The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-03-20
MAJOR GENERA"
GOETHALs is PLAN
Taft's Suggestion That He Be
Made One Is Taken Up at
Once by Senator Lodge.

Washington dispatches dated March
state That aIrbsomtion TO confer OH
Col. George w. Goethals the thanks of
congress and to authorize the President
to appoint him major general in the
Army, creating an additional number in
that grade to meet the situation, was
offered In the senate on that date by
senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massa.
thusetts and referred TO the commit
tee on military affairs. f @,
In this connection the Eastern press
has been giving much attention to the
address Of ex-President Taft before the
National Geographic Society in which
he urged that congress make Colonel
ioethals a E.ajof general and that when
= vacancy. oeeprS,the, President appoint
him chief of engineers. =.
'uwing TO the uiose friendship between
Mr.. Taft and Colonel Goethals the ex.
resident & suggestion was regarded as
significant and probably as indicating
Il preference by Colonel Goethals to
cOntinue his professional career rather
than accept the police eommissionship
81 the municipality of New York. -.
Mr.. Taft volunteered the suggestion
that satisfactory and capable police
commissioner might lie found in Capt
james g. Harbold of the United States
Nrmy, formerly assistant chief of the
Philippines Constabulary. ...,
High Honor Due Him.
Mr.. Taft said; "The strain through
which Colonel Goethals has passed is
only known to those who associated
With him in the work. The diplomacy,
The straightforward conduct, the per.
sistenco, the patience, the wonderful
Xecutive ability, the great engineering
skill, will some day be set forth as it
ught to be. Now it can only be de.
cribed in general terms. " f.
Colonel Cocktails is a soldier. He
professional military engineer His
life long he has regarded the chief of
engineers as the most important office
that be could hold. Why then should
ot the government provide when the
canal is completed for his elevation to
he grade of major general, and by the
special provision allow the President
hen the vacancy occurs TO name him
rs chief engineer of the ArmyR '....
commissionership Important.
~ know that it has been proposed
that he be spared to help New York
out as police commissioner. With his
hRtural executive ability, with his dip.
omacy and tact, | doubt not he would
TO as well there as any man who has
not had the peculiar experience neces-
'ary to complete success in that diff.
fCult place, ,..,.
"Nor do | minimize its Importance
or its dignity, for no higher duty could
fall to any one than to maintain the
God order and the law abiding condi.
ION Of n great metropolis of 100000
people, q.
g But why not keep Colouel Goethals
in the place he likes, in the work he
lik"s !" - .""t why suggest that he
enter other fields where success in less
assured and in VII ch possibly men with
greater specific g "crience in that Kin
Of work could s"rve the high parpOso
Mayor Mitchell has.
Recommends Harbold.
81 have personal knowledge OF Cap
tain Ilarbola's great tact, capacity and
training for such II public scrvire nnd
! do not Hesitate thus publicly to re-
'''. "' = 90 10 Nav"r Mitchell. ,hOul
tolop"l Goethals he treated ms have
suggested and should no other avail
abe Now York man ri the require.
The New Work Sun 81 Morch falls