Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-24

the Belmont-Ryan syndicate that con
trolls the subway and elevated railway
systems of Greater New York
President Roosevelt has accepted
the resignation to take effect March
next
Caused No Surprise.
News of the resignation and of Mr..
Shonts' election as president of the
InterborOugh, which already had taken
place, according to advices from New
York. caused no surprise in congress
sional circles. especially among sena-
tors who have been closely identified
with Panama canal affairs.
Mr.. Shonts leaves the government
service. in which he received a salary
of 100000 annually. to do better for
himself financially. That he will profit
greatly from a financial standpoint is
beyond question, but Washington re-
fuses to find in this fact full explana-
tion for Mr.. Shonts' action. As stated
above. senators were not at all sur
prised to hear that the resignation had
been rendered and accepted.
Clash With Stevens:
There are rumOrs of differences over
the matter of letting the canal contract
that possibly may have hastened Mr.
Shonts' retirement, but back of every
thing like that there are known to have
been some serious differences between
the chairman of the commission and
Chief Engineer John F. Stevens.
ShOnts Says It's True.
ST Louis. Mo, Jan 24-Theodore P.
Shonts arrived in st. Louis at $780,
last night on a special train over the
Glover Leaf road, enroute from New
York and departed at 1880 over the
Burlington for Kansas City. where he
will deliver an address tonight.
Mr. ShOnts had retired just before
the train pulled into the union station,
but through his private secretary, w.
Leon Pepperman. the story of his res
ignation was conveyed to him. After
time Mr.. Pepperman came out of the |
private car and said:
<'I read the dispatch to Mr. Shonts
and he told me to say to you that it |
was substantially correct as to facts. !
Mr. Shonts has been up since 1 o'clock |
this morning and is tired, and has
nothing further to say regarding the !
natter
ShOntS' Active Career.
Mr. Shonts is so years old. He be-
gan his business career as a lawyer,
but later engaged in the railroad busi-
ness. Management and construction
were his principal fields of occupation |
up to the acceptance of the position |
on the canal commission. In the sos |
he built two lines of road, one of which !
now is a part of the Iowa Central and
the other of the Burlington, and subse- |
quently constructed the Indiana, Illi-
nois & Iowa. of which he was the prin-
cipal owner until its absorption by the
Lake Shore. He then became presi- |
dent of the Glover Leaf" as the To-
ledo, st. Louis & Western is known.
He still holds the position, and, |
apart from the general statement that
he intends to devote his whole time to
the Interborough-Metro it is not
known whether or not he will resign
this position.
Left Railroad Also.
Kansas City, Jan. 24.-Theodore
Shonts, who speaks here tonight, ar
rived this morning from the east. To-
the Associated Press he said his res
.ignation as president of the Panama
Railroad & Steamship line was includ
ed in his resignation as chairman of
the isthmian canal commission.
Two Offices Combined.
Washington, Jan. 24.-Announcement
was made at the war department today
the offices of chairman and chief en-.