The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-28
PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY ON
THE ISTHMUS COMES
TO END.
Change Effective April 1st and
GOethals Will BE Supreme.
Makes No Comment.

d =
ton OF permanent government for
the Panama canal zone to supersede
the lsthmian canal commission on
April l was authorized by President
Wilson today, with the announcement
that the nomination OF Colonel George
! w. Goethals TO be first governor OF
the Panama canal could be sent to
the senate in a few days
Colonel Goethals' idea OF zone.
man government is carried out I'm the
executive order, which was made pub
lie by Secretary Garrison Immediately
after today's cabinet meeting. The
authority OF the governor Is to be
supreme, under the secretary OF war.
Official notification OF his selection
was cabled TO Colonel Goethals at
Panama. Secretary Garrison. who
personally told the Colonel that he
would be made the first governor when
he visited the canal zone last sum
mer, said he was confident there
would be no question about accept
ance. The change in title will mean a
loss OF $4,000 year to the head OF
the zone, as the governors salary will
De SlO.OOO and he now receives S15,-
600 as chairman of the commission.
secretary Garrison announced that
IL was proposed 10 resole the members
OF the commission with the exception
or Colonel Goethals into a new COM
mission to arrange for and conduct
the ceremonies incident to the open
ing OF the canal Congress will be
islation.
Lose Increased Paw.
As today's executive order not only
terminates the existence of the canal
commission on April l. but also the
present organization OF the working
force in the zone, many OF the army
officers connected herewith will lose
the increased pay which they have
been receiving under the commission
torm OF government. The order au.
thorizes the designation of n number
or such officers OF the army as well
as few naval officers for duty in
the various departments of the per
manent canal government, but the act
OF congress provides that they shall
serve at their regular army and navy
salaries. IL has been assumed that
some OF the officers now on the
isthmuS would be appointed to new
positions created by the order, but
Secretary Garrison today was not pre-
on this point.
President Wilson sent out his rea-
sons for adopting the plan OF govern
ment provided for by his order in the
Following memorandum:
In constituting and carrying out the
foregoing order I direct that il be
tions i'm view:
II have deemed II advisable for rea-
sons OF efficiency, economy and good
administration to have all the Gctivi-
ties connected with the Panama canal
under the supervision of one cabinet
olicer.
The troops which will be stationed
on the canal zone for the protection
OF the Panama canal are under the
secretary or war: the Panama canal
act prohides that In time OF war an
onlcer OF the army shall. upon the
order or the president. have exclusive
authority over the operation OF the
Panama canal and the government OF
the canal zone; the construction OF
the canaI has been successfully car.
ried on under the supervision Of the
secretary or war; the logical cOnclu-
sion Is. therefore. that the supervision
or the operations OF the Panama canal
under the permanent organization
should be under the secretary or war"
eoethsIs Non-committaL
PANAMA, Jan 27.--The news OF the
signing today by President Wilson OF
an executive order establishing a per-
manent governor for the canal zone.
with Colonel Goethals as governor
reached here late today and brought
with II a general feeling OF relief al
the ending OF the uncertainty. When
word was conveyed TO Colonel Goeth-
ais that he had been appointed GOV.
]
clined to make any comment in the
absence Of official notification.
10 IL believed In officials circles here
that the plan submitted by Colonel
Goethals through the secretary OF war
has been followed. This would give
the governor control OF all features oil
the administration. tho more impor-
tant officials being either navy or army
officers experienced in the work OF tho
respective departments Of which they
will have charge
NEW YORK. Jan Mayor John
Purroy Mitchell indicated today that
bis hope that Colonel GoethaIe would
become New York's police commig-
sioner has not been removed bv tho
canals engineer appointment a.
civ1 governor Of the Panama zone
1t viii be an tho 0ncr 10 Colonel
Goethals serves as governor of the
canal zone before no becomes no
lice commissioner" tho MAYOR elId.
10 VIII give him more distinction. ."
STRANGE CASE