The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-21

CINCINNATI. Jan. zO.-Theodore p.
Shonts. chairman Of the Isthmian Ca
nal Commission, made d stirring de-
tense of the work OF that body on the
Panama Canal. tonight. before She
Commercial Club Of this city. In tle
course of his address. he castigated
POultney Bigelow in no uncertain terms
without using names calling the writer
a "scandalmonger," sarcasticany refer
ring to the length OF time Mr.. Bigelow
was on the isthmus. and enG!ng the ref
erence by saying that he would not
waste time on his critic, as Mr.. Taft
had annihilated Mr.. BigelOw.
Mr. Shonts also demanded for the
commission an immediate investigation
of canal affairs. as a right or that body
and necessary 10 prevent Generalization
OF the force on the -isthmus.
Mr.. ShOnts said in part:
Gentlemen. We are treating this task
as a great business enterprise and are
seeking to accomplish it by the applics-
ton OF strict business methods. paying
40 need 10 politics or political pulls
Our sole aim and purpos is 10 give the
American people the fun worth OF every
dollar they put into the work. and 10
hand over the work completed TO them
at the earliest possible day.
so long as we continue in control OF
the job il will be managed on these
principles and on these alone. When it
becomes apparent that we will not be
permitted TO build the canal in that way
we viii step aside and let somebody else
take it in hand"
Scandal ongers.
Mr.. Shonts then spoke Of the publica-
ton of articles saying conditions on the
isthmus were abominabIe and declared
investigation had disproved every charge
The writers were scandal-mongers. he
said.
"A notable specimen OF this scan
dal-mon gering literature" he continued,
was laid before the country a few days
ago from the pen OF a man who had
spent tWenty-eight hours and ten min
utes on the isthmus. The ten min
are important. for a person Of such ex-
traordinary powers Of observation and
production can collect an enormous
amount of material in that time.
He landed at Colon on November 30
at 10 a, m. and sailed away on the same
steamer at 2:10 p. m. on December J. In
those twenty-eight hours and ten min
utes he accumulated a fund Of exact
knowledge sufficient to enable him to
draw a general and sweeping indictment
or the President, Secretary Taft. the
Canal Commission. Governor Magoon,
Chief Engineer Stevens. Colonel Gorgas,
and everything that has been done on
the isthmus since the American Gov
eminent came into possession OF the ca
nal zone.
He has been not merely answered,
but annihiIated. by Secretary Taft, and
l shall waste no time with him. One
point only viii I mention as an illustra-
ton of his miraculous powers Of obser-
walton. He said that during a recent
rain the volume of water was so great
in the sewers of Panama that it back
ed the sewage up into cellars and ruined
many houses There is not a cellar in
Panama, and never has been"
Mr. Shonts thcn declared that the
commission asked for an investigation
as the right of the commission, saying
that If the members were found to be
acting properly they should be upheld;
if they were incompetent. they should
be dismissed, and If criminal, sent to
prison.
I'VE ask further that the investi-
cation be made promptly" he said,
and ended as soon as it can be and
have its work done thoroughly. This