The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-02-12
GREETED BY THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AND WHISTLES
OF MANY CRAFT.
HIS VISIT TO PANAMA
Steps--Engineers Report Not
Completed, But They Are
Pleased With Work.

eject Iaft lanued mere SH0fliy LelOf2
3 O'Clock this afternoon from Tanama
and was enthusiastically received by
the entire city, whose guest he is to
be until Saturday morning.
Taft made brief speech this after
noon in which he heartily approved
the present lock type Of canal across
the sthmus He reviewed parade
mile in length and later attended
one of the carnival season balls
Taft will tomorraw address the ne
gro Y. NJ. G. A., spend several hours
automobiling and at night be the
guest OF honor at an elaborate ban
quet Saturday morning the presi.
dent-elect will 80 to Cincinnati from
where. on Monday. ne will leave for
Washington, returning again to Gin
cnnati Wednesday,
Concerning Knox.
Taft received the first news of the
constitutional question raised against
the appointment of Knox to cabinet
position by wireless yesterday. That
he was somewhat disturbed over the
situation last night was admitted,
but early today he received the
news of the disposition of congress
to amend the cabinet salary law by
making the pay of the secretary Of
state the same as 1t was before the
recent increase, and he was inclined
to take this as happy solution of the
utnIcuity. Pending Il Conference on
the matter, which will tae place be-
tween Taft and Knox in Washington,
the president-elect regards 1t as Inn
polite 10 discuss the quAtion fer
publication.
Cabinet Rumors Afoat.
The arrival here this afternoon OF
Frank H. Hitchcock, who was grant
ed an immediate conference. and the
presence mere of j. c. Shaffer, owner
OF the Chicago evening Post, on
whose judgment Taft said he should
place weight regarding cabinet as
pirants from the vicinity of Chicago,
caused the circulation of cabinet
rumors.
One was TO the effect that j. NJ.
Dickinson general counsel for the
Illinois Central was being consid-
cred for the war portfolio, but no
confirmation in the way of positive
statement could be obtained.
On the trip from Panama, Taft
made the first 1raft of his inaugural
address. This he intends to submit
TO certain friends in Washington
next week.
Engineers Fail to Report.
The inability of the board of civil
engineers to complete their report
On the questions regarding which
their advice has been asked regard
ing the Panama canal, made the
Washington visit planned by Taft
necessary. The engineers will go at
once to Washington to complete their
work. Ii may be stated that their
report will be a complete approval of
the present plans and methods on
the isthmus. They will not only
recommend the construction of the
Gatun dam. but give 1t as their judg-
ment that the dam will be perfectly
safe II built TO n height Of 1i5 feet
Instead of 1876 feet, thus saving ex-
pense I'm construction.
Other features of their report will
deal with the thickness Of the ce'
ment required for toe walls and
floors of the locks: devices for hand
ling ships in the locks, and approval
Of the s10.OOo000 breakwaters at
Colon. the construction of which will
create a harbor out of the present
open r0adstead.
The failure Of the engineers to-
complete their report was said to be
their desire for a careful considera-
tion regarding just the manner OF
stating their conclusins. rather tnan
any disagreement regarding what
those conclusions are.
In his speech on the steps of the
CITY hall here today. Taft made
what he said was his summing Of
ais recent trip.
Sums Up His Trip.
I am here on my way from a.
great constructive work" he said.
The greatest entered upon by any
nation during the present two cen
turtles. and 7 am glad to say to YOU.
who perhaps are more interested in
that work than any other part Of the
people Of the United States. that the
work is going on as YOU would have
il 90 on. That on the first Of Jan
wary. 1915. al least. II not before
and I am very much interested n
having it within the next four years
that canal viii be completed. and
when that time comes you Eill see
loading down this river your great
commerce bound through thOs
straits TO the west ooast Of Africa
20 the vest coast Of South America
IN the Orient and TO Australia