The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-06
Thinks Cromwell Took Too Prominent a Part in Af-
 fairs on the IsthmuS
DESCRIBES TIE STORMY
 INTERVIEW WITH TAFT
Makes Protest to Senate Committee Against Red Tape Methods and Against Multiplicity of
 Masters.

Washington February 5.-John Findlay Wallace former chief engineer of the igthmlan canal commission, today test- fled before the Senate committee on in teroceanic canals. which is investigating the Panama canal affairs. He related the details of his selection as chief engineer, and said he made a protest particularly against what he called red tape methods and multiplicity of masters, and then read d long statement.
 He first spoke of the violent attack upon me which Secretary Taft and MT. Cromwell gave to the newspapers last June1 and asked that judgment upon the justice of that attack be suspended until he had an opportunity to explain to you why I think it was absolutely un- called for and unjustfiable.' He de- elared that the only basis for this attack was difference of opinion between them ''as to my right to decide for myself when I thought the welfare of the en- terprise and my own welfare justified me in resigning my position.'
 My appointment" he added, named no length of time 1 was to hold it, and l was likely to be dismissed at any moment by telegraph. Su h being the case be- iieved then, and believe now, 1t was my undoubted personal right to resign 1t whenever thought it necessary to do so. provided I took abundant care that the work in my charge would suffer no harm by myn-nvignation.'
 Could Be Dismissed Any Moment.
 Mr Wallace continued that he came north to have a private talk with Secre- tary Taft to explain the real reasons for his resignation, ito put myself at his dis posal to assist him in securing, If he de- sired. my successor" etc.
 When I found myself confronted with both Secretary Taft and MT. Cromwell he says, q contented myself with giving as a reason for resigning the larger com pensation l hoped to secure in another employment. I did so because I assumed that reason would be accepted as sufti- -cient for the time being, and avoid the discussion of other resolutions in the presence of MT. Cromwell. But I soon found that they had both come into the interview determined to discredit me. and if possible to destroy my reputation sim ply because I insisted upon resigning when l had become convinced some other man in my place could render better serv- ice to the enterprise under the conditions which, with my concurrence, had been created"
 Mir Wallace expressed his desire to give to the committee all the information in his possession resulting from years ex- perience on the isthmus.
 In regard to the type of canal, he asked to be excused from examination until he had had an opportunity to examine the majority and minority reports of the board of consulting engineers
 Made Up Mind to Resign.
 Concerning his understanding of his ten ure of office, he read from a letter writ ten by the President at the time the new canal commission was appointed, reading that he would substitute any other per son whom he believed better equipped to perform the duties of commissioner MT. Wallace said he left the isthmus on June 16, and had at that time made up his mind to resign as chief engineer. He said however, that he had expected to remain with the commission and give it the benefit of his advice on all matters, but this relation he said depended upon the interview he expected to have with the secretary of war One of the reasons for the withdrawal. he said, had been that he had made many mistakes in his attitude toward the canal, and that Sec retary Taft and Mir. Cromwell had made a mistake in sizing up his adaptabiities. He thought that he had been placed in
 
 executive judgment was concerned, after MT Shonts had been appointed as head of the commission. He realized, he said, that his posit ition was such that friction was bound to occur between himself and MT. Shonts, and himself and Mir Crom- we'll
 The inquiry was pursued by Senator Morgan to determine what Mir Crom- well had to do with it." MT. Wallace then read from a public letter issued by Secretary Taft saying that Mir. Cromwell, through designation of the President, had been acting in an advisory capacity on all matters relating to canal affairs. Refer ring to a visit made by Secretary Taft to the isthmus, MT. Wallace said that MT. Cromwell was member of the party, and appeared to be acting as go between in matters pending between the Panama government and Secretary Taft.
 Senator Morgan examined the witness regarding his interview with Secretary Taft in New York. at which Mir Crom- we'll was present, and Mir. Wallace said that Mir. Cromwell was at his hotel ''del- egated by Secretary Taft to arrange an interview"
 When asked by Senator Morgan if he had protested when Mr. Cromwell had been asked to remain at the interview by Secretary Taft MT. Wallace said:
 Secretary Seemed Very Angry
 '.No, I thought I had made my wishes plain, and I was impressed with the fact that the Secretary seemed to be very angry and was trying to suppress his 4eHngs. I felt until my resignation was