The Washington times., 1906-01-08
Declares That Accusa-
tionS Against Officials
Are CroundleSS.
WOULD NOT REDUCE PAY
Lengthy Document Covering
Affairs on lSthnluS Is
Sent TO Congress.

President Roosevelt this sft -ss
sent a communication 70 Congress IA
which be praises the work OF the canal
commissioners and deneunces their de-
tractors.
The Presidents statement says:
7 inclose herewith the annual repo1t
OF the IsIhmian Canal Commission. ths
annual report Of the Panama Railroad
Company, and the Secretary OF Wars
letter transmitting the same. together
with certain papers"
The work on the Isthmus is being ae-
nirabIy done. and great progress has
been made. especially during the last
nine months. The plant Is being made
ready and the organization perfected.
The first work TO be done was the work
OF sanitation. the necessary preliminary
10 the work Of actual construction; and
this has been pushed forward with the
utmost energy and means. In short
while I shall lay before you the recon-
menda tions Of the commission and Of
the board Of consulting engineers as to
the proper plan 20 be adopted for the
canal itself. together with my own
recommendation thereon
"All the work 50 far has been done.
not only with the utmost expedition.
but in the most careful and thorough
manner; and what has been accom-
plished gives US good reason TO believe
that the canal viii be dug in a shorter
tine than had been anticipated. and al
an expenditure within the estimated
amount All our citizens have a right
TO congratulate themselves upon the
high standard OF efficiency and intez-
rity which has been hitherto main
tanned BY the representatives OF the
Government In doing this great work
If this high standard of efficiency and
integrity can be maintained in the fu-
ture at the same level which IL has
now reached. the construction Of the
Panama canal will be one Of the feats
10 which the people Of this Republic ~ill
look back with the highest pride
From time to time various publica-
tions have been made. and from tims
TO time in the future various similar
publications doubtless will be made.
purporting 10 give an account Of job
berry, or immortality. or inenciency, or
misery, as obtaining on the isthmus-
1 have carefully examined into each
of these accusations which seemed
worthy OF attention In every instance
the accusations have proved 10 be with
out foundation in any shape or form.
They spring from several sources.
Sometimes they take the shape OF
statements by irresponsible investiga-
tors OF a sensational habit Of mind. in
capable Of observing or repeating with
accuracy what they see and desircus
OF obtaining notOriety by widespread
SANDER More often they originals
with, or are given currency by, indi-
viduals with personal grievance.
THE sensatiOn-mongers, both those
who stay at home and those who visit
the isthmus, may ground their accrsa-
tions on false statements by some engi-
neer, who, having applied for service on
the commission and been refused such
service, now endeaYors to diScredit his
successful competitors, or by some
lessee or owner OF real estate, who has
sought action or iHactiOn by the COM
mission to increase the value of his lots.
and Is bitter because the commission
cannot be used for such purposes: or on
the tales OF disappointed bidders for
contracts: or or OIncehOldsTs who have
proved Incompetent or who have been
suspected OF corruption and dismissed.
or who have been overcome By panic
and have fed from the isthmus
Every specific charge relating 10
1obbeTy. TO immortality. or to inef1ctency,
n ON whatever source IL has come, has
teen Immediately investigated. and IN no
single instance have the statements OF
these sensatiOn-mOngers and the inter-
csted compIainants behind them proved
true. The only discrediI inheFing in these
false accusations is 10 those who origin
ate and give Their, currency, and who.
10 the extent of their abilities. thereby
hamper and obstruct the completion OF
the great work in which both the honor
and the interest of America are so deep
~ involved. II matters not whether
those guilty of these false accusations
utter them in wantou reeklessness and
fClly or In a spirit of sinister malice 10
crafty some personal or political
srudge.''