The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-23
PRESIDENTS LETTER
Tells the Commissioners Why
They Were Appointed
INTEGRITY AND ABILITY
They Must Observe the Same
Plan in Selecting,

Washington. March 22-PreIiminary
work was begun today By the isthmiar
canal commission. The first fun meeting
Of the committee was held in the Offices
of Admiral Walker, the chairman Lit
tie of Importance was accomplished, the
session resolving Itself into an informal
discussion OF the various features of the
preliminary work and Of the preparations
of the first visit OF the commission TO
Panama a letter from the President
was read. President Roosevelt enter
taired the members of the commission
and Secretary Taft at luncheon today.
During the luncheon there was a general
discussion OF various phases of the canal
question.
The letter which was read at the meet
ing is as follows:
Il have appointed you as the commits
sion which is to undertake the most i'm
portant and also the most formidable
engineering feat that has hither TO been
attempted. You are to do work the DO
ing Of which if well done will reflect
high honor upon this nation and when
done will be of incalcuabie benefit not
only to this nation but TO civilized man.
kind. AS you yourselves must individu-
ally know, / have chosen you with re-
ference to nothing save my belief that
you are among all the available men of
whom l have knowledge to bring this
great task to a successful conclusion
You have been chosen because of your
personal regulations for integrity and
ability. You represent the whole coun-
try. You represent neither section nor
party have not sought 10 find out the
politics of single one of you and indeed
as TO the majority of you l have not the
slightest idea what your political af-
filiations are. l believe that each one of
you will serve not only with fidelity but
with the utmost honestly. Moreover,
shall expect if at any time any one of
you feel that the work is too exhausting
and engrossing for him to do in the best
possible manner he will so inform me in
order that l may replace him by some
man who has the requisite ability and
the strength to give air the effort needed.
But long as you render efficient ser
vice of the highest type in the work you
are appointed to perform you are as
sured of my hearty support and backing
IN every way.
'These are the conditions under which
you have been appointed and which / ex-
pect you viii observe. ! shall expect you
to appoint no man for reasons other than
your belief in the aid he can render you
in digging the canal. If, having APP
pointed any man, you find that your ex-
pectations about him are not fulfilled |
shall expect you TO dismiss hi mout OF
hand; | shall expect that under such cir
cumstances You shall pay not the slight
est heed to the influence the man hay
have. l assume of course that in deal
ing with contractors you will act on pre-
cisely the principles which would apply
in any business undertaking. There is
no man among you to whom l think 1t
is necessary to say word as to the stan
dard of honesty TO be exacted from every
employe or contractor; for if / had, had
the slightest ground for suspicion that
there were need to say such a word TO
any one of you l should not have APP
pointed him. But l DO wish to emphasize
the need Of using vigilance in the per
Torrance of this great work.
''As to the details Of the work itself
1 have but little to say. 1t is to be done
as expediously as possible and as econo-
mically as is consistent with thorough
ness. There is one matter to which I
ash, your special attention; the question
of sanitation and hygiene. You will take
measures to secure the best medical ex-
perts for this purpose whom you can OBJ
tain and you will of course. make the
contractors submit as implicitly as your
own employees to all the rules and regu-
lations of the medical department under
you. l presume you viii find ii best to
have one head for this medical depart
ment but that I shall leave to your own
judgment.
The plans are to be carefully made
with view to the needs not only of
the moment but of the future. The ex-
penditures are to be supervised as rigo-
rouSly as if they were being made for a
private corporation dependent for its pro-
fits upon the returns. You are to secure
the best talent this country can afford
10 meet every need which may arise.
The methods for achieving the results
must he yours. What this nation viii
insist upon IS that the results be ac-
cheved.
(Signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The Isthrian Canal Committee
ARREST OF CASHIER