The San Francisco call., 1905-03-22
TAFT SCORES
CANAL CRITIC
Writes to the President in
Regard to the Charges
Made by DR.. c. A. L. Reed
20 REARRANGE BOARD
Secretary Notifies the Chief
Executive of a New Plan
for Isthmian Commission
20 REARRANGE BOARD

WASHINGTON, March 2I.-Secre-
tary Taft to-day made public a letter
which he has written to the President,
concerning complaints made by DR.. c.
p - L. Reed regarding the work of the
1sthmian Canal Commission In the
&C urse of his letter Secretary Taft said:
herewith transmit the answer of the com
mission 10 the charges contained in the report
OF Dr l. a l. Reed to 10 the sanitary
provisions mace by the Isthmian Canal Com
mission on the Isthmus. I think that a reading
OF the two documents Will show what indeed,
vas apparent on the face of DR.. Reeds state
nient-that his charges against the commission
were biased and controversial and not writ
ten IN the judicial spirit that inspires conf
cence IN their justice and accuracy.
DR.. Reed visited the Isthmus at my request
10 act as an assessor of lana upon a commits
sica proNldeo hy the treaty between Panama
ana the United States but as he the head
OF the American Medical Association. IL seemed
10 me an opportunity on his return to secure
information from one skilled IN his profession
As 10 the existing conditions upon the lsthmus-
In response to my queries he was so emphatic
and so detailed in his charges that l asked
him to make his statement in writing, which
he did upon the same day by the use OF
Sienographer. II Is probable that had he taken
more time he would have been more measured
in his criticism. less extreme in his statements
snd less fiprant in his references TO the action
a The commission. The report OF Dr. Reed
was published without my knowledge or con-
sent
CAUSE OF THE DELAYS.
The reply Of the commission seems to show
that a large part of the plans and the action
OF tie commission which DR.. Reed criticizes,
fully concurred in and agreed to by Colo
mel Gorgas and the other medical officers in
the employ of the commission II is doubtless
true that Colonel Gorgas and his staff believed
that it would be wiser TO give them an entirely
free hand in the matter Of ordering construc-
tiOn supplies and the employment of subordi-
mates. II is quite probable that had the ap-
prOval Of the commission in the matter OF
derlng construction supplies been dispensed
with there would have been fewer delays and
less complaint on this account. but in the ex-
penciture Of such large sums as were neces-
sary for the organization OF the sanitary sys-
TEN and the purchase OF supplies, il may well
be doubted whether the commission would have
been discharging its duty in Withholding such
supervisory control
It is doubtless true that there have been
undue delays in the furnishing CT what was
needed for sanitary purposes on the Isthmus,
but I venture to think that II is due rather to
the inherent clumsiness of the commission as
an executive body than the willful or nom
attention Of any member of that body. There
must be some restraint for purposes of econ
omy upon expenditures by executive who
has in mind the total expenditures and obli-
cations being incurred.
Tie remedy for the delays which may have
occurred here, II seems to me- are to be found
IN d Encouragement OF the commission with a
new distribution of powers and the conferring
more than three members OF the commission,
with a general supervisory and conhrmatory
power IN the commission as a body.
With your permission ! viii submit in a day
or two a plan for the better carrying on of the
work OF the commission which may be en-
bodied in new series Of instructions.
ANSWER OF PRESIDENT.
To the letter of Secretary Taft, Presi-
dent Roosevelt has replied as follows:
I have received your report of March II.
together with the report OF DR.. Reed and the
answer thereto made by the commission. 1t
appears from this that DR.. Reeds report.
which Of course should under no circumstances
have been given TO the public until you chose
50 10 give il and until the answer thereto
had been made by the commission. was with
out your knowledge printed in the Medical
Journal II further appears that the state
ments which he thus published were in many
instances unsupported by proof.
DR.. Reed has not displayed in this report
the qualities Of temperament or the power of
accurate judicial observation needed to make
a further report valuable 10 the Government.
Il Is true that he was not charged with the
duty Of making such a report and that he
was appointed 10 be a commissioner TO assess
the value OF real estate. Nevertheless. when
he assumed TO make a report sanitary con-
oitions your request as Secretary of War
he was under obligation to speak with justice
on 50 important q subject and u observe the
proprieties as to Its publication. =
Judging from your report IL appears that
tho chief difficulties that have arisen have
come from the inherent faultiness Of the law
under which the commission was appointed.
Il further appears, however that in view of
our experience with the workings Of the COM
mission a Encouragement of duties and a
change OF personnel In view of this rear
rsngement should be made. am glad that
you are shortly 10 submit to a plan with
these objects in view.