Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-21
FAULT OF THE SYSTEM
CAUSE OF COMPLAINT AGAINST
IsrHMIAN COMMISSION.
Secretary Taft Offers to Draft a Plan
of Reorganization-The Presi-
dent Acquiesces.

Secretary Taft has sent letter to the
President transmitting the reply OF the
Isthmian canal commission to the charges
made by DIR. c. A. L. Reed as to sanitary
conditions on the isthmus Secretary TAFT
says: II think that a reading of the two
documents will show what indeed was ap-
parent on the face of Doctor Reeds state
ment-that his charges against the COM
mission were biased and controversial and
not written in the judicial spirit that In
spires confidence in their justice and ac-
curacy.
DIR Reed visited the isthmus at my
request to act assessor of land upon
commission provided by the treaty be-
tween Panama and the United States. but
as he was the head of the American Medi-
cal Association, it seemed to me an oppor-
tunity on his return to secure information
from one skilled in his profession, as 10
existing conditions upon the 1sthmus. IN
response to my queries he was so emphatic
and so detailed in his charges that asked
him to make his statement in writing
which he did upon the same day by the use
of a stenographer.
TT is probable that had he taken more
time he would have been more measured
in his criticism, less extreme in his state
ments and less f1ippant in his references TO
the action of the commission. The report
of DR.. Reed was published without my
knowledge consent
THE reply of the commission seems to
show that a large part of the plans ana
action of the commission which DR.. Reed
criticiSeS were fully concurred in and agreed
to by Colonel Gorgas and the other medical
officers in the employ of the commission.
ut is doubtless true that Col. Gorgas and
his staff believed that it would be wiser 10
give them an entirely free hand in the mat
ter of ordering construction, supplies and
the employment of subordinates. 1t is quite
probable that had the approval of the COM
mission in the matter of ordering con-
structon and supplies been dispensed with
there would have been fewer delays and
less complaint on this account but in the
expenditure of such large sums as were
necessary for the organization of the san
itary system, the construction of plant ana
the purchase of supplies, it may well be
doubted whether the commission would
have been discharging its duty in With
holding supervisory control. 7r
Fault of Conditions.
'It is doubtless true that there have been
undue delays in the furnishing of what was
needed for sanitary purposes on the 18TH
mus, but 1 venture to think that this Is
due rather to the inherent clumsiness of the
commission as an executive body than to
the neglect or willful non-action of any
member of the board. There must be some
restraint for purposes of economy upon ex-
pendtures by an executive who has In mind
the total expenditures and obligations be-
ing incurred.
ITO allow each department to expend what
in it's judgment is necessary, will certainly
lead to extravaganza and waste. The rem
edy for the delays which may have oc-
Cured here are, it seems to me, to be
found in Encouragement of the commits
sion, with a new distribution of powers and
the comforting of the executive on one or,
at the most, not more than three members
of the commission, with a general supervis-
DRY and confirmatory power in the commits
sion as a body.
with your permission I will submit in a
day or two plan for the better carrying
or. of the work of the commission which
may be embodied in a new series of in
Structions.'
The President Acquiesces.
The President replied to the Secretary Of
War as follows: 49,. ~. .... 49,
II have received your report of March
II, together with the report of DR.. Reed
and the answer thereto made by the COM
mission. 1t appears from this that DR..
Reeds report (Which, of course, should
under no circumstances have been given to
the public until you chose so to give it,
and until the answer thereto had been ma de
by the commission was, without your
knowledge, printed in the medical journals
1T further appears that the state tents
which he thus published were in many in
stances unwarranted by the facts, and his
accusations in many instances unsupported
by proof.
DIR. Reed has not displayed in this report
the qualities of temperament or the power
of accurate judicial observation needed to
make a report valuable to the government.
1t is true that he was not charged with the
duty of making such a report and that he
was appointed to be commissioner to as
sess value of real estate.
Nevertheless when he assumed to make
a report on sanitary conditions at your
request as Secretary of War, he was under
obligation to speak with care and justice
on so important subject and to observe
the proprieties as to its publication.
Judging from your report it appears
that the chief difficulties that have arisen
have come from the inherent faultiness of
the law under which the commission was
appointed. 1t further appears, however,
that in view of our experience with the
workings of the commission, a rearrange-
ment of duties. and a change of personnel
in view of this Encouragement, should be
made l am glad that you are shortly to
submit to me a plan with these objects in
view