The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-22
TAFT TAKES UP
REEDS CHARGES
Writes Letter to President on the
Subject.
SAYS REED WAS FLlPPANT
|ROoSEVELT'S REPLY FAVORS RE.
ARRANGEMENT.

i " --efAAAtAE ~tttF -AotStA -soINlN1ct1g
Tart today made public a letter which
be has written to the president concern
#ng complaints made by Dr. G. A. L.
4Reed regarding the work Of the 18TH
Enian canal commission. In the course
90 his letter Secretary Taft said that
many Of the things complained of
would be remedied by placing the con-
t}ol OF the canal under one head or at
least under a commission composed Of
poi more than three members. He ad-
sded that he viii submit to the president
pa a short time, plan for the rear
- aHSemeHt Of the commission. Presi-
8deut Roosevelt in his reply said he was
4glad to know that the secretary is pre-
&paring plan for the rearranEement
81 the commission and promises to give
he plan immediate attention when re-
s reived.
Reed Said Things.
Following is the full text of the sec
P, tary's letter and the presidents re-
holy thereto:
War Department.
Washington. March i, 1905.
The President herewith transmit
he answer Of the commission to the
Ial geS contained in the report Of Dr..
\. /. Reed TO me as to the sanitary
FproViSions made by the Isthmian canal
commission on the Isthmus.
Il think that reading OF the two
documents viii show what indeed was
apparent on the face of. DIR. Reed 5
Statement, that his charges against the
commission were biased and controver-
81 ial and not written in the judicial
pirit that inspires confidence in their
Justice and accuracy.
DR.. Reed visited the isthmus at my
EFcquest to act as an assessor of land
Upon a commission provided by the
- reaty between Panama and the United
States. but. as he was the head of the
american Medical association it seemed
me an opportunity on his return
~ . secure information from one skilled
D. his profession as to the existing con-
1itions upon the isthmus. In response
o my queries he was so emphatic and
So detailed in his charges that 1 asked
fim TO make his statement in writing,
which he did, upon the same day by
he use Of a stenOgrapher. 1t is prob
bic that had he taken more time he
ould have been more measured in
lis criticism. less extreme in his state
nents and less hippant in his references
a the action Of the commission. The
epOrt of DR.. Reed was published
without my knowledge or consent
Commission Explains.
THE reply of the commission seems
10 show that large part Of the plans
nd the action of the commission which
b. and agreed to by Colonel Gorgas and
& he other medical officers in the en-
4 pl0y of the commission 1t is doubt
esS true that Colonel GOTgas and his
taft believed that it would be wiser tC
tive them an entirely free hand in the
nattert of ordering construction sup
plies and the employment of subordi-
lates. 1t is quite probable that haC
he approval of the commission in thu
ratter OF ordering construction sup
plies been dispensed with. there would
ave been fewer delays and less com
f'laint on this account. but in the eK
Spenditure OF such large sums as were
necessary for the organization of tn
auitary system the construction o
llant and the purchases of supplies, 1
nay we'll be doubted whether the com
znislTOn would have been diSchargtn:
Is duty In Withholding such supervis
zlIy control.
at il doubtless true that there hav
been undue delays in the furnishing o
What was needed for sanitary purpose
Dn the isthmus, but 1 venture to thinl
j, hat Il is due rather to the inheren
,lumSiness of the commission as al
Executive body than to the nOn-attend
nee Of any member OF that body
There must be some restraint for pur
poses OF economy upon expenditures D.
I'm executive who has i'm mind tn
otal expenditures and obligations be
- rpg incurred. To allow each depart
u nent to exDend what in its judgmen
: necessary viii certainly lead to eN
Iavagance and waste. The remedy 70
he delays which may have occurre
here. il seems TO me. are TO be toun
D. a rearrangement of the COmmiSSiO
with a new distribution Of powers an
he comforting of the executive on ont
Dr. at the most not more than tire
members of the commission, with
general supervisory and confirmation
bower in the commission as a body
with your permission 1 will submit
b. "A day or two Il plan for the bette
carrying on of the work Of the commits
sion. which may be embodied IN ne
series Of instructions
Respectfully yours,
WILLIAM II. TAFT,
Secretary of War"
Wants a Encouragement.
w hite House.