Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-07-06
FOR MERE IUCRE"
Secretary Taft Displeased with En-
gineer Wallace's Actions.
ADMINISTERED SEVERE REBUKg.
Engineer Wallace Only Remained
Twelve Days on Isthmus Before
Asking to Raturn-Had Better
Offer and Accepted II.

"for mere lucre" and with being infu
enced Solely by personal advantage,
Secretary Taft, In his conference II
New York on June 26 with John F
Wallace. chief enRineer of the Panamt
canal, after administering a severe re
Duke to him, requested his resignation
on the ground that public interest re-
quires that you tender your resigna-
lion at 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 tho
secretary Of war Thursday night
which reviews the relations Of Mr.
Wallace at the war department and
the commission since the latter body's
reorganization last spring, quoting the
several expressions Of the chief engi-
neer Of his satisfaction with The entire
arrangement, and then gives practi-
cally verbatim account Of the con-
ference between Secretary Taft and
Mr.. Wallace in New York, which con-
cluded with the submission to Secre-
tary Taft Of Mr.. Wallace's resignation
The statement issued Thursday night
concludes with the presidents letter
to Mr.. Wallace dated Cambridge,
Mass, June 2S, which reads;
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.
Very truly yours,
Theodore Roosevelt"
The statement shows that Mr.. Wal
lace made no complaint against any Of
bis associates.
Secretary Taft begins with the state
nent Of Mr.. Wallace to Chairman
5honts Immediately after the organiza-
ion of the commission that he would
)e ready to accept the position Of chief
engineer at $25, 900 per year, and res
dence on the Tsthmus and would enter
IN his duties June |.
Twelve days after his arrival on the
sthmus Mr.. Wallace sent the follow
ng cablegram to Secretary Taft,
Important complicated business
matters which can not be arranged
" correspondence and which may af-
ect by relations as chief engineer Of
necessitate immediate re-
urn to the United States to confer
nth you and others. An order from
on to return for official consultation
i'll prevent apprehension on the part {
I employees. Suggest Shonts remain
ntil my arrival. Please answer"
Secretary Taft replied:
Secretary of War Shonts in accor- |
ance with your request and without
nowledge Of circumstances that JUS {
fly, approve your return for consul I
tion with them at Washington"
The statement continues; Mr.. Wal T
ce then said that a few days before
} sent the cable to the secretary, he O
ceived cable from prominent bus
ess men in New York asking II
J would consider an offer to accept
important position in New York
ID that he had cabled in reply that It 7
Is simply question of terms and
nditions and that he had requested
rticulars; that the particulars came,
d 1t proved to be a definite offer Of
position as president of a large hold Il
9 company, controlling several other Il
operations. with certain stock ben "
is. and other advantages to himself g
Itch with the salary, made 1t equiva- Il
1t to $4,000 year. that he did not 81
once accept the offer, but delayed "
for few days, in order to cable Ell
. secretary Of war during which the d,
rites increased their proposal be- fl
cen ten and fifteen thousand dollars d.
year. making It equivalent to $4,000 pt
SCI, 1000. pi
Taft thus addressed him: ci
Mr.. Wallace: I am inexpressibly az
appointed, not only because you pI
We taken this step, but because you eff
m so utterly insensible Of the sig 81
lcance Of your conduct, You come III
h the bald announcement that you In
I your task at a critical moment
the eve Of important work and in
midst Of reorganization plans I'M
which you accepted your position. BY
h your department unprotected in th
anizatioR and when you knew, too re
I my public duties call me to the VI
Ilippines for several months. W
consider that by every principle r.
honor and duty you were bound to
1t the subject differently. You have
mitted the president and all Of us
proceed in full confidence that you =
nd perform the functions Of chief ~
iineer and now in an hour you W
p your great duties and throw them
k upon us as II II were a matter ~
no consequence and all this for ="
r personal adSsntaAe .sn.-,r