Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-07
Over the Panama Canal Ex-
penditures.
CRITICISM GEN ERAL
ON THE LARGE SALARIES PAID
SPECIAL EMPLOYEES.
Remarks of One Republican Leader.
Which Summarize Expressions
by a Number of Others.

A big storm is brewing in the House over
the Panama canal expenditures and the
very vigorous talk over the pending bill is
certain to be followed by some stringent
legislation restricting salaries and con-
tracts.
The interesting feature of the situation
Is that the criticism is not confined to the
democrats, but is as general among the
republicans, and is directed against the ad-
ministratlon. In conversation with each
other today republicans high in the party
in the House spoke out in vigorous critl-
cism of the administration in permitting
this situation to be presented by which the
democrats are given an opportunity to find
fault. Republican representatives talked
freely in the cloak rooms and Iobbies and
took no pains to conceal their views.
Some Remarks of One Leader.
The remarks of one republican of intiu-
ence and prominence to a Star man this
afternoon would summarize similar ex-
pressions by number of others This
man said:
Here comes the President with an ad-
monitton to Congress to be frugal and eco
nomlcal. to scan expenditures, and on the
heels OF this warning there is precipitated
upon Congress evidence that the admins
tration has been dealing out salaries with
lavish hand to its particular friends.
Take that salary of $4,000 to the press
agent of the commission and compare 1t
with the salary of $1,000 which the Secre-
tary of War, who is at the head of the
whole canal project, is paid. There is a
general auditor who draws $4,000 and
after he has audited the accounts they
have to go to the regular auditor of the
War Department, who gets only Si,500.
There is purchasing agent at $4,000,
probably three times the amount paid to
men in the army and navy who purchase
as many supplies as he Will be called upon
to buy. There is the case of the paymas-
ter who went out in November, an officer
In the navy. His salary in the navy was
81, 400. but the canal commission pays him
s6.Uo. His successor has been jumped to
S9.000.
There is the chief sanitary officer, an Of
fcer in the army, where he gets $4,9o0 as
surgeon, but his services to the canal com
mission are rated at $4,000. The CHIEF
quarantine officer is a surgeon In the ma
rine hospital service at S3,2oo, but ms
worth to the commission is supposed to be
1000 OF course they do not get that COM
pensation in addition to their service pay:
These are a few OF the cases among the
MANY Instances of high-priced men en-
ployed by the commission
Will Stand by the Commission.
.'rrhe republicans intend to stand by the
commission, but we cdilHot Oe plaiiieu iO'
feeling angry that the administration has
given opportunity for criticism. The out
come is certain TO be the enactment of leg
islation by the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce, fixing salaries and
otherwise throwing limitations around ex-
penses and contracts. l do not believe 1t
will be necessary for an investigation. 1
do not believe and IN that l think express
the opinion of the leaders of the House
that there has been any wrongdoing in the
canal work. and that an investigation would
only be a waste OF time. The committee
will doubtless call upon the commission for
its reasons for paying these high salaries,
and If the reasons are valid they will be
given due consideration.
Another outcome of the situation, in my
opinion, will be a general overhauling of
depar r;mental expenses and salary list, espe-
cially as 10 special commissions and tenn
porary organiza tons"