The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-25
WILL
DIG THE CANAL
Chief Engineer Stevens Nomi-
nal Chairman of Commission
GLAD TO GET SHONTS GU
Rumored His Resignation Wished By
Roosevelt and Taft and That There
Has Been Friction-Gives Up
Panama r. r. Presidency.

Washington, January 24.-(Special)
The retirement of Theodore p. Shonts as
chairman of the isthmian canal commits
sion means that President Roosevelt is 20
dig the canal himself. John +. Stevens,
the present chief engineer, will be nomi-
nally the chairman of the commission.
but the President, with Secretary Taft
as his first lieutenant, will be the actual
directing head.
The resignation of Mr.. Shonts was en-
tirely agreeable to both Mr. Roosevelt
and Mr. Taft; indeed, it may be said TO
have been wished by them, for it gave
them the free rein they were casting
around for. Under the new system, the
offices at Washington, where Mr. Shonts
has been in charge, viii perform but the
ordinary clerical duties connected with
the canal administration.
The meetings of the commission here
after will be held on the isthmus, and the
aim will be to give practical first hand
attention to the needs of the situation on
the ground. Mr.. Stevens. however, will
devote himself solely to the engineering
problems, leaving to the President and
Secretary Taft the handling of any ques-
tions of policy that may arise.
Friction With Taft.
That there has been friction between
Mr. Taft and Chairman Shonts over GER
tain matters of policy, has been fully at
tested from time to time for months
past, but such publications, accompanied
by intimations of Mr. Shonts' resignation
were met by the usual official denials.
At the bottom the dissatisfaction of
Mr.. Shonts was due to the fact that the
canal management was being taken SO
surely If slowly from his hands IS to be
gradually reducing his position to that of
chief clerk. This was far from agreeable
to a man who had been a controlling fac
tor in the biggest sort of way in the
construction end of railroad work.
Mr.. Shonts' determination to leave the
commission came finally when the Presi-
dent made his trip to Panama. He real
ized that any degree of success i'm the
canal work after that would go to the
President, while probably any failures
might be allowed to rest upon his shou-
ders Under these circumstances. Mr..
Shonts concluded to accept the tender
made by Paul Morton of the presidency
of the Interhorough- Metropolitan COM
pany OF New York MIR. Morton had al
ready talked the matter over with the
President and Secretary Taft and found
them perfectly satisfied for Mr. Shonts
to quit the service of the government.
Stevens Appointed.
Announcement was made at the war
department this morning that the office
of chairman and chief engineer of the
isthmian canal commission would be COM
bined and that Mr. Stevens, the present
chief engineer, would be given the ap-
pointment. the understanding being thai
he will maintain a residence on the 18TH
mus.
The resignation of Chairman Shonts it
also was stated. will be accompanied by
his resignation as president Of thu Pan.
anna Railroad company. to take effect
on the same date that he will sever his
connection with the isthmian canal COM
mission.