Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-24
MAYOR mitchell HAS CANAL
BUILDERS ACCEPTANCE OF
CITY JOB.
CERTAIN CONDITIONS MUST
FIRST De COMPLIED WITH
Discharge From Army and Removal Of
Interference by Pstty Politicians
Conditions Which oosthaIs Insists
Upen-To BE Permitted to Complete
Work on Canal!

New York, Jan. 24.-H Col. George
w. Goethals should be offered the posi-
ton, OF governor Of the canal zone by
President Wilson he will not accept.
rhi. II the interpretation Mayor John
Purroy Mitchell placed today on Colonel
Goethals present attitude toward the
police commissionership Of this city
which has been rendered him.
Tho fact that Col. George w. Goetn-
ais was willing to entertain under cer-
tain conditions the offer to take the po-
sition Of police commissioner OF New
York city Is said to have been due to
Mrs. theodore Roosevelt more than
any one else.
Mrs. Roosevelt Urges.
Colenel Goethals was first approached
on the subject by Mayor John Purroy
Mitchell. No direct offer was made out
the colonel made 1t known that ne
would not accept. Mrs. Roosevelt VS.
tied Panama soon after and 1t Is salo
learned that Colonel Goethals was con-
sidering the tentative offer made 10
him by the mayor.
Mrs. Roosevelt at once became inter
ested and talked with Colonel Goethels
about the New York police department
She urged the colonel to reconsider MS
determination. Mrs. Roosevelt anu
Mrs. Goethals also discussed the ques-
ton. Mrs. Goethals, it Is understood.
is anxious to leave Panama for good
and told Mrs. Roosevelt so. and 1t was
on her suggestion that Mayor Mitchell
was urged to send an emissary to Col
onel Goethals. Mrs. Goethals came to
New york on the same steamship with
Mrs. Roosevelt.
Aoespts conditionaIIy.
On her arrival in New York Mrs.
Roosevelt communicated with Mayor
Mitchell and told him there was Q pos
sibility that Colonel Goethals might ac.
cept the comHnissionership.
The mayor took up the question with
George W. Perkins. with the result that
Mr.. Perkins went to Panama and has
inst returned with Colonel Goethafs
conditional acceptance.
The conditions he named and which
Mayor Mitchell has announced that he
win make every effort to meet Is that
a law depriving courts Of the power to
review the dismissal by the police
commissioner Of police officials be
passed. Another condition named was
that he be retired from the army. In
which he has served thirty y-four years.
Tho publication Of Colonel Goethals'
letter drew from Washington the state
ment that 1t was the understanding
that President Wilson had all along in
tended to appoint the builder Of the
Panama canal the hrst governor Of the
canal zone.
In discussing this reported intention
of President Wilson to name Colonel
aoethals head Of the Panama govern
ment, Lindley Garrison, secretary OF
war. in New York, said TODAY:
II consider the services Of Colonel
Goethals invaluable and hope he will
remain In Panama"
Mitchell e Sound President.
IF language means anything" said
the mayor. Colonel Goethals will be-
come police commissioner Of New
York City providing the conditions he
imposes are fulfilled"
The mayor added that II occasion de-
manded he would go to Washington
to sec President Wilson concerning
Colonel Goethals and that he expected
at any rate to get IN communication
with the president shortly. He ex,
poets the president to grant the colo
ners request for retirement from thu
army. This, he intimated, would b
the subject to be taken up with thu
president. The two conditions imposed
by Colonel 0oethals are retirement from
the army and the enactment Of legisla
tion which viii give the police commits
sioner power to remove subordinate
without court review.
II have not asked the president t
retire Colonel Goethals as yet" sal
the mayor in reply to a question. g
am willing to walt several months 70
the colonel. certainly never expected
him to accept until he had finished hi
duties in the canal xone."
Mayor Mitchell was In conferenc
with attorneys today preparing bill
to be submitted to the legislature Civ
ing Colonel Goethals the police power
he DESIRES
= -