Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-28
GEN. MACkENzIE'S SUCCESSOR
NEW CHIEF OF ENGINEERS
WILL SOON BE CHOSEN.
Lieut.. Coils. symons, Leach, King
man and Rossell are the Promi-
nent Candidates.

There is much speculation in army cir
cles in regard to the probable choice OF
the President as successor to Gen. Mac
kenze as chief of engineers when that
officer retires May % at the age of sixty
four years. 1t is understood to be the
Presidents policy to confine the selection
to an engineer officer who will serve al
least four years, which is the regular
period of appointment. Consequently only
one of the colonies Is metioned as
candidate. Most Of the others retire with
I'm the next two years. one before Gen.
Mackenzie and two others in the present
year.
The candidate in whose behalf the most
activity is manifested by his friends is
Lieut. Col T. w. Symons. The others
prominently mentioned are Lieut. Co!: ..
s. Leach. at present on duty In the war
Of engineers; Lieut. Col D. c. Kingman,
who is on duty in connection with river
and harbor work at Savannah. Ga, and
Lieut.. Col. w. T. Rossell. VINO is on
river and harbor work at Cincinnati. II
is expected that the choice will rest be b;
L. Marshall, the engineer In charge OF
river and harbor work In New YORK
would be a strong favorite. but ne Will pe
retired in two years, in addition to which
the horsemanship test. and by ruling OF
the President army officers who are per-
mitted to avoid that test are not con-
sidered as candidates for promotion. An
other of the colonies. J.. D. g. knight'
chief engineer OF the Philippine division,
retires in 1910 and is spoken of for APP
pointment as general officer. :.
There Is q we'll defined belief that Lieut..
Col Leach has the sympathies of Secre-
tary Taft. Gen. Bell chief of staff. and
%A>A
through that advantage he may beethe
ultimate choice Of the President. The
fact that Lieut.. Coll T. W. :Symons has
enjoyed the Official confidence OF the
President as superintendent OF pubic
buildings and grounds. however. gives
is more likely to be the coming head OF
the Engineer Corps. The opposition to
the appointment of Col. Symons seems
to be mainly based on the fact that he
has been virtually out OF the corps OF
Engineers for the past four years Dur
ing that period he has been employed by
the State of New York at high salary
in connection with the construction OF
the deep water canal to the coast. He is
performing that service by special au-
thority of Congress. adopted In April,
1904. granting him indefinite leave of abb
sence for that purpose. His compensa-
ton from the state is greater than that
allowed the chief of engineers Of the
army, but it is understood that Col.
symons prefers the federal Office.
Col. Rossell and Lieut.. Col. Symons Will
retire for age in 1913, while Lieut.. Coils.
Leach and Kingman retire in 1918 and
1915. respectively. Col. w. H. Bixby. who
is not mentioned as a candidate. but who
IL eligible retires in 1913 None of the
other colonels would be able to serve
the four-year term which it is understood
the President desires to have to the cred
it Of the next chief Of engineers. In
deed. Col. H. M. Adams retires before
Gen. Mackenzie. while Col Sears and
Col. Hoxie retire in June and August OF
this wear. Coils M. B. Adams, D. w
Lockwood and f.. H. Ruffner retire IN
| 1900, and Coils J. G. d. Knight and w
L. Marshall retire in 1910.