New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-22
TAFT'S ISTHMIAN PLAN.
RE4RR4NGE COMBUSTION.
President Thinks Important Changes
Should Be Made.

ONOUtO DC WI ULC.
washington. March 21-Secretary Taft to-
day made public a letter which he had writer
to the President concerning complaints made by
DR.. C. A /. Reed regarding the work of the
Isthmian Canal Commission. In the course OF
his letter Secretary Taft said that many of the
things complained OF would be remedied by
placing the control OF the canal under one head
or at least under a commission composed OF
not more than three members. He added that
he VIII submit TO the President In a short time
a plan for the Encouragement of the commits
sion. President Roosevelt. in his reply. said he
was glad to know that the Secretary is prepar-
ing plan for the Encouragement Of the COM
mission. and promises to give the plan imnle-
date attention when received.
Following is the full text of the Secretary's
letter and the Presidents reply:
War Department
Washington, D. c.. March IL. 19oo.
TO the President:
1 herewith transmit the answer of the com
mission to the charges contained in the report
Of DR.. c. A. L Reed TO me as TO the sanitary
provisions made by the Isthmian Canal Com
I think that a reading OF the two documents
viii show-what indeed was apparent on the
face of Dr. Reeds statement-that his charges
against the commission were BIASED and con-
troversiaI and not written in the judicial spirit
that inspires confidence in their Justice and ac-
Dr. Reed visited the isthmus at my request to
act as an assessor of land upon commission
provided by the treaty between Panama ana
the United States, but as he the head Of
the American Medical Association IL seemed to
me an opportunity on his return TO secure IN
formation from one skilled in his profession as
TO the existing conditions upon the isthmus In
response TO my queries, he was so emphatic ana
so detailed in his charges that asked MN a., 70
make his statement IN writing. Which ne uIo
upon the same day by the use of stenographer.
1t is probable that had he taken more time ne
would have been more measured In MS crltlcisn.
less extreme in his statements and less hippant
in his references TO the action Of the commits
sion. The report of DR.. Reed was published
without my knowledge consent
The reply of the commission seems TO snow
that a large part of the plans and the acuon OF
the commission which Dr. Reed crltclses was was
fully concurred in. and agreed TO by ColoneI
-Gorgas and the other medical officers In the en-
-pioy Of the commission 1t is doubtless true
that Colonel Gorgas and his stan oeneVeo thaI
Il would be wiser to give them an entirely free
hand in the matter Of ordering construction
supplies and the employment of subordinates.
It is quite probable that had the approval Of
the commission in the matter Of ordering con-
struction and supplies been dispensed with there
would have been fewer delays and less COM
-plaint this account; but in the expenditure OF
such large sums were necessary for the or
-ganization of the sanitary system, the construc-
ton OF plant and the purchase or supplies, It
may well be doubted whether the commission
would have been discharging its duty in with
holding supervisory control.
II is doubtless true that there have been un-
due delays in the furnishing OF what was needed
for sanitary purposes on the isthmus but vent
herent clumsiness Of the commission as an ex-
ecutive body than the neglect wilful nom
action OF any member OF that board There
must be some restraint for purposes of economy
upon expenditures, by an executive who has IN
mind the total expenditures and obligations be-
ing incurred. To allow each department to
pend what in its judgment is necessary will
certainly lead TO extravaganza and waste. The
remedy for the delays which may have occurred
here are, ii seems to me- to be found in re-
arrangement of the commission, with new dis
tribution Of powers and the comforting of the
executive on one or, at the most not more than
three members of the commission, with a gen
eral supervisory and confirnatory power in the
commission a body.
With your permission I will submit in a day
or two q plan for the better carrying on Of the
work Of the commission which may be embodied
in a new series CT instructions. Respectfully
yours, WILLIAM H. TAFT,
Secretary Of War.
White House,
Washington. D. c.. March 90. 1905.
The Secretary Of War; have received your
report Of March II. together with the report Of
Dr. Reed and the answer thereto made by the
commission. It 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
swer thereto had been made by the commission
was, without your knowledge, printed in THE
Medical Journal"
It further appears that the statements which
he thus published were in many instances I'M
warranted by the facts, and his accusations in
many instances unsupported by proof.
Dr. Reed has not displayed in this report the
qualities Of temperament or the power Of accu-
rate Juolcial observation needed to make re-
port valuable to the government It is true
that he was not charged with the duty of maxi
ing such report and that he was appointed to
be a commissioner to assess 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
10 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 appointed It further
appears, however, that in view of our experience
with the workings Of the commission rear
rangement of duties and a change of personnel
IN view of this Encouragement should be made
1 am glad that you are shortly to submit to me
a plan with these objects in view
THEODORE ROOSEVELT