Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-07-03
Taft Demands Immediate Resignation OF
Chief Engineer Of Canal
President Roosevelt Fully Approves the
Action Of Secretary Of War
Wanted to Quit $4,000 Job to Take
Charge Of a Rich Trust

Washington, June Exchanging him
with changing position over night Tor
mere lucre" and being Influenced
"solely by personal advantage, Secre-
tary Taft in a conference in New York
June 26 with John F. Wallace. chief
engineer of the Panama canal, alter
administering a severe rebuke to him,
requested his resignation on the
ground that "the public interest re-
uuires that you tender your reslgna-
ton this moment and turn over the
records of your Office to the chairman
of the commission"
This fact is disclosed in an official
statement issued from the Office OF the
secretary of war last night, which re-
views the relations of Wallace with
the war department and the commits
sion since the latter bOdy's reorganlza-
ton last spring, quoting several ex-
pressions of the chief engineer of his
satisfaction with the entire arraign-
ment ami giving practically verbatim
account VI LuS bOCWOSA SAAN
r secretary and Wallace in New York,
which concluded with the submission
to Secretary Taft of Wallace's resig-
nation. The statement concludes with
the presidents letter to Wallace,
dated Cambridge, Mass, June %:
President Backs Taft
Your resignation as member and
chief engineer of the isthmian canal
commission, rendered in accordance
with the request of Secretary Taft,
which request under the circumstan-
ces has my entire approval, is hereby
accepted, to take effect Immediately.
Every truly, Theodore Roosevelt.
The statement shows that Wallace
made no complaint against any OF his
associates. Secretary Taft returned
to Washington yesterday and went at
once to- his house, where he summoned
Mr.. Shonts, chairman of the isthmian
canal commission, and Mr.. Cromwell,
council for the commission. They en-
tered upon the preparation OF the
statement, which was not ready for
publication until late last night, the
secretary meantime talking with the
president over the long distance tele-
phone at Oyster Bay. The statement
was issued by direction of the presi-
dent.
Wallace Was WiIIino,
Secretary Taft begins with the state
ment of Wallace to Chairman Shonts
Immediately after the organization Of
the commission that he would be ready
to accept the position of chief engi-
neer at $4,000 a year and residence
on the isthmus, and enter on his du-
ties June 1. When the reorganization
of the commission was under consider
alton in December Wallace wrote Sec
rotary Taft suggesting that eff the
president and your self should decide
at any time to reduce the commission
to three members resident on the
isthmus, the governor of the zone and
chief engineer should he members of
this commission eX-officio," adding that
AN organization of this kind with the
chairman of the commission resident
In Washington to look after the gen
eral departmental matters would no
doubt work satisfactorily and be much
less cumbersome than the present
one"
In March Wallace asked a personal
interview before making any radical
chnge in the governmental organiza-
ton of the commission, disclaiming
that he wished additional emoluments,
'but simply that no condition of af
fairs be created which viii necessar-
lily interfere with my efficiency here"