The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-30

Blneer.
 "For Mere Lucre."
 For mere lucre you change your posi- tion over night without thought of the embarrassing position in which you place your government by this action, when the engineering forces on the isthmus are left without a real 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 months and when I am in the Philippines on public duty. This you know as well as I know it, but 1t Lad not the least in- fuence upon your action-you thought of yourself and yourself alone. l consider that by every principle of honor and duty, you were bound to treat the subject diff ferently You have permitted the Presl- dent and all of us to proceed in all conn7 dence that you would perform the func- tons of chief engineer and now, in an hour, you drop yoar great duties, and throw them back Ipon us as if it were a matter of no consequence and all this for your personal 1dvantage solely.
 MT. Wallace. I do not agree wit. your idea of your rights nor with your idea as to your duties; do not agree that the Presidents original order giving the right to discharge an unfaithful commissioner gave you the right to abandon your duty at a critical moment. More than this your duty Tn the premises Is not measured by your mere legal contra cturn1 rights. It should be measured by high obligation of public officer with sacred allegiance to the government; 1t should be his honor and his pleasure to serve. You were therefore, In honor bound to by all that has preceded to continue to perform your duties upon the isthmus until such time, a year at least, as would have afforded us reasonable opportunity to select compe- tent successor and prepare him for the great duties of that office.
 You make not the least complaint against your ssociates-superior or in- ferior--U know of no possible ground for any). You are influenced solely by your personal advantages.
 Under these circumstances. Mir. Wal lace and with great personal pain and disappointment. I am bound to say that consider the public interest requires that you tender your resignation at this mo- ment and turn over the records of your office to the chairman of the commission.'
 Wallace Is Deeply Disturbed.
 "Mr Wallace replied that he was deep- ly disturbed at the vitw taken by the secretary; that he had considered that he had a right to retire when he chose, but that he was desirous of talking It all oyer and making some arrangement whereby the government could use his ser vice in some capacity
 'The secretary answered; Further talk Is useless. It amounts to dicker. cannot dicker on such a grave subject. l have assumed that you had given this sub feet the greatest consideration and you have appointed 1t deliberately and stated to me your action in set and definite terms You have unmistakably announced That you propose to 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 inconsistent with serving your new masters, who require your constant presence in New York, and there- fore that you could not and would not go back to Panama as chef engineer.
 'Mr. Wallace again stated that he deeply regretted that the secretary's point of view was different from his own, and said that he would send his resignation as soon as he got back to his hotel, and would address 1t to the President through the secretary
 while there is difference between us.' he added, as to the point of view concerning my duty, consider that there can be no question that have performed my whole duty up to this hour
 Looking for Successor.
 If ia expected that his successor as chief engineer may be announced in few days The commission is in somniuni. cation with an engineer of distinguished abilitv. who has been asked whether nc will accept the position and an answer is expected from him probably tomorrow
 Neither Secretary Taft nor caairman shonts would tonight indicate the iden- tity of the one who has been or cd me place