The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-30

and particularly those relating to him
self which required the performance
by him OF the duties of constructive
engineer upon the Isthmus.
WaHace's Cablegram.
Twelve days after his arrival on the
ISthmus Mr.. Wallace sent the follow
ing cabIegram to Mr.. Taft:
Important complicated business
matters which cannot be arranged by
corresp ondence and which may affect
my relations as chief engineer Of COM
mission necessitate immediate return
TO the United States to confer with you
and others An order from you TO re-
turn for official consultation VIII pre-
vent apprehension on the part Of en-
ployes. Suggest Shonts remain until
my arrival. Please answer"
Secretary Taft replied:
Secretary of war and Shonts in ac-
cOrdance with your request and without
knowledge Of circumstances that justify
approve your return for consultation
with them at Washington.
Just before sailing Mr.. Wallace wrote
a letter to the secretary in which he
referred TO his intended visit to the
United States but gave no explanation
Of his personal plans When they met
IN New York by appointment the state
nent says Mr. Wallace said part of the
interview would be personal 10 himself
and part would concern the general
canal work on the isthmus, to which
Secretary Taft agreed
The statement continues: Mr. Wal
lace then said that q few days before
he sent the cable to the secretary he re-
ceived q. cable from prominent business
men in New York asking if he would
consider an offer to accept an import
ant position in New York and that he
had cabled in reply that 1t was simply
a question of terms and conditions, and
that he had requested particulars. that
the particulars came and it proved TO
be definite offer of a position as presi-
dent OF a large holding company con-
trolling several other corporations, with
certain stock benefits and other advan-
tages to himself which. with the salary
made it equivalent to $50 600 year.
that he did not at once accept the offer
but delayed it for a few days. in order
to cable the secretary Of war during
which the parties increased their pro-
p0sa1 between ten and fifteen thousand
dollars a. year. making it equal to $780,
600 or s65,O0o-
Offer Was Alluring.
He stated that the position was an
especially attractive one and such as
he had only hoped to obtain after the
completion of the canal and thus only
after years of further service on the
isthmus, that duties Of the new position
were especially agreeable and afforded
opportunities to make money through
investments, etc; further, that the posi-
ton was such a good one that he did
not consider that he could decline it.
that life on the isthmus was lonely and
accompanied with risk to himself and
wife and was another reason for ac-
cepting a better offer: but that his new
duties would not require all of his at
tentiOn for the next two months and
that the parties had agreed that he
could close up his canal work IN the
meantime always provided It did not
take him from New York to the 18th
mus. He referred to the presidents or
der appointing the original commission
and in which the president had stated
that the commissioners would hold ONCE
subject to the due fulnNmenr OF their
duties and he stated that this made
the office subject to termination by the
president and that consequently he (Mr.
wallace considered the holder Of the
Office had an equal right to retire from
il at his option at any time
Concluding, he stated that while he
was thus severing his connection with
the canal work he was willing to make
Up his annual report and he would. If
desired by the government. continue to
serve as q commissioner hut not as chief
engineer in charge OF the construction
work on the isthmus-
Mr. Wallace said that this was all
that he had to say in regard to his
personal relation to the work. and that
he would then proceed to discuss gen
orally the condition on the Isthmus if
the secretary desired Mr. Taft said
he wished Mr.. Wallace would continue
his general statement Mr. Wallace
followed his personal statement with
discussion lasting half an hour regard
ing conditions on the Isthmus and the
work on the canal When he finished
Secretary Taft thus addressed him
Taft's Roast.
Mr.. Wallace, am fnexpressibIy
disappointed. not only because you
have taken this step, but because you
seem so utterly insensibIe OK the