The Washington times., 1905-06-30
CONTINUED from First Page.)

finally to determine upon the best plan
for constructing the canal
Secretary Taft's indignation at Mr..
Waliace's conception of duty was fur
ther heightened by knowledge of the
demcralizing effect that such conduct
on the part of one so highly honored
would be likely to have on the canal
personnel
Will Meet in September
The order has already been issued for
the meeting on September /, of the
board of consulting engineers. 1t had
been expected that Mr.. Wallace, In con-
Eection with the engineering members
OF the canal commission. would prepare
and submit plans to this internationa
board, 1t is hardly thought likely, how
ever. that his successor can familiarize
himself sufficiently with ali the details
of the undertaking within the next two
months, and it is therefore probable
that the date of the meeting of the
board will have to be postponed.
The statement of the case made pub
nc by the President and Secretary of
War yesterday. shows that Mr.. Wallace,
while determined to resign in order to
accept z position paying more money.
Commission for two months longer.
Secretary Taft in "the public interest,
not only demanded his immediate resig-
nation, but at the same time gave him
such a moral castigation as has sell
dom. II ever before, been handed out
to public official.
No Reason to Quit.
The correspondence clearly shows that
Mr.. Wallace was not led to take his
present step through any disagreement
between himself and his associates, su-
perior or inferior. It also shows, con-
.trary to previously accepted theories,
that he had no complaint to make about
red tape Mr.. Wallace's own testi-
mony is conclusive these points. He
J was given all that he asked for in the
shape of authority, salary. and posi-
ton, and expressed himself as being
more than satisfied at the adoption of
his suggestions for the reorganization
of the work of the Canal Commission.
1t appears, however, that within
twelve days after reaching the isthmus.
following his acceptance of the office
of canal commissioner. in connection
with his duties chief engineer, he was
tempted by an offer of more money,
threw up his contract with the Gov
ernment, and sailed for home to ac-
cept q position with a New York cor
poration. Under the circumstances, it
is felt among Administration officials
that the Secretary. could not properly
have taken any other course than the
The statement which the Secretary
makes public refers in no way to any
of the supposed occasions of friction
among the canal authorities. So far as
can be learned from this statement of
the case all might now be lovely on the
isthmus had it not been for Mr.. Wal
1ace's unfairness in leaving the great
work without consideration of any in
terest save his own pecuniary advan-
taEe-
The New Position.
Mr. waliace's new position is under
stood to be with the Interborough Com
pany of New York. the Belmont con-
cern. and to pay $4,000 salary, as against
$25 600 he received in the Government
service He was willing to remain with
the canal commission in any consulting
capacity so long as might be desired.
! but Secretary Taft and the President re-
jected the offer. and the immediate res
ignation Of the chief engineer was ten
dered and accepted
Secretary Taft, in long exposition Of
The case, shows that Mr.. Wallace
sought the position of canal engineer
and that the commission was organized
and the powers and duties distributed
entirely to his satisfaction. The reor-
ganization OF the commission, by which
all powers were given to members, was
submitted to him in advance. and fully
fndorsed by him.
Under this arrangement Mr.. Wallace
went to the isthmus the middle of May.
When he had been there twelve days he
called for leave to return to the States.
It was granted. and on his arrival in
New York Mr.. Wallace met In confer
ence Chairman Shonts. Attorney Crom-
well, and Secretary Taft
The Meeting Described.
OF this meeting Secretary Taft writes:
THE conference took place at the
Manhattan Hotel as arranged There