The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-12-18

work of the kind ever attempted, and are seeking to bring to naught the eff forts of their countrymen to put to the credit of America one of the giant feats of the ages. The outrageous accusa- tions of these slanderers constitute a gross libel upon body of public ser wants who for trained intelligence, ex- pert ability high character and devo- tion to duty, have never been excellef anywhere. There is not a man among those directing the work on the Isth- mus who has obtained his position on any other basis than merit alone, and not one who has used his position in any way for his own pedsonal or pecu- niary advantage.
 Plan to Build by Contract.
 After most careful consideration we have decided to let out most of the work by contract, if we can come to satisfactory terms with the contracc- tors. The whole work is of a kind suited to the peuliar genuis of our peo- pie; and our people have developed the type of contractor best fitted to grap- pie with it. It is of course much better to do the work in large part by con- tract than to do it all by the govern ment, provided it Is possible on the one hand to secure to the contractor a suf- flcient remuneration to make It worth while for responsible contractors of the best kind to undertake the work; and provided on the other hand it can be done on terms which will not give an excessive profit to the contractor at the expense of the government, After much consideration the plan already promulgated by the Secretary of War was adopted. This plan in its essential features was drafted, after careful and thror study and consideration, by the chief engineer, Mr. Stevens, who, while in the employment of MT. Hill, the president of the Great Northern rail- road, had personal experience of this very type of contract Mir StevensI then submitted the plan to the chair man of the commission, MT. Shonts, who went carefully over it with Mr.
 Rogers, the legal adviser of the com mission, to see that all legal difiicul ties were met. He then submitted cop les oe the plan to both Secretary Taft and myself. Secretary Taft submitted 1t to some of the best counsel at the New York bar, and afterwards I went over 1t very carefully with Mr. Taft and MT. Shonts, and we lyaid the plan in its general features before Mir. Root, My conclusion is hat it combines the maximum of advantage with the mini mum of disadvantage Under it a pre- mium will be put upon the speedy and economical construction of the canal and a penalty Imposed on delay and waste, The plan as promulgated is tentative; doubtless it will have to be changed in some respects before we can come to a satisfactory agreement with responsible contractors perhaps even after the bids have been received; and of course itis possible that we can come to an agreement, in which case the government will do the work Itself. Meanwhile the work on the Isthmus is progressing steadily and without any let-up.
 Single Commissioners Desired. "A SJA GltDEduHu tOl4lllAlNGlVi IS VI course a clumsy executive instrument We would have but one commissioner with such heads of departments and other officers under him as we may find necessary. We should be expressly permitted to employ the best engineers in the country as consulting engineers.
 I accompany this paper with a may showing substantially what the canal will be like when it is finished When the Culebra cut has been made and the dams hult( if they are built as at pres
 ent proposed) there will then be at both the Pacific and Atlantic nds of the canal, two great fresh-water lakes, connected by a broad channel running at the bottom of ravine, across the backbone of the western hemisphere. Those best informed believe that the