The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-30
What Secretary Said.

When he nnlSneoi oeCIetdry o. - :
"SIr. Wallace, 1 am inexpressibly dis.
4 appointed not only because you have
taken this step, but because you seem
SO utterly unsensible of the significance
of your conduct. You come Win INC
task at critical moment, ON the eve
of Important work, and in the midst
OF Reorganization plans, under which
you accepted your osition.
II must be allowed to remind you
h commission a little over a year ago,
you were only receiving $4,000 per
annum under your former position,
and that your salary was fixed at the
sum demanded by yourself, 70 oO II
you had not desired the position, you
Z need not have sought nor accepted IT..
Z but / understand that quite the con-
trary was the case. Now. within
twelve days after your arrival upon
the isthmus,s you send me a cable
which, read in the light of what you
say to-day, signifies your pra ctlcal ac-
ceptance OF an offer OF another posi-
ton inconsistent with the performance
, of your duties on the isthmus. am
Z astonished that you should be SO dis
regardful Of the splendid opportunities
of the position. which would have
made you famous the world oyer BY
the honora Bile performance Of your
duties of chief engineer.
For mere lucre YOU change your
position overnight, without thought Of
the embarrassing position in which.you
place your government by this action,
when the engineering forces on Inc
isthmus are left without a head, and
your department Is not perfected In.
organization. when the advisory board
Of engineers is to assemble under call
of the President within two years and
when / am departing for the Phillip
I,,{,, 1,
4, knew as well as ] know It; it has not,
had the least influence upon your ac-
ton. You have thought OF yourself
and yourself alone. | consider that
by every principle of honor and duty
you. We're bound to treat the subject
MIR. Wallace. do not agree with
your idea of your rights, nor with your
idea as to your duties ! do not agree
that the Presidents order giving him
the rightto discharge an m un # aht u
abandon your duties at a critical mo-
ment. Your duty In the premises is
not measured by your legal contra tual
rights. It should be measured by the
high obligation of q public officer with
a sacred allegiance to tho government
it should be MS honor and his pleas
4. llre to serve.
"Under these circumstances. MI.
Wallace. and With great personal pain
saw that consider the public interest
requires that you tender you rresigna-
ton at this moment and turn, over
records OF your office to the chairman
OF the commission
Resignation rendered,
Mr.. Wallace stated that he deep
regretted that the Secretary's point
view was different from his own ar
that he would send his resignation as sol
as he got back to his hotel.
His resignation lis commissioner,
chief engineer and rs vlce-president al
general manager were then submitted.
II is expected that MS successor I
avs THE commission Is In commune;
u tIoS with III an engineer With distinEuish,,
ability, who has been asked whether
viii accept The position hn d., an ans 0ro,
Neither Mr.. Taft nor Chairman shon
wolid tonight Indicate the identity = Of =
man TO who the place has been offered,