New-York tribune., 1905-06-29
WALLACE SAID TO BIZ OOI' :
No Assistant Chosen to Take Charge
of Canal WOrh.
Frpox THE TRIBUNE BUREAU-l

uy,eh;neton lime 2S.-It is salo mere Ills
evening that John F. Wallace Is no ioiioe
member of the Panama Canal CoinilllsefO"' 80
>. o.,,,o+ he ascertained whether the Presiue"'
has accepted his resignation or mas oIueie 'i-
his name be stricken from the rolls
-rbe e,,sdenness with which Mr.. Wallace deter
,,,,red IN sever his connection with the caiiai
work is shown it is declared here by the Ia.
.bst he resigned without first selecting oiiiei
assistant whom he could recommend 10 'ie o'-
,,,,ssion as competent to exercise expert supet
,,,sion over the work until his successor "
chasen The necessity of employing Such an
.rs,s+snf had already become obvious, and had
reen discussed by the chief engineer anu ms
colleagues on the commission. For this reason
a. - os.,,,,,ad when the news of Mrs Walaces
deeire IN come to the United States first reacheo
washington that il was part of his mission 10
select such an assistant, but no recommends
zion has thus far reached the commission al
rresent while the entire administrative "oi \ ~
the canal zone has devolved on Governor Nd Nd
sroon the commission is compelled 70 rely on "
f Dauchy for supervision Of an expert c-i'i'
acter over the engineering work MT Dauei9'
however. is a division engineer. and while he is
performing the important duties OF the 'iiI.-
engineers Office the work of his particular III
vision will. it is feared suffer from his absence
and from the fact that he will be overburdeIeG
with the larger problems which arise many times
a day.
The scheme Of organizing the non-eXecutiNe
members of the commission into an adNlSoi!
engineering board. a policy which has caused
some criticism Of the admins tTation. was it Is
learned to-day devised by Mr wallace the
fact being stated as evidence Of the respect paid
10 the former chief engineers opinions and the
promptness with which his ideas were carried
into effect. The scheme has worked we'll ana
ef oT
A further instance of the effort which has been
made 10 give the chief engineer all possible
assistance is cited ir the case Of a requis1tlon
he made some time ago for twelve competent
subordinate engineers It was found, When the
order was received that the eligible list OF the
Civil Service Commission had been exhausted
and Colonel Edwards. who is IN charge OF the
Washington Office OF the commission. nltiie-
a,at.,v ,e,egraphed to twelve OF the leading
educational institutions Of the country whlch
maintain departments OF engineering. asking
the faculty of each to recommend one man on
whose ability they were willing to stake the
reputation of their college and who had had
not less than two years experience in practical
outside work AS result twelve or more names
were promptly submitted to Colonel Edwards
and Tithin ten days from the receipt of the
order the twelve subordinate engineers had
sailed from New-Yorlk for the canal zone
formed the commission Of his entire satisfac-
ton with the men sent him. with single ex-
oeption.
y Soon after these men had reached the isthmus
y the chief engineer advised the Washington
Office that be lacked adequate quarters for the
engineering force ana Secretary Taft immedi,
arely ordered that neither pains nor expense be
spared in furnishing proper accommodations fol
the men. The Secretary even went 50 far as Il
direct that the marines stationed at Empire II
the zone. be transferred to Basobispo and tha
their quarters lie placed at the disposal of III,
chief engineer.
Some conception of the magnitude OF the wcrl
which is being done by the purchasing depart
ment can be gathered from the fact that al-ead!
100000 barrels CT linseed oil. 100000 barrels o
white lead and G2GO0OO0 feet of lumber hav
been purchased, pursuant 10 Mr.. Wallace
requisitiOns and these supplies bein;
shipped to the zone as fast as they can be care
for on their arrival.
The impression seems to be gaining groun
in Washington that sooner or Iater it viii b
thought expedent 10 place the construction G
the canal in the hands of the engineer corps c
the army. 1t is pointed out that, with commits
stoned officers. especially senior officers tl
government could not be placed in the unfortu
nate position produced by Mr.. Wanace's sudde
determination to abandon the work that III
ability Of the men to whom the important pro
ect would be confided would be insured an
that such officers would undoubtedly take
pride in the work and in serving the govern
ment. which can hardly pe expected from on
siders.
Some difficulty attaches TO the engaging
competent workmen to so to the isthrnus
present the Washington office is trying to s.
cure number OF architectural draughtsme
and expert lumber inspectors 6f4,- s+aroyr
pliers. one hundred and fifty track LAYERS Sc
eral roGnen, one hundred boss carpenters ff
bricklayers and fifty lathe!s and the most enc
getlc measures are being used TO secure the
needed employees, and it is believed that tn
viii be obtained soon.