The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-27
ARMY TO BUILD IT
President Gives Canal Work to
the Engineer Corps.
Resignation of Stevens Changes
All the Plans.
MAJOR G. w. COCKTAILS
Is Appointed to Fill the Vacant
Place.
Senator Blackburn to Have
Place on the Board.
MAJOR G. w. COCKTAILS

| Washington, Feb. ply an order
addressed to Chairman Shonts. of the
isthmian canal commission, President
Roosevelt as far as lay in his power
under existing law. has transferred to
the engineer branch of the army the
responsibility for the further construc-
tion of the Panama camel. He also for
mally recorded the abandonment, for
the present at least, of the project OF
having the canal work done by con-
tract on the percentage system.
Mr.. Shonts is in New York. where he
will preside at a meeting of the di-
rectors of the Panama Railroad COM
pany, of which he is president. and
Will It is expected, romally resign
that office.
The president intends that there shall
be an entire reorganization of the
commission, with three army officers
members, who are to have charge of
the engineering eatures of the canal
work. The chairman and engineer in
chief of the commission will be Major
be Major Du B. Gaillard and Major
William l.. Sibert, to rank in the order
named. These officers are all COM
paratively young, ambitious and ener-
getic.
Senator Joseph C. S. Blackburn, of
Kentucky, who retires from the Uni
ted States senate on the 4th of March,
is to be made a member of the reor-
of the present commissioners now
pending before the senate include
Messrs. Shonts, Stevens, Haines, En-
dicott, Herrod, Gorgas, and Jackson
Smith. Their confirmation is desired
in order to remove all doubt as to the
Legality of certain acts they have per-
formed in connection with the making
of contracts
The retirement of Messrs. Shonts
and Stevens will leave but two vacan-
cies, so that there will be two more
retirements necessary to make way for
the three army officers, and Senator
Blackburn. The president is determin-
ed that the work on the canal shall
proceed continuously, and the tempor-
ary ''dislocations' caused by the res
ignations of higher officials will not be
allowed to interfere with progress.
The president is unaware of the
specific reasons which have been in
fluential in prompting Mr.. Stevens
resignation. 1t. surprised him very
much, for as late as the middle of
December Mr.. Stevens made no. mem
tion of his wish to retire. It-has been
known, however, that Mr. Stevens has
been stung very much by criticism
work, some of which came out during
hearings before committees of con- |
gressmen.
Stevens Gets = Better Job.
1t is understood Mr.. Stevens is leav-
ing to accept a position in connection |
this country at an annual salary more |
than double that he new receives from /
the governn ent. His friends contend |
that the organization of the forces on
the isthmus is excellent. Mr.. Stevens
is said to believe that he can now ter
inmate his connection with this great
without in any way jeop-
ardizing it's success.
For several weeks it has been ru-
mored here that Mr. Stevens was dis
with the plan of letting the
canal work out by contract. but as ex-
planned by a member of the cabinet
Mr. stevens really proposed to the
president the adoption of this method
Of constructing the canal.
The probability is that the admins
tration may determine to give out the
work to be done at the isthmus under
contract under the general direction of
the army engineers. After Major
.Soethals and his army associates have
been at the isthmus sufficient time to
1ecome fully acquainted with the
work to be done they will submit a
report on the situation to the presi-
lent If they feel the work can be
lone better by contract than under the
,e considered by the president and the
services of the same high class con-
ractors whose bids are now rejected
IF others of similar standing then may
)e invoked /
In his letter to the chairman of the
anal commission. instructing that
,ody to reject the bids for the con-
truction of the canal, the president
tates that the purpose of the contract
vas to secure in the building of the
ANAL the services of the best, most
and most skilled contrac-
ors in the country at the least risk to {
hem and at the least expense to the {
This purpose failed. he {
tated as the contractors whose per-
onaI services in the work are what '
he commissioners sought, have made
rraneements to divide the profits un-
er tine percentage bid with bankers I
nd others to whom the contractors
ave had to look for the needed capi-
al So that the contractors who are
ctualIv to do the work have arranged
n accent comparatively small pro-
ortfon of the profits accruing under
he contract
,e benefit of the government, the =.
resident. stated, in which the con-
actors energy. skill. experience and
ersonal supervision of the work are h
of adequately paid for The presi- a
ont f11rther stated that Mr.. Stevens. v
1e chief engineer, advised against ac- l
snting either the Macarthur or. Oil 4
er bid. b
,e contract proposed was that in it's
ain features it was formulated by b
r. Stevens who was expected to
1pervise the work as chief engineer n
is resignation, the president says.
lkes away the special reason mention
for proceeding under the present C
,rm of contract.
1t has been generally suspected that
:. J6Oliver would be denied the con- a
act because of the New York city ii
fuence. Several turns were made to
I him down easy, but he failed to get
le work and the country failed to get
e advantage of the low bid. K
Real Builders of Canal. IT
Major George W. -Goethals, who is p