The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-30

were bound to treat the subject differently.
You have permitted the President and all
of lis to proceed in full confidence that
you would perform the functions Of chief
engineer. and now in an hour you drop
your great duties and throw them back
upon us as If it we're a matter OF no con-
sequence, and all this for your personal
advantage solely.
Mr.. Wallace do not agree with your
idea Of your rights nor with your idea as
Presidents original order giving him the
| right to discharge an unfaithful Com
missioner gave you the right to abandon
| your duties at a critical moment. But,
independent OF that original order. you
accepted the duties of chief en- gineer on the
Isthmus under the recent the second order
OF April l, which was made In cooperation
| with you and to suit your views.
More than this your duty in the premises
| il not measured by your mere legal con.
by the high obligation OF a public, officer
with sacred allegiance to the Govern
ment it should be his honor and his pleasure
to serve. You were, therefore, In honor
bound by all that has preceded to continue
to perform your duties upon the lsthmus
have afforded us reasonable opportunity
to seect a competent successor and pre-
pare him for the great duties of that office.
Great fame attached to your Office. but
also equal responsibility, and now you de-
sert them in an hour. Even from stand
mistake. II you could withdraw from
your new arrangements. which do not sug-
gest, could have no confidence (since l
know now your conception OF duty that
you would not in the future repeat the same
act at moment even more critical, when
the consequences might be even more en-
barrassiug and injurious to the Govern
ment.
Under these circumstances, Mr.. Wal
lace, and with great personal pain and dis
consider. the public interest Requires that
you tender your resignation at this moment
and turn over the records OF your Office
TO the chairman Of the commission"
In reply Mr.. Wallace said that he was
deeply disturbed at the view of the sub
ject taken by the Secretary: that he had
considered that he had a right to retire
when he chose. but that. as he had said, he
was DESTROYS Of talking it all over and ma
King some arrangement whereby the Gov
eminent could use his services in some
capacity.
The Secretary answered In substances
MIR. Wallace, further talk is useless. 1t
would be to decker. I cannot tlicker on
such grave subject. | have assumed
."" snd gou haSe sp
it deliberately and stated to me your action
in set and definite terms. You have unrnis-
takably announced that YOU purpose 10 !
accept a position so attractive that you
could not possibly afford to decline it, and |
that YOU would not henceforth perform
any duties for the Government as incon-
sistent with serving your new masters.
who require your constant presence in
New York, and therefore that you could
not and would not go back TO Panama as
chief engineer"
Agreeaby to the request Of the Secretary.
Mr.. Wallace submitted his resignation as
member of the Canal Commission. as chief
engineer and as vice-president. genera
mana ger and director OF the Panama Rail-
read.
In a curt note sent from Cambridge, Mass.
President Roosevelt accepted
the res gnation.
The position OF chief engineer Of the
canal has been offered to civil eng neer.
who reached Chicago at u o'clock tonight.
The official who know his name declined to
disclose it. This man telephoned from
Chicago this evening that lie had received
he tender and would let Secretary Taft
know Tomorrow morning whether he
would accept
The place has been offered tentatively
10 another engineer, who was asked il he
would consider it. He responded to-day
that he would be glad to entertain the offer,
20 that II appears TO he assured that if
he first man does not accept the second
will be appointed without delay.
II has been determined by the President
md Secretary Taft that the new chief en-
,ineer shall not he made a member of the
,aual Commission. Tor the present at least.
This point will not be determined until
secretary Taft returns from the Philippines
n October.