The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-01
STEVENS s,,rrEEDS ,LL,CF.
western Railroad Man TO Br thIef E''-
gInepr Of the Panama Canal

W,su1SOroS June 3O-John r Stevens
OF Chicago. formerly vice president and
general manager of the Rock Island Railroad
system. to-day accepted the office OF 'mef
Engineer of the Panama Canal, to succeed
John F. Wallace the story OF whose retire
ment under somewhat -"nSationai clrciin-
stances was told in an Official statement
issued bv Secretary Of War Taft last night
Mr. Stevens was recently selected a. the
government expert to supervise the con
str,Iction of the thousand miles Of railway
to be built in the Philippines He was to
have gone to the Philippines with Secretary
Taft. but according to the information
which he sent to Mr. Taft to-day he will
sail for Panama within two weeks He
will be accompanied to the lsthmus by
Theodore r. Shonts, chairman of the Canal
Commission.
Before lea wing Washington for the Philip
pines this evening Mr. Taft received word
from Mr. Wallace, through a member of
the Canal Commission. that it might I've
we'll for them to have another conference
a. Mr. Wallace has some things to tell which
the Government ought to know, The mes
sage from Mr.. Wallace was icing con-
str,ied by officials as a declaration of
intention on his part to dvnlge something
sensational about conditions on the isthmus
unless Mr.. Taft will give him further
hearing. As far as known. no response
was sent to MIR. Wallace. The only answer
would have been a refusal on the part of
Mr. Taft to meet Mr.. Wallace, who is
decidedly in the bad graces of the Adj
ministration.
Mr.. Wallaces offer to continue in the
service of the Canal Commission was
coupled with the proviso that whatever
duties were given him must not interfere
with the new private work he had under
taken. or take him out of New York. Con-
siderab bile mitigation is expressed here over
this proposal and it Is understood that
il had much to do with the severity of the
language which Secretary Taft employed
in responding to Mr. Wallace.
The administration. it was explained to-
day. hesitated over making statement
of what Secretary Taft said to Mr.. Wallace
at the Hotel Manhattan. From an officer
of the highest standin. it was learned that
to the country was based on the belief
that it would be well to lei everybody CON
nected with the construction of the canal
understand that the Administration OK
pected on the part Of all canal employees
a devotion to duty which should overrWe
all private considerations.
Mr.. Wallace. the AdminStrat claims,
bound himself in honor to stick by the Gov
eminent. and his return from the lsthmus
after only twelve days residence there. to
accept more lucrative position in the
United States IL characterized as a pro-
ceeding contrary to the principles which
should govern man OF his standing and
reputation.
Chief Engineer Stevens will receive a
salary OF $40, 600 a year, or 81, 600 more than
Mr. Wallace was receiving in the same
office This was arranged between the
President and Secretary Taft. He will
he here in few days to discuss his new
duties with Chairman Snonts and other
members of the Canal Commission Mr.
Wallace was a member of the commission
but Mr.. Stevens will not By, at least fol
several months. Tie appointment Of .
commissioner to fill the vacancy causHo
by Mr.. WalaceS resignation will not
he made until the return Of Secretary
Taft from the Philippines in October.
In announcing the appointment OF Mr.
Stevens, the War Department rHv' ou
the following "'Ht"insnt:
MIR Juhu y s7,r ans lI. h""r Hupn,utr'
ohlri engineer Ol lac lstnmlIn canal. natl