The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-01
Col. Goethals Is Inaugurated
without Noise or Ceremony.
Panama Passes Under Perma-
nent Form of Government.
COMMISSION IS DISSOLVED
Work Progressed rs Usual,
Along the Big Ditch.
Organization May Not Be Com
pleted for q Year.

canal zone began business today un-
der a permanent form Of government.
The Isthmian canal commission.
which has governed the zone during
the construction Of the waterway. was
dissolved. and civil administration.
semi-military in character, was estab-
lished.
Colonel George w. Geethals, by ap-
pointment of the president of the
United States. became its first gov
ernor His Inauguration was remark
able. There were no ceremonies, no
speeches. no display.
In his ONCE on the top of Culebra
hill, overlooking the now famous cut
of that name. Colonel Goethals. chair
man and chief engineer of the 18TH
milan canal commission. simply began
his days work under a new title
Governor and Chief Of the Department
of Operation and Maintenance.
In the big cut below. while the col
Onel f1guratively transferred his power
from one hand to another, the steam
dredges were tearing away at the foot
of Curcaracha slide. and locomotives
were busy hauling away more of the
along the whole route Of the canal
There were no extra flags flying, no
outward show of any kind that the
government of the zone was under
going any changes. These were
changes in name merely, SO far as
most of the canal workers were con-
cerned. Ever since Col Goethals be-
came the guiding spirit of the work
he has been the benevolent despot''
of the fsthmus, and there are few
new faces in the group Of men who
have found a place in the permanent
His Assistants.
The list has been announced as fol-
lows:
Engineer Of MATHEMATICIAN.
Harry F. Hodges of the army en-
gineers.
Superintendent OF Interpretations
Captain Hugh Rodman, U. s. N.
Electrical engineer-Captain W. H.
Rose of the army engineers.
Captains for the terminal ports
d. E. Dismukes and Lieu
tenant Commander Henry v. Butler,
U. S. N.
Superintendent of shops and dry
docks-Naval Constructor D. C. Nut
ting.
General purchasing officer-Major
F. c. Boggs, army engineers.
Chief quartermaster-Capt r. E.
Wood. United States cavalry (tem-
porarily, pending reorganization of
the supply Department..
Auditor-H. A. A. Smith; assistant
B. F. Harrah.
Chief health ofiicer-Lieutenant
Colonel Charles F. Mason, medical
corps, U. S. A.
Chief officer Of the quarantine d.
Assistant Surgeon
Marshall c. Guthrie. U. s. bureau of
public health.
Executive secretary-C A. Nell
vaine.
Only small portion Of the perma-
nent organization became actually eff
fective today. It probably will not be
perfected until all the construction
work has been done. which will re-
quire probably another year.
That part of the old organization
that will feel the new order of things
first is the old department of civil ad-
over which, Richard L.
Metcalfe presided. AS fast as practi-
cable, Col. Goethals said, this will be
reorganized and will be placed under
the new executive secretary. The
which formerly were consid-
cred a part of this department., al
ready have been separated and con-
solidated under the one federal Judge
and his two assistants at either end of
the canal.
Department Changes.
The sanitary and health department
also will soon be on the permanent
basis The work practically has been
and the new department Of
health with Col. Mason at its head,
will in future look after the SANTA
ton Of the zone and the Isthmus of
generally.
The department of operation and
will not be fully estab-
lished until the canal has been fully
The accounting department of the
organization will succeed
to the work formerly done by the di-
vision of disbursements and the ex-
amineE Of accounts. Nothing more
than a consolidation and a slight con-
of working force will be
needed to make them ready for their
new work.
All departments will be directly re-
sponsible to the governor of the
Panama canal. who, in turn, is re-
sponsible to the president of the
United States through the war depart
ment.
When in operation it is estimated
there will be about 1000 American
white employees on the canal. and
perhaps a few hundred negro labor
ers, all residents Of the canal zone.