The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-30
WALLACE PUT IN
 VERY BAD LIGHT
tcoatinued from First Page.)

(OC.akInueu TToH TiTSl Td9CsJ
 ----------->-~-------~-> if he would consider an offer to accept an important position in New York and that he had cabled in reply that it was simply question of terms and condi- tions and that he had requested particu- lars; that the particulars came and 1t proved to be a definite offer of position as president of a large holding company controlling several other corporations, with certain stock benefits and other ad- vantages to himself, which with the sal airy made it equivalent to s50,0O0 year; that he did not at once accept the offer, but delayed 1t few days in order to cable the Secretary of War, during which time the parties increased their proposal between ten and fifteen thousand dollars a year. making it equivalent to S60,000 or $65000.
 He stated that the position was an especially attractive one and such as he had only hoped to obtain after the com pletion of the canal and thus only after years of further service on the isthmus; that the duties of the new position were especially agreeable and afforded oppor- tunities to make money through invest ments, etc. further; that the position was such a good one that he did not con sider that he could decline it; that life on the isthmus was lonely and accompa- nied by risk to himself and wife and that there was another reason for accepting a better offer; but that his new duties would not require all of his attention for the next two months and that the parties had agreed that he could close up his canal work in the meantime, always pro- vided it did not take him from New York to the isthmus He referred to the Pres ident's order appointing the original com mission and in which the President had stated that the commissioners would hold office subject to the due fufillment of their duties and he stated that this made the office subject to termination by the President, and that consequently he, (Mr. Wallace), considered that the holder Of the office had an equal right to resign at his option at any time.
 "Coneluding he stated that while he was thus severing his connection with the canal work, he was willing to make up his canal report, and he would, if de- sired by the government, continue to serve as a commissioner but not as chief en- gineer in charge of the construction work on the isthmus.
 MT. Wallace followed his personal statement with discussion lasting half an hour regarding conditions on the isth- mus and the work on the canal. When he finished, Secretary Taft thus addressed him:
 Taft Speaks Ills Mind.
 MT. Wallace, 1 am expressably dis appointed, not only because you have taken this step but because you seem so utterly insensible to the significance of your conduct. You come with the bald announcement that you quit your task at q critical moment, on the eve of impor- tant work, and in the midst of reor- ganization plans, under which you ac- xufft ment unprotected in organization, and when you know, too. that my public duties call me to the Philippines for sev- eral months.
 < I must be allowed to remind you that when you were employed by the commis- sion a little over year ago you were only receiving s15,000 per annum under your former position, and that your sal ary was fixed at the sum demanded by yourself, s25.O0o. That was for constant service on the isthmus. where the con struction work was to be performed. You knew the risks to yourself and to your family. if they went with you, in the work you assumed an obligation to do If you had not desired the position you need not have sought nor accepted 1t, but l understand that quite the contrary was the case. When the President found 1t necessary to make reorganization of the former commission you were cOnSuit- cd in the frankest manner about every feature of the reorganization, and were encouraged freely to express your opin- ions. The new plan of organization, which included your appointment as commits sioner was warmly accepted and endorsed by you, and you expressed your hearty approval of it in the most unequivocal manner not only to the President and myself. but to members of the commits sion and its counsel. You co-operated for all these weeks in the work of reorganiza- tion. and accepted the position assigned vou under the Presidents order of April I The President and myself relied upon this fact in making up the plans and the other members were selected with that in view. Now. within twelve days after vour arrival upon the isthmus you send me A cable, which, read in the light of what you say today. signifies your prac- tical acceptance of an offer of another nosition inconsistent with the perform anee with your duties on the isthmus. am astonished that you should be go disreeardful of the splendid opportunities of a position which would have made you famous the world over by the per