The Washington times., 1908-12-29
President Announces Engi-
neers TO Accompany His
Successor to Panama.
LOEB IS GOING
TO FIX DETAILS
RumOrs of Cabinet Position Again
Heard egarding Secretary
of the Executive.

The names of the six eminent enEi-
ncers who are TO accompany Mr.. Taft
on his Panama trip were made public
40 the White House this morning in
the following statement.
The President has invited the fol-
lowing engineers to accompany Mr.. Taft
on his trip 20 Panama: Arthur p. Da-
Wis. chief engineer, Reclamation Service
Washington. John r. Freeman. Provi-
dcnCe, r. l.. Allen Hazcn New York.
~ Y; lsham Randolph. Chicago. Ill:
James Dix Schuyler. Los Angeles. Cal /:
frederick p Stedrns, Boston, Mass.
Mr. Alfred Noble was the first engi-
uCcr invited by the President but he
was unable TO leave his present work
President selected the above six engi-
Ue6rS-
VIII Leave in January.
Tic trip OF the President-elect and
the engineers. which is taken for the
purposes of inspection. particularly Of
the site Of the Gatua dam abort which
there has ,an much commen' OF late,
viii begin the latter part of January.
The party will remain on the isthmus,
according TO- present plans, :,bOut one
week, and 10 viii visit, OF course, all
points of interest.
While on the isthmus Mr.. Taft. and
probably his party, viii he the guest
Of Colonel GOethals, the engineer officer
OF the army in charge OF the canal
work.
The engineers will endcavor. among
other things, TO ascertain the adequacy
of the foundations for jhe big Gatm
dam. which is one of the trouble points
I'm the canal work. Upon their report,
probably, VIII hinge the future opera
U0nS AT that point.
Mr.. Tafts personal observations will
be directed more closely 10 the admin
lstrative features Of the Zone, and any
tanEles which he finds viii receive his
prompt attention
To Go From Charleston
The present plan indicates that the
Taft party Will sail from Charleston S.
c.. on some war vessel which will he
accompanied by some other fighting ship
OF the navy.
Tn order to perfect the plans for the
trip, Secretary Loeb, who always ar
ranges the details Of Mr.. RONSeVelts
j3uuts, viii go to Augusta I'm a few
days to confer with Mr.. Taft about the
lattor'S excursion TO the South.
While Mr. Loeb denied absolutely
that there is any other significance TO
he attached 10 his visit to Augusta. and
and while his great mastery Of details
such as viii confront the expedition
tS recognized. ii Is rUmOred about the
White House today that the efficient
secretary 90 the present Executive is
going To meet the coming master Of
the White House by request.
May Get Cabinet Post.
It is believed that, while Mr.. Loeb
is i'm Augusta. the authoritative announce
ment viii he made thatg ne has been
offered 4 Cabinet position with the new
Administration.
Before Mr.. Loeb goes to Augusta. or
possibly, just about the same time,
senator Knox, who has been named
already as Mr.. Tafts Secretary Of State,
VIII have conferred with Mr. Taft
Tt IS believed that the Secretary to
the President will he offered either the
SccrCtaryshiD OF the Department Of
Commerce and Labor, or the Navy port
folio Either one, his friends think, he
would accept, In spite Of any business
offers which ne may have had