The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-02-08

FormsrCcnsl Lnic. Tells Of Trouble
With Taft and Cromwell.
PROTESTED AGAINST RED TAPE
after Declaring Attack On Him Was
Uniusuhed. Wallace Said He Feared
Cromwelrs Connection With Canal
WOMB Rernlt In Scandal.

Would Result In Scandal.
WASHINGTON. Feb John Findley
Wallace. former chict engineer of the
IetAnan canal commission testified
before the senate committee on inter
oceanic canals. which is inyesugating
the Panama canal affairs. He related
the details OF his selection as chief en-
cinecr. and said he made a protest
particularly against what he called
rel tape methods and a multiplicity of
masters. and then read a long state
mcnt
he first spoke of the "violent attack
upon me which Secretary Taft and
Mr.. Cromwell gave 20 the n . papers
last June" and asked that judgment
upon the justice Of that attack be sus-
pended until he had an opportunity
10 explain TO tou why think IL was
absolutely unoallcd for and. uniusti'
fable" He declared that the only basis
for this attack was difference OF
opinion between them as 20 my right
TO- decide for myself when | thought
the welfare Of the enterprise and my
own welfare justified me in resigning
my position"
Mr. Wallace continued that he came
north 10 have n private talk with Sec
Rotary Taft to explain the real reasons
for bis resignation. "to put myself at
his dieuosal. 10 assist him in securing
n he desired my successor etc.
when 7 found myself confronted with
both Secretary Taft and Mr. Crom.
we'll DO SAYS. 81 contontcd myself
with giving as a reason for resigning
the larger compensation ] hoped 10
secure ip another employment ! did
go because I assumed that reason
would be- accepted as sufficient for the
time being and avoid the discussion OF
other reasons I'm the presence OF Mr.
Cromwell. But soon found that they
had both come 10 the interview deter
mined To discredit me. and If possible.
10 destroy my reputation. simply he
canso / insisted upon resigning when
7 had become convinced some other
man in my place could render better
service 10 the enterprise under the
conditions. which with my concur
renee had been created
In reply to questions Mr.. Wallace
said he felt he was better fitted than
Mr.. Shonts for the actual direction Of
the canal work. He criticised Chair
man Shonts' course in giving orders
which Mr. Wallace said had not been
acted upon by the commission
"That was one Of the questions l
desired To discuss with Secretary
Taft" said Mr Wallace. Another
thing was Mr.. Cromwel's connection
with affairs. He had done several
things with the railroad property
which 7 questioned and seemed to be
the controlling force in the manage
ment Of the property. I considered he
was doing business along dangerous
lines"
"If catch your meaning, a part OF
VOur business Win the Secretary was
to shake Cromwell off your shoulders,
suggested Senator Morgan.
You have caught my meaning, was
the reply Mr.. Wallace went on to
explain that he thought Mr.. Cromwell
10 be mixed mp in so many local enter
prises on the Isthmus that his views
might be perverted. and If adopted by
the commission scandal might be the
result. One Of the acts of which MT
Wallace complained was that in which
he asserted that the Panama railroad
the year before il was taken over by
this government had declared diyi-
dends Of 100000 more than it had
earned. and had then issued bonds TOT
the rebuilding and improving of the
property. This. declared Mr.. Wallace.
meant that that amount of money had
been taken out of the pocket Of Uncle
Sam. He explained that Mr.. Cromwell
had been counsel for the railroad, and
said the action bordered upon high
finance.