New-York tribune., 1906-12-18

and with so large q congregation Of strangers
suddenly put down and set TO hard work, there
viii now and then be outbreaks of disease.
There VIII now and then be shortcomings in ad-
ministration; there will be unlocked for acci-
Gents TO delay the excavation of the cut the
building OF the dams and locks. Each such
inGdent VIII be entirely natural, and, even
though serious, no one OF them viii mean more
than a little extra delay or trouble. Yet each
when discovered by sensation nongers and re-
tailed 10 tfnid folk Of little faith viii serve as
an excuse for the belief that the whole work is
tnualy be tried in housing, in hygiene, in
street repairing, IN dredging and in digging
earth and rock. Now and then experiment
VIII be failure, and among those who hear of
certain proportion of doubling Thomases
Will az once believe that the whole work is
afalure. Doubtless here and there some minor
fascalty VIII be uncovered; but TO this,
have 10 say that after the most painstaking
inquiry I have been unable TO find a single
reputable person who had so much as heard
OF any serious accusations affecting the hon
esty OF the commission or OF any responsible
ofacer under Il append a letter dealing with
He most serious charge, that OF the ownership
f lots In Colon; the charge was not advanced
10y reputable man and is utterly baseless 1t
Is not too much TO say that the whole atnos-
theTe or the commission breathes honesty as IL
De2thes efficiency and energy Above all the
~GrK has been kept absolutely clear of politics.
! nave never heard even a suggestion of spoils
politics In connection with IL
I have investigated every complaint brought TO
ne ne for which there seemed TO be any shadow of
,oIAoAl-on- In two or three cases, all OF which
nave Indicated in the course of this message I
e@lhe 10 The conclusion that there was founda-
- -" ior the complaint, and that the methods OF
ne coinInissi0u IN the respect complained of
eou4a @ Toe bettered. In the other instances the
.Oup!alIltS proved absolutely baSeless, save in
two OF three instances where they referred 10
mistakes which the commission had already It
seE found out and corrected.
30 much Tor honest criticism. There remains
- nnlne,se amount Of as reckless slander as
-Ss ever been published. Where the slanderers
el are OF foreign origin l have
iIIsInoerers and no concern with them.
s0eIers Where they are Americans,
feel for them the heartieSt
~ y Wanton dishonesty and malice they are try
.g 70 interfere with and hamper the execution
!. ule greatest work of the kind ever attempted,
.nc are seeking TO bring nauRht the efforts OF
s-er cocntrylnen 10 put 70 the credit Of America
w OF Ire giant feats Of the ages. The out
.sseoUs acy1sat.Ons Of these slanderers consti-
Lgle gross lDel upon body Of public servants
~ for trained intelligence, expert ability, high
sasrseter and devotion 10 duty have never been |
.1Heued anywhere There IS not a man among |
Sxoee directing The work the iSthmus who has |
speihed his position any other basis than |
--e.l alone and not who has used his posi-
81 ssa IN any way for his own personal Pc
N-ulAfy advantage.
1fter most careful consideration We have de- |
Saeo 70 let out most OF the work by contract. |
We can come TO satisfactory terms with the |
contractors. The whole |
sh TO Build work is of q kind suited |
Ientract 10 the peculiar genius of |
our people; and our people /
S,e developed the type Of contractor best fitted |
s'aIp4e with 81 II IS, of course, much bet |
70 90 the work IN large part by contract |
- 80 70 90 IL eli by the government provided il
-S'Ssio4e, On the one hand. 10 secure TO the con-