The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-28
TeIsgrans from South to Presi-
dent Ask His Appointment
He SPENT $4,000 ON BIDS
John B. Mcdonald, President of the
Panama Construction Company,
Will Assist Him In State
ment for the Press.

Washington, February 27.-The Presl-
dent had conference at the White
House this evening with Secretary Taft
and Secretary Root regarding the work
ing out of the details of the reorgani-
zation scheme for the Panama canal
work. 1t is understood that in addition
to the changes in the commission, al
ready reported, 1t had been decided that
Colonel Hams, United States army, re-
tired, and Benjamin Harrod, civil en-
gineer, both members of the present
commission, shall retire. Admiral Endi-
cott who is the only remaining member
Of the old commission, will be retained
on the new commission, the law re-
quires that one civil engineer of the
navy shall be included in its member
ship. In view of the increased cost OF
living in their transfer to the 1sthmus
and the fact that they are to be called
upon to undertake professional work of
high grade for which their predecessors
have been literally recompensed, the
three engineer officers of the army, Ma
Jors Goethals, Gailard ana Sibert, who
yesterday were named as members of the
commission, and engineers to conduct the
canal construction. will be the recipients
of salaries considerably In excess of those
they now recelve-namely S4Qo0 u year.
1t is the intention to divide among them
the salaries now paid to Messrs. Shonts
and Stevens, aggregating 100000 per an
mum. so long as they are engaged IN
canal work
AS the President has power to fiN sal
aries of persons employed in this work,
there will be no legal obstacle to this
procedure. 1t is stated that Chief En-
gineer Stevens resigned with the state
fnent that he would remain in charge OF
the isthmgs until his successor arrived
thete and hsas thoroughly initiated into
the new duties and prepared to take
them over Familiar as they are with
the conduct of large engineering enter
prises, it is believed that the army Of
ficers who are to relieve Mr.. Stevens Will
soon feel able to relieve him of his re-
sponsiblities there and as they SAIL from
New York about March 6 for the isthmus,
it is probable that the transfer can be
effected early In April.
1t is stated that it will be necessary
for these army engineers to make u
personal inspection of every part of the
construction work ON the canal before
any determination can be reached as TO
the method of conducting the work in
the future; that is whether 1t should be
done by contract, and If so, whether upon
the percentage plan, or in accordance
with the methods now pursued. Thc
Presidents s letter yesterday Indicated that
there might be Il recurrence to the con-
tract plan in the future, but even II tnal
should be the case the army of1cers IN
charge will, 1t Is pointed out, nnd them
selves able to manage the work In a
supervisory capacity just as they now
do several of the large river and harbor
projects in execution in this country
A number of kilograms have been re-
ceiyed at the White House from the
south asking the President to name W. j.
Oliver, whose bid for the construction OF
the canal was rejected as a member OF
the Isthmian Canal commission. Secre-
tsry Taft tonight said that he did not
believe that the President was consider
ing the appointment of Mr.. Ollver as u
member of the commission. Mr. OllVcr
said that he would not accept place on
the commission If it were rendered HIM
When he has been officially notified that
the bid of the Panama Canal Construc-
tion company has been rejected Mr.
oliver will give out statement FOR pub
l
lcation
"Only last Thursday" he said tonight
"the President assured my friends that
| would be given the contract. and he
went as far 10 say that he would be
down in Panama next November. ana
said that he was confident that by that
time he would have the work well under
way
The corporation organized by Mr.. oil
yer and organized as the Panama Canal
Construction company. will be dissolved.
MIR. Oliver says that he has spent $4,000
in the preparation OF his bids and In the
organiza ton of the construction COM
pany. John b. Mcdonald OF New York.
president OF the Panama Canal Construc-
tion company. will arrive in Washington
tomorrow and will assist Mr.. Oliver in
the preparation of a statement including
all the official correspondence between
Mr. Oliver and his associates and the
President. Secretary Of War and 18th
milan Canal commission regarding the
canal contract. which will be given to
! the press.