
WASHINGTON, March 22-secretary Taft
today announced that Lieutenant Colonel
Goethals would succeed Mr. Stevens as
chairman OF the Isthman Canal commits
sion and engineer in charge Of the canal
work, on April 1. When Colonel Goethals
becomes chairman by promotion from the
grade Of commissioner there will be a
vacancy in the commission, which will be
filled by the appointment Of former Sem
ator Joseph c. S. Blackburn of Ken
lucky. AS chairman, Colonel Goethals will
receive a salary of $4,000 annually; Majors
Calllard and sibert and Civil Engineer
Bosseau, $4,000 each, and DIR. Gorgas,
Jackson Smith and Mr.. Blackburn, $4,000
each.