New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-25
COCKTAILS WILL Be
NAMED CANAL HEAD
But President Is Undecided
as to COlOnel'S Plea
for Retirement.
[From The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington, Jan. o4-The President
has made up his mind TO name Colonel
George ". Goethals as first Governor of
the Panama Canal Zone. This may be
stated m the highest authority. although
no definite information regarding the pur-
pose Of the chief Executive has been COM
municated to Colonel Goethsls.
Whether. after the opening Of the canal,
,he President will grant request by
Colonel Goethsls to be placed on the re-
tired list Of the army remains to be de-
termined The Chief Executive is not
likely to reach any decision on that point
until after he hss had talk with the
Mitchell purposes to come here and appeal
10 the President to retire Colonel Goethals
when he shall have completed his work
at Panama. II is improbable, however,
that Mr.. Mitchell viii gain any definite
Information on the subject
The President VIII be anxious 10 retain
the services II the chief engineer for the
government. and while he probably would
not refuse a positive request made by
that distinguished army officer. he un-
doubtedly will seek TO dissuade him from
making the formal request.
Colonel Due in Washington Soon.
AS Colonel Goethals will come TO Wash
ington before long in connection with the
annual appropriation for the construction
and maintenance Of the canal, there will
be ample opportunity Tor the President TO
discuss the subject with him. In the
mean time there will be no decision on
the question of his retirement, according
TO the best information obtainable from
the White House.
Official Washington is still somewhat
skeptical regarding Colonel Goethals's de-
sire 10 become Police Commissioner Of
New York. He is essentially man Of
quick decision and prompt action, and it
is known he has chafed under the ap-
parent indecision of the White House re-
garding the permanent organization OF
the canal force. II is known that Secre-
tarv BRYAN has all along hoped something
would happen 10 take the chief engineer
out Of the canal equation, so that Mr..
Bryan's protege. Richard l.. Metcalf
could be made Governor. Regarding this
proposition the President has said notn-
ing.
The friends of Colonel Goethals believe
this situation has been the occasion of
considerable irritation to the chief en-
gineer who has felt that dilatory tactics
in Washington should not be permitted to
prolong his necessary service on the
isthmus. and there is considerable susDi-
cion that when he sent 10 Mr.. Mitchell the
letter which has been published he was
somewhat influenced by the failure Of
Washington TO reach 4 decision.
Colonel Goethals has insisted he should
have year to train the operating force of
the canal His nope was that he might
accomplish this training and retire from
his post as head Of the Canal Zone before
the formal opening. the fuss and feath-
ers" OF which he has been anxious TO
avoid. on the other hand. he has felt 1t
essential TO. the protection not only of
his own reputation but that Of the otner
engineers associated with him I'm the con-
struction OF the canal that the operating
force should be properly trained before he
relinquished control.