Gilpin observer., 1906-01-11
CANAL ALL RIGHT
so PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DE.
cLARES TO CONGRESS.
GRAFT ACCUSATIONS FALSE

secretary arts report ShoWS 1000
Progress-Preliminary Work 10 Be-
ing Done-Advocates Generous Sal
aries for Competent Men.
Washington.-The Senate gave at
tention Monday to the Panama canal,
the situation in Santo Domingo and the
merchant marine shipping bill.
The canal question came up in con-
nection with message from the Presi-
dent, in which, among other things, he
invited the closest scrutiny into all that
had been done by the government in
the isthmus of Panama, saying:
g 1nclose herewith the annual report
of the Isthmian Canal Commission, the
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
admirably done and great progress has
been maue, 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 necessity pre-
llminary to the work of actual con-
struction, and this has been pushed
forwar with the utmost energy and
means. In short while / shall lay be-
for you the recommendations of the
commission and OF the board of con-
sulting engineers as to the proper plan
to be adopted for the canal itself. to-
gether with my own recommendation
thereon.
"All the work so 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 will be dug in shorter
time than had been anticipated and at
an expenditure within the estimated
amount. All our citizens have a right
to congratulate themselves upon the
high standard of efficiency and integ-
rity which has been hitherto main
| taained by the representatives of the
government in doing this great work.
IF this high standard Of efficiency
and integrity can be maintained in the
future at the same level which it has
now reached, the construction of the
Panama canal will be one of the feats
| to which the people of this Republic
| will look back with the highest pride.
! From time to time various publica-
tions have been made and from time to
time in the future various similar pub
| locations doubtless will be made pur.
porting to give an account of jobbery,
or immortality, or inefficiency, or mis-
cry, as obtaining on the isthmus. l
have carefully examined into each Of
these accusations which seemed
worthy of attention.
In every instance the accusations
have proved to be without foundation
in any shape or form.
Every specific charge relating to
jobbery, to immortality, or to inefh.
cheney, from whatever source it has
come, has been Immediately investi
gated and in no single instance have
the statements of these sensation
mongers and the interested complain
ants behind them proved true. The
only discredit inhering in these false
accusations is to those who originate
and give them currency and who. to
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 deeply involved"