Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-12

sortly after :; O'Clock this afternoon
from Panama, and was enthusiastical-
" received by the entire city, whose
guest he is to be until Saturday
morning.
Mr. Taft made a brief speech this
Afternoon in which he heartily eX-
pressed approval Of the present lock
type OF canal across the lsttmus q
PanaIna He reviewed a parade of cit
izeE% mills III length and tonight at
tenGt on. of the carnival season
balls that OF the Elves of Oberon.
Tomorrow he VIII address the Negro
Y. NJ. {. A., spend several hours IN
,autorobiling and at night will be the
guest of honor ut an elaborate BAN
f;quet ut which nearly 800 prominent
s.citEcns will pay SIS plate to par
ticipate Saturday morning he VIII go
to Cincinnati, from whence. on Mon
day, nc will leave for Washington re-
turning again to Cincinnati WedneS-
day
Mr. Taft received the first news OF
the constitutional question which has
Ebeen raised against the appointment OF
Mr.. Knox to cabinet position by
wireless biography Yesterday. WheE
he was appraised OF the matter not
kOnlV py press ItSSdSt Dtt ny 81 ui''-
patch giving the views of Senator
Knox That he was somewhat disturb
ed over the situation last night was
admitted, but early today he received
the news Of the disposition of Con
g~cSs to obtiate the constitutional dis
ability and he was inclined to accept
the means adopted as a happy, solu
ton Of the difficulty. Until after
Econl'rence on the matter, to take
place between Mr. Taft and Mr..
Knox in Washington next Wednesday.
the PreSident-clect regards il as i'm
polite to discuss the question for pub
lcatIon.
- With the return of Mr. Taft to the
I'nitc1 states cabinet speculation be-
came once more attractive. NJ. Taft
s,sald he should adhere to his previously
announced plan of keeping silent and
also keeping cabinet appointments
open until the very last moment to
to provide against possible contingent
lcies.
it is regarded, however as highly
probable that offers of cabinet posi-
TORS are to be made without great
.ssdelay. Mr.. Taft said he had been
placel in possession of information he
desired, and had asked for during his
absence The expected arrival here in
cthe morning of Frank II. Hitchcock
and the presence here of ]. c. Shaffer.
7owner of the Chicago Evening Post, in
whose Judgment Mr. Taft said he
should place weight regarding cabinet
aspirants frcm the vicinity of Chicago,
made it apparent that cabinet activity
rhas begun In this connection there was
Il rumor here today thar J. W. Dicllin
son of Chicago. general counsel for
the Illinois Central Railway. is being
Considered for the war portfolio. but
no confirmation in the way Of a posi-
tive statement could be obtained.
! From what Mr.. Taft said today. it
is a fair inference that he has yet'dc-
"tided on no one for the treasury port
folio. hut that as to the other places
his ideas are decidedly more definite.
On the trip from Panama, Mr. Taft
made the first draft of his inaugural
address. This. he intends 70 submit
to c, rtain friends in Washington on
his forthcoming visit there next week.
The inability of the special board Of
civil engineers to complete their &c
port regarding the Panama canal made
the Washington visit planned by Mr..
Taft necessary. The engineers will go
at ohce to Washington To complete
their work.
I, 1t may he stated that their report
will be complete approval OF present
trlans and methods on the Isthmus
They will not only recommend the CON
,structioE of the Gatun dam. but give
it as their Judgment that the dam Will
be perfectly safe if built TO a height
of 1l5 instead OF 135 feet thus saving
expense in construction. Ctncr features
OF their report Will deal with the thick
ness of cement required for the walls
and floors OF the locks: devices for
handling ships in the locks and the
approval Of the Sl0.010.o0j Dreakwa
ters at Colon. the construction OF
which will create Il harbor out of the
present open roadstead. The delay of
the engineers in finishing their re-
port is said to be due to their desire
tor careful consideration regarding the
manne" of stating the" conclusions
rather than any disagreement regard
ing what those conclusions are.
In his speech on the steps OF the City
hall here today Mr.. Taft made what
he said was a summing up OF his re-
cent trip.
L
great constructive work. he said, af-
ter paying his compliments to his
audience, 1.-The greatest entered upon
bv any nation during the pas, TWO
centuries. and l am glad to say to you.
who perhaps are more interested Ill
that work than any other par, of the
people of the United States. that the
work is going on as you would have
1t go on; that on the first or January.
h915. at least. if not beforehand I ain
kerry much interested to have 1t with
In the next four vears-that canal will
be completed. And. when that time
comes you will see loading down this
river your great commerce, bound
through these straits to the west coast
IF America. to the west coast of South
America, to the Orient and to Aus
tralia.
.The board of engineers that accom-
r.n;ed me have examined the whole |
work and they say it is good: that 1t