The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-09
ROOSEVELT ASKS
INVESTIGATION
Denies All the Charges of Corruption
in Connection With Pan
anna Canal.
UPH0LDS THE COMMISSION
CLAIMS THE SALARIES PAID ARE
MODERATE.

Washington, Jan. S.-The letter of
President Roosevelt transmitting to
congress the annual reports Of the
isthmian canal commission and the
Panama Railroad company, together
with Secretary Taft's letter transmit
ting the same, is as follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives: I enclose herewith the an
nual report Of the isthmfan canal COM
mission, the annual report of the Pan
ANA Railroad company, and the secre-
.ary Of wars letter transmitting the
same, together with certain papers.
Sanitation Came First.
'TThe work on the isthmus is being
admirably done and great progress
has been made, especially during the
last nine months. The plant is being
ready and the organization perfected.
The first work to be done was the work
of sanitation, the necessary prelin-
mary to the work Of actual construc-
ton, and this has been pushed forward
with the utmost energy and means. In
a short while I shall lay before you the
recommendation of the commission
and of the board Of consulting engi-
neers as to the proper plan to be adopt
ed for the canal itself, together 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 accomplished gives
US good reason to believe that the
canal will be dug in a shorter time
than had been anticipated and at an
expenditure within the allotted amount
All our citizens have right to con-
tribute their services on the high
standard Of efficiency and integrity
which has been hitherto maintained by
the representatives Of the government
in doing this great work. II 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 features to which the
people CT this republic will look back
with the highest pride.
Denies Press Stories.
'fFrom time to time various pubIica-
tons have been made and from time
to time in the future various similar
publications doubtless will be made
purporttng to give an account Of job
berry or Immortality, or inefficiency, or
misery. as obtaining on the isthmus. I
have carefully examined into each of
these accusations which seemed worthy
of attention. In every instance the ac-
cusatiOns have proved to be without
foundation in any shape or form. They
spring from several sources. Some
times they take the shape of statements
Of irresponsible investigators of a SEN
sational habit of mind incapable of OBJ |
serving or repeating with accuracy
what they see and DESTROYS Of obtain |
ing nOtOriety by widespread Islander. |
More often they originate with, or are
given currency by individuals with a /
personal grievance. The sensation !
both those who stay at home
and those who visit the isthmus, may
ground their accusations on false state |
ments by some engineer who, having /
applied for service on the commission, |
had been refused such service, now en-
1eaVOrs to discredit his successful COM |
peutors, or by some lessee or owner. of |