The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-03-02
Stevens resigns.
Chef ENGlNEEROfPA
WILL QUIT.
President Practically Decides to
Abandon Contract Plan and
Have Canal Built Under Super
vision of United States Army
Engineers.

addressed to Chairman ShOntS OF the
isthmian canal commission. President
Roosevelt, as far as lay in his power
under the existing law, transferred to
the engineering branch of the army
the responsibility for the construction
of the Panama canal. He also formally
recorded the abandonment, for the
present at least, of the project of hav-
ing the canal work done by contract
on the percentage system. Another
feature was the announcement of the
resignation of Jonhn F. Stevens as
engineer in chief of canal construc-
tion. Mr.. Stevens is in New York,
where he will today preside at meet
ing of the directors of the Panama
railroad company, of which he is pres
ident, and will, it is expected, for
mally resign that Office.
The president intends that there
shall be an entire reorganization of
the commission, with three army off,
GERS of the engineering corps as the
leading members, who are to haze
charge of the engineering feature of
UAO WOlhs AO OAdl1 ndA dAu
engineer in chief of the commission
will be Maj. q. W. Goethals. His as
sociates will be Maj. Du B. Gaillard
and Maj. William M. Seibert, to rank
in the order named. These officers
are all Comparatively young, ambitious
and energetic.
Senator Joseph s. G. Black burn, of
Kentucky, who will retire from the
United States senate on March 4, is
to be made member of the reorgan-
lied commission. The nominations
of the present commission now pend
ing before the senate, include the
names of Messrs. Shonts Stevens,
Haines, Endicott, Herrod, Gorgas and
Jackson Smith. Their confirmation
is desired in order to remove all doubt
as to the legality of certain acts they
haev performed in connection with
the making of contracts. The retire
ment of Messrs. Shonts and Stevens
will leave but two vacancies, so that
there will be two more retirements
necessary to make way for the three
army officers and Senator Blackb burn.
Work Shall Proceed
The president is determined that the
work on the canal shall proceed con-
tinuously and the temporary "disloca-
tions' caused by the designations Of
higher officials will not be allowed to
interfere with progress. The presi-
dent is unaware of the specific reasons
which have been influential in promp-
ting Mr.. Stevens to resign. 1t sur
prised him very much, for as late as
the middle of December Mr.. Stevens
made no mention of his wish to retire.
It has been known, however, that Mr..
Stevens has been stung by criticism
aimed at him in connection with the
canal work, some of which came out
during hearings of committees of con-
gress. 1t is understood Mr.. Stevens is
leaving to accept position in connec-
ton with a great engineering enter
prise in this country at an annual sal
airy more than double that he now re-
ceives from the government. His
friends contend that the organization
of the forces on the isthmus is excell-
ent. Mr.. Shonts is said to believe
that he can now terminate his connec-
tion with the great enterprise without
in any way jeopardizing it's success.
Stevens Dissatisfied
For some weeks it has been rumored
here that Mr.. Stevens was dissatisfied
with the plan of letting the canal
work by contract, but, as explained by
a member of the cabinet, Mr.. Stevens
'eally proposed to the president the
adoption of this method of construct
ing the canal. The probability is that
the administration may determine to
give out the work to be done on the
isthmus under contract under the
genera. direction of the army engin-
GERS.
After Maj. Goethals and his army
associates have been at the isthmus
sufficient time to become fully ac-
quainted with the work to be DONE
they will submit report on the situa,
ton to the president. If they feel the
work can be done better by contract
than under the present system. the
question will again be considered by
the president and the services of the
same high class contractors whose bids
are now rejected, or others Of similar
standing, may be invoked.
The presidents reasons for making
the changes and refusing all oids so
far offered for building the canal, are
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