The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-30

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neer of the Panama canal after ad-
ministering severe rebuke 10 him.
requested his resignation on the ground
that public interest requires that YOU
tender your resignation this moment.
and turn over the records of your OF
fee to the chairman of the commits
sion"
Statement Issued.
This fact is disclosed i'm an important
statement issued from the office OF the
secretary of war which reviews the
relations of MI Wallace with the war
department and with the commission
since the latter's reorganization last
spring. quoting the several expressions
Of the chief engineer of his satisfaction
with the entire arrangement and then
gives practically a verbatim account
of the conference between Secretary
Taft and Mr.. Wallace in New York.
which concluded with the suggestion
by the secretary of Mr. Wallace's res
ignatiun.
RooseVeIt's Letter.
The statement issued tonight con-
Cludes with the presidents letter 10
Mr.. Wallace dated Cambridge. Mass
June Is. which reads
Your resignation as a member and
chief engineer Of the Isthmiau canal
commission, rendered in accordance
with the request of Secretary Taft
which request under the circumstances
has my entire approval. is hereby ac-
cepted to take effect Immediately
VERY truly yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The statement shows that Mr.. Wal
lace made no complaint against any Of
his associates.
Taft Shows Heat.
: C-----4---- n e. s--..4 III
ingtOn today and at once went to his
house. where ne summoned Mr. ShOntS.
chairman Of the Panama canal com
mission, and William Nelson Cromwell
counsel for the commission. They at
once entered upon the preparation of
the statement, which was mot ready
for publication until late tonight. the
secretary meantime talking with the
( president over the long distance tele-
phone at Oyster bay. The statement
was issued by direction of the prPSi-
dent its main features having been
agreed upon when Mr.. Taft saw the
president at Harvard earlier i'm the
week.
Wallace Made Suggestions.
Secretary Taft begins with the state
ment Of Mr. Wallace TO Chairman
ShOnts Immediately after the Organ5-
cation OF the commission that he would
be ready to accept the position of chief
engineer at $4,000 per year and a
residence on the iSthmuS and would
enter on his duties June l. When the
reorganization of the commission was
under consideration Mr.. Wallace wrote
to Secretary Taft suggesting that eff
the president and yourself should de-
eide at any time to reduce the commits
sion to three members resident on the
isthmUS. the governor and the chief en-
gineer should he members of this COM
mission eX-OfhciO,' adding that IAN or
ganizatiOn of this kind. with the chair
man Of the commission resident I'm
Washington to look after general and
departmental matters. would no doubt
work satisfactorily and be much less
cumbersome than the present one
Asked For an Interview.
In March Mr.. Wallace asked for a
personal interview before any radical
change i'm the governmental organic
ton Of the commission. diScldimiug
that he wished additional emolUuents.
but simply that no condition of AZ
fairs be created which will necessar-
lily interfere with my efficiency here
Secretary Taft accordingly submit
ted to Mr.. Wallace BY cable the de-
tailed plan of reorganization of the
commission and received this reply by
cable:
Plan excellent. Satisfactory Ora
cias Ghanks)."
The statement says Mr.. Wallace ex-
pressed his UneqUivOcal approval OF
the distribution of duties and powers
as defined in the executive order, ~es-
pecially those relating to the Office Of
chief engineer" and during his sub
seqUent stay of six weeks in the
United States daily participated with
his associates in carrying out the
same. To the president and secretary
of war and members Of the commits
sion he frequently expressed his IN
qualified approval and acceptance o.
the distribution Of duties and powers
as in the order embodied and particu-
larry those relating to himself which
required the performance by him Of
the duties of constructive engineer on
the isthmus.
Asked to Return.
Twelve days after his arrival on the
isthmus Mr. Wallace sent the follow
ing cable to Secretary Taft:
important complicated business
matters which cannot be arranged by
correspondence and which may affect
my relations as chief engineer Of com
mission necessitate immediate return
to the United States to confer with
YOU and others An order from YOU
to return for official consultation VIII
prevent APPREHENSION on the part OF
the employees. Suggest ShOnts remain
until my arrival. Please answer
Secretary Taft replied as follows
Secretary of War and ShOntss in
accordance with your request and
without knowledge of circumstances,
approve your return for consultation
with them at Washington"
Just before sailing Mr.. Wallace
wrote letter to the secretary IN
which he referred to his intended visit
10 the United States. but gave no eX-
PLANTATION of his personal plans. When
they met in New York by appointment
the statement says. Mr.. Wallace said
part Of the interview would be pre-
sonal to himself and part would con
Germ the general canal work on the
isthmus, TO which Secretary TAFT
agreed. The statement continues
Mr.. Wallace then said a few days
before he sent the cable to the secre-