The Washington times., 1905-11-19


ST. LOUIS. Nov. Is.-secrexary Tart
reached the city at 5:54 .. m. over the
Baltimore and Ohio railway, and was
met at the station By a committee OF
the st. Louis Commercial Club. Whoss
guest OF honor he was at a banquet
at the elegant quarters OF the st. Louis
club.
One hundred and fourteen prominent
business and professional men sat at
the table, Secretary Taft occupying the
place Of honor.
At the head OF the table 10 his right
sat Charles NagIe. president OF the
Commercial Club. who acted as toast
master. To his left vas Judge Eimor
Adams.
At $50 Mr. Nagle introduced the
guest TO the assembly. who gave him
an encouraging welcome Mr. TafJs
speech of an hour and a half's dura-
ton was listened TO with marked at
tention
After graphically sketehing the his
tory OF the work done on the canal, iSs
difficulties and setbaci1s. Secretary
Taft made the unqualified statement ef
his conviction mat the United States
Government viii certainly complete the
Panama canal
The Secretary also said that Congress
viii have 70 make an emergency an
preparation 10 pay for the canal work
expenses during next month. This. he
said. will be necessary in order 10 avoid
..caiamitous Interruption 10 the canal
work.
@wallace 4 Gentleman" :
Secretary Taft said:
7 come now to the separation OF
Mr.. wallace from the service as chief
engineer and commissioner Mr. Wall
lace is a gentleman for whose engineer
! ing skill and whose high character a.
/ a man had always much respect, and.
except in one regard, my opinion has
not changed Mr.. Wallace was eertain-
| lv dissatisfied. as all of us were. with
the workings OF the first commission.
and had reason to be. He complained
seriously OF the delays incident TO his
work, due To the cumbersome machin-
cry and the slowness with which de-
cisions and action could be had by tbs
old commission.
When the reorganization was deIsF-
mined upon Mr.. Wallace was eonsults&
| by cablegram and advised OF the new
plan. This he fully and gratefully APP
proved. He was directed TO come to
! Washington for the purpose Of fixing
/ details he did come and expressed
himself as highly pleased with the RS
suit and went back TO the iSthmuS 1ufl
] Of the most superlative expressions
] that everything that he had hoped fog
j IN the reorganization was accomplishing.
He waE not only chief engineer. bus
/ he was a member of the commissio3
/ and a member OF the executive commit
/ tee of the commission in active charge
Of the construction and engineering work
on the isthmus. with Mr.. Shonts. a raiI-
road mal and classmate OF his. to back
him as chief executive.
Another Job.
s'He had not. however. been Back ~
Panama more than six days when I re-
ceived a cablegram advising me that he
must come TO New York to discuss ques-
tions relating TO his continuance as
chief engineer of the project. / was
| greatly taken aback. for I heard indi-
rectly from reliable sources that he has
received an offer of a much higher sal
airy and that he was determined 70 az
cept the offer ana give ur this job
| Mr.. Wallace came north and at a.
appointed interview stated to me thas
he had received an offer OF S65.o00 and
had accepted II, that he was anxious 70
assist me and the members OF The coTzs-
mission. as far as possible, with his