The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-04

ing Carried On With Engineer of
Great Ability. Whose Identity Is
Not Revealed-An Almost Verbatim
Report of the Meeting i'm New York
Between Secretary Taft and Mr..
Wallace in Which the Latter's .Ac-
ton Was Severely Criticised.
Washington, jane Exchanging him
with changing his position
for mere lucre,' and with being III
huenced"solely by personal ADVANTAGE"
Secretary Taft in his conference N
New York on June 26, with John +.
Wallace, chief engineer of the Paaa-
ma canal, after administering a severe
rebuke to him requested his resigna-
t1on, On the ground that public inter-
est requires that you tender your res
ignation at this moment, and turn,
over the records of your office to the
chairman of the commission
This fact is disclosed in an official
statement issued from the office of the
secretary of war tonight, which reviews
the relations of MIR. Wallace with the
war department and the commission
since the latter body's reorganization
last spring, quoting the several express
sions Of the chief engineer of his sat
isfaction with the entire arrangement,
n then gives practically a verbatim
account Of the conference between
Secretary Taft and Mr.. Wallace in New
York, which concluded with the sub
mission to Secretary Taft of Mr.. Wal
lace's resignation. The statement is-
sued tonight concludes with the Pres
ident's letter to Mr.. Wallace dated
Cambridge, Mass, June %, which
reads:
Your resignation as member and
chief engineer of the Isthmian Canal
commission, rendered in accordance
with the request of Secretary TAFT,
which request under the circumstances
has my entire approval, is hereby &C
cepted, to take effect Immediately.
Very truly yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
hi statement shows that Mr.. Wal
lace made no complaint against ony
of his associates.
WALLACE ACCEPTS THE POSI-
TION.
Secretary Taft begins with the state
ment Of Mr.. Wallace to Chairman
Shontz Immediately after the organiza-
ton of the commission that he would
be ready to accept the position of chief
engineer at $4,000 per year, and a
residence on the iSthmuS, and would
enter on his duties June 1. When the
reorganization of the commission was
under consideration in December, Mr..
Wallace wrote Secretary Taft suggest
ing that IF the President and your
self should decide at any time to re-
duce the commission to three members
resident on the isthmus. the governor
of he One and the chief engineer
should be members of this commits
sion. eX-OfficiO."
In March Mr.. Wallace asked for a
personal interview before any radical
change in the governmental OrganiZa-
ton of the commission.
HE LIKED THE REORGANIZA-
> TION PLAN.
SCIIttdIt lat UCtoIsiISIs SJlbltIIt-
ted to Wallace by cable the detailed
plan of reorganization of the commits
sion and received this reply by cable:
plan excellent. Satisfactory. Ora
cias thanks)."
The statement a V Mr.. Wallace eX-
pressed his u~nequivOcal approval of
the distribution of duties and powers
as defined in the executive order. par
ticularly those relating to himself,
which required the performance BE-
him of the duties of constructive enSi-
Eeer upon the isthmus.
Twelve days after his arrival on the
iSthmus Mr.. Wallace sent the follow
ing cablegram to Secretary Taft
Important complicated business
matters which cannot be arranged By
correspondence and which may affect
my relations as chief engineer of the
commission. necessitates immediate re-
turn to the United States to confer
with You and others"
Secretary Taft replied appointing
Wallace'S return.
SECRETARY TAFT'S STATEMENT
Secretary Taft and Mr.. Wallace met
in New York by appointment and ac-
cOrding to the statement:
Mr.. Wallace said that a few days
before he sent the cable 10 the secrc
:ary, he had received a cable from
: prominent business men in New York
asking If he would consider an offer Il
accept an important position in New
York, and that he had cabled in reply
that he had requested particulars: that
! the particulars came. n it proved tt
be a definite offer of a position as pres,
ident of a large holding company. con
trolling several other corporations
with certain stock benefits and othel
advantages to himself, which, with ths
salary. made it equivalent to $4,000
year: that he did not at once accep'
the offer, but delayed it for a few days
in order to cable the secretary Of war
during which the parties increased