The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-22
Famous Pacificator Will
Handle Multitude
of Subjects.
Senator Kittredge Is to
Study the Canal Zone
Personally.
Beekman Winthrop Re-
turns With Taft
in April.

President Roosevelt has signed execu-
tive orders providing fer wholesale
changes IN the local government Of the
canal zone. and Richard Reed Rogers.
general counsel for the Istnmian Canal
Commission, VIII 30 to the canal zone
with Secretary Taft 70 put them into
effect
The five municipal governments which
now exist IN the canal zone. will be
replaced by four administrative dis
tricts. under the direct control Of the
canal commissioners. The municipal
governments were found TO be wholly
unsatisfactory.
Would Frighten Ordinary Man
The variety Of subjects that secretary
TAFT will have 10 handle during the FIVE
OF six weeks that ne will De absent on
his coming trip to Panama. Cuba. and
Porto Rico would be enough TO frighten
the average man. He viii eadeavor TO
Ee the impartial investigator. the paci-
fcatOr. the mediator, judge. counselor.
and friend TO all He Will try TO round
of rough edges. 10 establish new friend
ships. and place old ones on a flrmer
basis
1t is admitted that one Of the main
objects OF his visit TO Panama Is to de-
termine whether locks and dams can be
built at Gatun Eminent engineers
differ. Upon the outcome depends the
construction Of the gigantic enterprise
upon present plans. The Secretary has
had test holes nfty feet deep drilled
along the line of the proposed works at
frequent intervals The Sorings will
show sshether a stone foundation can
be reached. Frederick p Stearns. Of
Boston, authority on the construction OF
earth dams: Alfred Noble, In charge Of
the terminal works Of the Pennsylvania
railroad in New York city; and John
Ripley Freeman. Of Providence, r. l.,
an expert IN electrical and mechanical
engineering. are being taken along TO
scrutinize the borings and advise the
Secretary.
Senator Kittredge in Party.
Secretary Taft viii also be accompan-
led by Senator Kittredge. who Will be
the new chairman of the Senate Inter
oceanic Canals Committee and an ardent
advocate Of the sea-Ievel type OF canal;
Representative Burton, OF Cleveland,
chairman OF the House Committee on
Rivers and Harbors; and Representative
De Armond, OF Missouri. a member OF
the House Canal Committee.
Secretary Taft is confident that the
result Of their examinations Will con-
firm present conclusions.
II the members of his party say that
the canal project Is all right the work
will be pushed
Outside of this. there are a number
of questions that have caused friction
between the officials Of the canal zone
and the PanamanianS, originating large
" through the differences in prices OF
food and luXCries because of tariff du-
ties. It Is charged that the TivoH
Hotel. in the canal zone. because Of
duty-free goods, has run about nine
American hotels In Panama out of busi-
ness The question OF tariff figures also
in other differences.
The Taft party will leave here tonor-
row afternoon for Charleston. S. c.,
where they will board the United States
steamer MayfiOwer on Sunday. They
expect TO arrive at Colon about March
go and to remain four or five DAYS on
the isthmus.
Will Stop at Havana.
on the return trip President Roose-
velt has asked Secretary Taft to stop
at Havana and look into the develop
ments of the Cuban situation. He will
nave important COtISulbdL4OIS Win Gov
ernor Magoon. and will renew acduaint-
ance with the leaders of the various
Cuban political parties. His report as
to the readiness of the people to proceed
to the election of new officers will large
ly decide the question as 10 whether the
Cubans shall be permitted again to
try an independent government. or
the United States shall estab-
lish a protectorate over the island. All
of the property owners and foreign in
veStors viii strongly urge the ado9tfon
of the latter course The Secretary will
later proceed to Porto Rico TO investi-
gate matters of administration. II il
believed he viii hold out to them the
hope of citizenship in the near future.
Mrs Taft viii meet the Secretary at
San Juan. being the guest Of Governor
winthrop at the palace. The governor.
who was recently appointed First As
sistaut Secretary of the Treasury. will
return to the United States with the
party about April 20.