The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-06

level canal. The work of excavation must be done in either event.
 All of MT. Wallace's recommenda- tions have been pared down. so the President was told. Every reQuisition is reduced. As an illustration, MT. Wallace asked for 2,500 yards of wire netting to protect the 1aborers at night from mosquitoes and other insects. The commission scaled this down to 500 yards and told him that would be ann pie for the present. AS a consequence, 60 per cent of the men taken from the North are in the hospital with ma larial fever. Others have left their work and returned home.
 The contracts made by Engineer Wallace have been repudiated by those in authority. He has brought men to the Isthmus. promising certain salaries and maintenance. When these men applied to General Davis for their wages they were told that MT. Wallace had promised them too much. They were paid three-fourths of the stipu- lated sums and informed that no allow ance would be made for maintenance. This has caused many to leave.
 It was also made plain to the Presi- dent that the commission already has expended $1,500,000 for material and supplies, all of which was paid out WlLuOuL COHlpCIltINS OI WlIu the specifications so arranged that only favored firms could secure the awards
 After the President received the re- port from Secretary Taft on the con- ditions in Panama, he sent for William Nelson Cromwell, general counsel for the Republic of Panama who Is fa- miliar with matters pertaining to the canal, and asked him if all these things were true. Mir. Cromwell con- f1rmed every statement.
 This so enraged the President that he determined to change the methods. He consulted legal experts, and was told that he has authority under the Spooner act to give each member of the Canal Commission specific assign ments and require them to reside on the Isthmus. At the same time he was advised to secure an amendment of the Spooner act wiping out the commis- sion.
 In conversation the President has ex- pressed dissatisfaction with the com mission. He never favored the ap- pointment of Admiral Walker as chair man. The selection was made at the request of Senator Allison. The Presi- dent believed young men should be chosen for the work. He regarded Ad- miral Walker. at 79, as being too old for residence in such an unhealthful CllIltdlC dS tHdI OI
 If the amendment can be passed to the Spooner act, the President will give Engineer Wallace an almost free hand in pushing the work of construction A board of consulting engineers will be selected to assist MT. Wallace and to act as an appellate court in matters of judgment.
 It will not be necessary to remove General Davis He is anxious to with AaaN nz ~f
 His wife Is now dead and his daugh- ters live here. They desire their faith CT to come and live with them. He is willing to relinquish his place at any time.
 The President has satisfied himself that Admiral Walker, General Davis and Minister Barrett have all tried to prevent him from ascertaining the real conditions prevailing in Panama These efforts were continued after Secretary Tait and his party reached the Isth- mus. An elaborate program of enter tainment was arranged which would have occupied all the time and given MT. Taft no opportunity to learn any facts. This program was set aside.
 It Is not proposed to recall Minister Barrett at present, but wait until the conditions have been changed so that real progress can be made on the canal.
 The President will see that no fur ther material and supplies are pur- chased without competitive bidding Many complaints have been made to him by business concerns.
 Mir. Grunsky appears to be the only member of the Canal Commission who has devoted his entire time to the work of the canal, and who has no private duties to perform, according to the Information given the President