The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-01-09
Taft's Report Indicates Eric
ton With ShOntS.
SENATE INQUIRY LIKELY
Sale Of Panama Railroad Bonds and Set
Element With Market Criticized-
Comments by the
President.

Washington, Jan o.ln letter from
Secretary Taft TO the President, trans
Uniting the reports of tie Isthmian Canal
Commission and The panana Railroad
/ Company, niade public yesterday, aIr.
TAFT shows tint the Panama Railroad
Company illegally ana gratuitously
I aNardetl j, II. Market, of Omaha, the
sum " Sl0,TA9.94, the amount of aI
claim presented by him for tile cost and
time employed by him III perfectine 4
lplan iof fulfilling q contract Mita the
company for feeding and housing enl-
ipieSees on the lsthnltis which was after
ward cancelled. At tbe time the con
4 flact was made there was i good deal
lot discussion about the aatter, and I'LL
iWas alleged THAT fayofitism was shown
i8lr Markell
\ Secretary TAFT also disapproves the
Issuance W bonds 70 The extent Oh @62s,
\ 900 At 4la per eent. last December Sec.
lfetary Fart ordered the fepurchese oil
4 the bonds al 1875, MIR TAFT says that
I he does nor doubt that the officers acted
Tin good faith concerning hothtransactions
iln both cases neither the President nor
Secretary Tart was consulted. In speak
ing Of the Market contract Secretary
i TAFT says IN part
In March, 1906, it became an urgent
lquestion how the employees III tile
tCaual Commission aud Of the RAILWAY
Eeempany On the isthmns could obtain
lproper food at reasonable prices. Chief
Engineer Wallace knew J.. +. Market, OF
iOmahl, rs y contractor engaged by
Irmh0ad companies to feed boarding
Icamps and u cater for railroad hotels
and restaurants
Mr. Markell went ID the isthmus
4 During biz stay upon the isthmus he
met Ar. Shouts and Nh. Stevens, Mr..
\ Wallace's succes sor. and Gov Magoou.
Eiie had broaell with him plains for
fan the equipment necessary 70 carry
Ton the project in which be was interest
ga, and he discussed the subject and the
proper course 10 be taken with the mem
hers ci The Camel Commissioa on the
ground leaving with them a written re
pori and plans and specifications which
ne haa obtained in this country from
. provision houses, Laundry manntaetar
ing establishments and other expert
sources
The contract was awarded to Mr.
7 Market as the lowest bladder on the 18th
af September. When news of the CON
hy cable objected 10 it as tiXiag too high
|lR price, ana thereupon clause vas in
lffotmCed int0 Tie contract by the con
! sent 6i Mn, Mas6el. by wticb The com
pGnY w'ls periHiitea TO cancel The con-
tact at any time II the discretion Of
Ae President,
I secretary Iafts letter is dated Jan.
+ and is written ~ the President, en-
! closing the annual report of the canal
| commission and tie annual report Of
I Mr. Shonts
President Roosevelt. in transmitting
the reports to congress-, saws
The worl, on tie i-tinnus is being adj
mitablY done, and great progress has
been made, especially during the last
nine months,
Finds Charges Groundless.
"From time to time various pnbliea-
tons have been made, and from time
to time in the future vafious similar
publications doubtless win be made. pur-
porting to give an account OF iobbery
y
as obtaining on the isthmus.
II have carefully examined into each
OF these accusations which seemed
worthy Of attention In every instance
/ the ACCUSATIONS have proved TO be with
out Foundation IN any shape or form
ANY attempt to cut down the salar-
les ot the officers Of the istlmian com
mission on OF their subordinates who are
! doing important work would be 1iinous
] from tile standpoint OF accomplishing
the work effectively. To quote the words
Of one OF the best observers on the 18th
mus, decentralization OF the service is
certain If the reward for successful en-
deayor is a reduction Of pay
I'VE are undertaking in Panama a gi-
gantic tSskt the largest piece Of en-
gineering ever done The employment
81 the men engaged thereon is only tenn
porary, and yet it will require the high
est order Of ability if it is to be done
economically, honestly, and efficiently.
To attempt 20 secure men 10 do this
work on insufficient salary would
amount 70 putting premium upon in
efficiency and corruption.
Must Be Well Paid.
Men NJ lot the work VIII not uhdeFr
take it unless they are well paid. In
the end the meu who do undertake it
viii be left TO seek other employment
I with as they Chief coward the reputa-
lions they achieve Their work is in
imiteiy more difficult than any private
work, both because Of the peculiar con-
ditions Of the tropical land in which IL
Il laid, and because it is impossible to
free them from the peculiar limitations
insebaFaby connected with government
lenPlownent while il is unfortunately
true Chat men engaged in public work,
no matter how devoted and disinterested
their services, must expect to be made
tbe objects Of Misrepresentation and at.
tack.
Ihe zeal, intelligence, and efficient
lpublic service Of the Isthmian Commits
sion and its subordinatcs have been note
| worthy ! court the fullest, most ex-
lanstive, and most searching inyestiga-
tion OF any act Of theirs, and If any
one Of them Il ever shown TO have done
i wrOun his Dunishmant shall be- exon.