New-York tribune., 1905-03-31
THAT "FRENZIED" REPORT.

The recent report of DR.. Charles A L. Reed on
what he calls Panama Canal AIismanagement'
is recalled 10 consideration by the cable dis
patch from the Governor of the canal zone re-
garding the sanitary condition of the isthmus.
The dispatch is meant TO be reply to the re-
port and yindcation Of the canal management
against DIR. Reeds charges. and in at least one
important and highly gratifying respect it seems
TO fulfil that mission. Its statement of vital
statistics, made the strength of Colonel
Gorgas's reports, is certainly encouraging. The
total sick list has been materially reduced in the
last three four months, by more than, 25 per
cent and the number of yellow fever cases has
been reduced by more than so per cent Those
are praisewOrthy results and they Indicate be-
yond reasonable room for question that Colonel
Gorgas, Major La Garde and the rest of the
sanitary force are doing admirably efficient
work.
To say that is not however. to dispose en-
tirely of what General Davis not inaptly calls
a ifrenZed' report. DR. Reed did not impugn
the capacity the fidelity or the energy of the
sanitary officers. On the contrary he paid them
high tributes. What he did say was that they
were doing their work under great and needless
difficulties Now, it is quite conceivable that
the gratifying results which we have referred to
might have been achieved in the face of such
difficulties those which DIR. Reed describes
In that case all the more credit would be due to
Colonel Gorgas and his staff though there
would also. of course, be great regret that their
work had not been facilitated instead of ham,
pered- The real question is then not concern
| ing the efficiency, of the sanitary staff upon
which all agreed. but concerning the con-
duct Of the canal commission toward that staff.
1t is not a question of opinion as to efficiency.
but Of facts as 10 specific details of administra-
| ton.
1t must be cause for profound regret that DR.
Reed framed his report as he did and made IL
| public as he did, or when he did For so doing
he has been severely and deservedly rebuked by
the President. Unfortunately, that rebuke and
all else that may be said cannot undo the harm
! that was done in failing to make proper re-
port and TO make it in proper way. Dr. Reed
| inisused a great opportunity. He might have
| made an epoch marking report of inestimabIe
value. Instead, he made one the real good Of
which is obscured or discredited by intemper-
ance OF speech, by what seems like personal AMI
mostly and by an amazing breach OF propriety
| He has thus probably done harm TO the very
cause which he meant 10 serve, and which GER
! tainly both needs and merits all the encourage
| Inent and assistance that can be given to it,
Nevertheless IL would be mistake TO ignore
altogether the pertinent features of that report
We are inclined to think that despite his rebuke
4 TO the author of ii, the President is seriously
mindful of some of the contents of the report
! anu tn'at he anu lnt oecfelaTy OF war VIII snow
that they are not negIectful of the suggestions
which il affords
For, diyested of its shrllness and extraneoIIs
features DR. Reeds report charges that there
have been too much red tape and delay in canal
zone administration and that the sanitary staff
has not been permitted to have sufficiently free
| hand 10 do the best possible work Such charges
| are not. we have said, satisfactorily disposed
i OF by even so favorable health report as that
sent up by Governor Davis They are sup
ported by DR.. Reed with numerous citations of
alleged facts. Are those really facts? We
must say that the indications, both intrinsic and