United States. Second Isthmian Canal Commission

The Second Isthmian Canal Commission was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt on March 8, 1904. By Presidential order of May 9, 1904, under authority of the Panama Canal Act of 1902 (32 Stat. 481), approved June 28, 1902, and the Panama Canal Act of 1904 (33 Stat. 429), approved April 28, 1904, the Secretary of War was made supervisor of canal construction and the Second Isthmian Canal Commission was vested with all Canal Zone government power. The Commission consisted of seven members, appointed by the President with the consent of the U.S. Senate. The Commission's work was considered unsatisfactory and it went out of existence in 1905. It was replaced by the Third Istmian Canal Commission by an executive order of April 5, 1905.

The Commission had the authority for digging, construction, and completion of the canal, as well as all governmental power in and over the Canal Zone. This included making surveys, borings, designs, plans, and specifications of the engineering hydraulic, and sanitary works required for construction of a canal; making and executing all necessary contracts for all kinds of engineering and construction works; making all rules and regulations for the government of the Canal Zone and for the correct administration of military, civil, and judicial affairs of its possessions; and establishing a civil service for the government of the strip and construction of the canal.