The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-22
NEW MEN FOR PANAMA CANAL
BURT TO HEAD COMMISSION on
TAFT,S ADVICE.
mar secretary Advises Roosevelt TO Re
organize the BOard-Other Railroad
Men Likely TO he Asked 70 serve
--CFiticlsm OF DR.. Reeds REPORT

Men Likely TO he Askeu 10 btFNo
Criticism OF DR.. Reeds Report
WARRINGTON, March 2i.-Conhrmatlon
Of the reDnfts that the Administration con-
templated a reorganization Of the lsthman
Canal Commission with a view to expedltlng
the construction Of the canal was given
TO-DAY. when a letter Of President Roose-
welt In reply to one written by Secretary
of War Taft relative TO lsthmlan ahalrs
was made public
In his communication, which was dated
March II, Secretary Taft said that twas
his intention within day OF two to submit
10 the President a plan for the better
carrying on Of the work Of the commission
which may be embodied In a new series
Of instructions" This means, according
TO the best information obtainable In Ad-
ministration circles, that new commits
sion will be named to succeed the present
body, and that only two Of the engineers
now engaged in the work will be retained
These are Engineers Parsons and Burr.
While Secretary Taft is not yet ready
20 announce in detail his plans Tor the
creation Of a new commission, 1t Is said
ON good authority that he has recommended
10 President Roosevelt that Horace u
Burt, former president Of the Union Paclho
Railroad be named chairman to succeed
Admiral John G.. Walker, who holds that
place In the board as at present constl-
tuted.
The names OF two other railroad men are
mentioned in connection with memberhip
on the commission. They are Samuel
NJ. FELTON, Of the Chicago and Alton, and L.
F. Loree. who has at one time and another
been connected with various roads among
them the Baltimore and Ohio and the Rock
Island
The letter Of Secretary Taft TO the Presi-
dent deals largely with the criticisms by
DIR. c. A. L. Reed as to sanitary conditions
at Panama This letter ia as follows
March II, 1905.
40 the President
Il herewith transmit the answer OF the
commission 10 the charges contained In the
report Of Or. c. A. l.. Reed TO me as TO the
saitary provisions made by the l5thmhn
Canal Commission on the Isthmus. | think
that a reading Of the two documents viii
show what indeed was apparent on the face
Of DIR. Reeds statement-that his charges
against the commission were BIASED ana
controversial and not written in the judicial
snirit that inspires confidence in their JUS
tco and accuracy.
apr. Reed visited the Isthmus at my re-
,uest 10 act a. an assessor of land upon
commission provided by the treaty between
Panama and the United States, but as ne
vas the head of the American Medical As
ISOLATION it seemed TO me an opportunity
on his return TO secure information from
one skilled in his profession, as to the ex-
iqtina conditions on the Isthmus. In re-
Spouse to my queries he was 30 emphauc
and 80 detailed in his charges that asked
him to make his statement in writing,
which he did upon the same day by the use oil
A stenographer. II is probable that had he
taken more time he would have been more
measured in his criticisms, less e1tretne
in his statements and less hPpant IN hlS
references to the action OF the oomnilssiiooLh'
The report Of Or. Reed was published WIN
out my knowledge OF consent.
The reply Of the commission seems y, 70
show that large part OF the pans "a ehI Re sl1
criticises was fully concurIed IN and agIee9
10 by Col Gorgas and the other meolcal
officers In the employ OF tine CoInlnlssloili
II Is doubtless true that Col. Gorgas ana
his stan believed that II would De WEI
10 give them an entirely free hand in the
matter Of ordering construction, suppl5Is
and the employment OF suDorulhAtb.
Is quite probable that had the approval ol
the commission IN the matter OF GIoeIsn
- Il
with, there would have been fewer aeay
and less complaint on this account; Out IN
the expenditure Of such large sums as were
necessary for the organization OF tIe sam
tary system, the construction OF plant ahSS,,
the purchase Of supplies II may be wen
doubted whether the commission Woulu
have been discharging it's duty IN WIN
holding supervisory control,
cit Ia doubtless true that there have been
undue DELAYS In the furnishing OF what was
needed for sanitary purposes on the ISM
mus. but / venture to think that TINS j Que
rather to the inherent clumsiness OF the
commission as an executive pouy tnan ~
the neglect or wihul non-actiOn OF any
member Of that board. There must DC
upon expenditures, by an executive WIS
has In mind the total expenditure ana obi
cations being incurred. 10 allow eect
Apartment to expend what in its tudg
ment Is necessary will certainly lead TO eH
traVaRanCe and waste.
sThe remedy for the delays which have
occurred here are, il seems 70 me, 20 o'
found In a rearrangement Of the commission
with a new distribution OF powers, and th'
comforting Of the executive power on ont
or a. the most not more than three mem
hers Of the commission with general super
visory and conftrmatory power IN the com
iiission as body. &,
with your permission, ! will submit il
a day or two plan for the better carrying
on Of the work Of the commission whlcl
may be embodied in a new series OF In
structions. Respectively yours,
WILLIAM II. TAFT, Secretary OF War
IL will be noted that while Secretar
Taft Is diplomatic in his use Of Language
he nevertheless goes at DR., Reed ham
mer and tongs for the latter's cours
In publishing a highly sensational repor
concerning sanitary conditions in Panam.
without first filing it In the Department
The President, in his reply TO the wa
Secretary also takes occasion to max
some pointed observations concerning ID
Reed and his report. The President
letter. which was written yesterday, Is 9
follows:
WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON March 20.
The Secretary Of War:
L have received your report OF March
together with the report Of Or. Reed ar
the answer thereto made by the Con
mis- ion Il appears from this that d
Reeds report (which Of course shou'
under no circumstances have been give
10 the public until you chose 50 TO give
and until the answer thereto had teen mat
by the commission) was, without yol
knowledge, printed in the medical journal