The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-19
TAFT TALKS ON
PANAMA CANAL
Money Appropriated by Congress Is
About Exhausted.
PAYROLL REACHES BIG SUM
WORK WILL SOON STOP FOR
LACK OF FUNDS.

ST. Louis. Nov. 1S-Secretary Of War
w. Fl. Taft was the guest of honor at
the monthly banquet tonight of the ST.
Louis Commercial club and spoke on ''rhc
Panama Canal" He arrived early III
the evening from Washington and was
met at the union station by a delegation
from the Commercial club. He will re-
main in ST. Louis until tomorrow even
ing. when he will depart for Kansas City
TO deliver an address there on Monday
night
The banquet tonight was held at the
81; Louis club and covers were laid for
100 When Secretary Taft arrived ne
was accorded an ovation In his address
he spoke of the improvements effected
INA sanitation, transportation Of supplies,
housing Of employees and general con-
ndence. Secretary Taft said that the
SlbUO0.0OO voted by congress TO begin the
preliminary work on the canal is about
exhausted and that there is not enough
money on hand after the December pay
roll. which amounts 10 S6OO,OOO month.
lie continued:
= Many Bills Unpaid.
There are bills unpaid for material
and supplies which should be paid at
once. The delay is quite oppressive ana
unjust to the creditors OF the govern
ment. II will he necessary, therefore, Tor
congress to make an emergency appro-
priatiOn 20 carry on the work. without
calamitOus apprehension. Nothing could
be more disastrous than to have the pay
rolls 90 unpaid for even few weeks.
This WaSethe trouble with the New
French Panama Canal company. Ger
tainly there is nothing i'm the credit of the
United States lustifying suspension OF
payments. / know there is a disposition
in some quarters, and possibly among
some members of congress, to lnVestl-
90 70 ~ IN fF1rr fsnnngRrpn
nal But while this desire 10 know all
about the canal and it's construction Is
most cOmmendable. il viii hardly be al
lowed to delay the current approprla-
lions for the daily work by 1900 laborers
that is now being so successfully car
Pushed the Work.
1T may be asked why have the con
ditiOns been allowed to arise under whicA
| an emergency appropriation must De
asked? The answer is that those respon-
sibIe deemed il their chief duty TO push
the work. to buy needed plant and ma
terial as rapidly as possible, and to IN
crease the payroll as far as provision
could be made for the housing and com
fort of the additional labOrers and en-
| plOyes. 1t was supposed that an extra
| session of congress would be called III
October, when ample time would nave
/ been given for elaboration in making
all the necessary appropriations.
Now il will be necessary 10 MAKE PAL
| tial appropriations TO pay current Ollis
and meet the necessary pdyrOllS untli
definite estimates for each fiscal year
work can be submitted 10 congress. as
in the case Of all other general appro-
priations Of congress. Assuming that tne
type of the canal is properly fl%ed, the
faster the work is done the better ever!
one will like il. 1t Is important ontN
that the money shall not be wasted by
/ haste and that the country snail recelNc
the worth of its money. Subject TO tIIs
h.. Tor he
can spend in a year in building the canal
therefore, the better.
Powerful Opposition.
Secretary Taft said that one OF the
great obstacles to success in building the
canal is the opposition of powerful per
sons and interests TO its construction.
Some of this opposition. he says. cont )
from those who are sincerely convinced
that the Panama route D not pracu-
cable one. He said it was not TO be eX-
pectcd that great trdnscOntinenJal lines
should become enthusiastic over an ell
terpTise which. if carried 10 completion,
must certainly affect the rates OF 1rtlS ht
between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
Even now he said. there il some ques
tion as 10 whether low rates and equallly
OF service 10 all on the Panama railroad
NAV not reduce trdnsCOnbneutal rates
Secretary Taft said that opposition 10
the building OF the canal was found I'D
MISREPRESENTATION of conditions on the
{ fSfhmuSt IN Nnfobndtt reports toitCttttit'd
Z friction between those having authority
in the canal work. in intimatiOns of H.
ragularities and frauds and favoritism IN
( contracts without any evidence what
ever TO Justify suspicion" ana generally
! in the constant suggestion Of a presump-
ton that the expenditure of millions ~
building the canal must involve srdII,
Doubtless, he said, congressional lnVesu
cations viii be held from time TO time.
/ Doubtless they ought to be held 10 as
! sure the public: but if they are 10 be
/ permitted 10 delay the work on the canal
/ and to paralyzc the energy of those upon
( whom the burden of pushing the Work
must fall, they will be productive OF eva
| and will become exactly what the many
private interests would be glad TO have
} them become-the grave OF ali the nl-
homes for a trans-Isthmian canal. The
American people Will not permit such a
calamity
Secretarv Taft said that so long as
/ the canal work remains under his super
vision he would deem il his duty 10 visit
/ the isthmus once q year.