The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-02-08
FLOOD Or LIGHT
|. ON PANAMA CANAL
WALLACE DECLARES THAT PET
LABoRERs DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO USE PICK.
GLIB men GIVEN JOBS
Workmen Sent Him Were Ignorant Of
Work-Work Done by French
Engineers Was Absolutely
Worthless.
Panama canal bully place for
shysters. john r.. Wallace.

AAkidi d Uhikf UkdtG AOI
shysters. john r.. Wallace.
Washington, Feb 7.-Chief Eng 'neers
| Wallace, before the senate COMMITTEES
on InterOceanic Canals today. declar-
/ ed that Secretary Of War Taft emrlat-
ed Lars Porsena and did all but curse
| him" when he told Wallace that he
wanted him to hand in his resignation
as canal engineer.
Wallace was again witness to tell
what he knew Of graft and the graft
ers" upon the narrow little strip OF
land called the Isthmus of Panama
The Republicans members Of the
committee were very suave toward
Mr. Wallace today. He had landed tell
Ing blows yesterday against the admin
istraton of canal affairs and as they
were equally blows against the Presi-
dent and the Secretary of War. Sena-
tors Knox and Hopkins were careful
not TO irritate the witness. Thus, on
the Republican side of the committee
there was the Alphonse-Gaston aspect.
while on the other was Senator Nor
gan plugging away with questions.
Almost Sworc, Says Wallace.
The net result Of the days proceed
ings were these:
Secretary Taft almost swore at Wal,
lace.
Mr.. Markell, who was invited to go
TO the isthmus for the purpose OF look
ng over the ground with view Of
the employees there. did 50 upon a
lass furnished by Wallace. He went
here Al pure business venture
There was 10 be no compensation 10
rim fer goillg. and no contract. verbal
pr otherwise, by which he could dc.
manI a dollar for going He went
here after Wallace returned. He saw
Wallace before going and Wallace told
him that while he (WalIace) was go-
ing to leave the commission. he might
as well 30 and look the place over.
Wallace also testified that the eight.
hour law was bad one fer the 18th.
mus as ii increased, with other collat-
eral conditions, the cost OF excavation
)f every cubic yard of earth about 20
per cent He advised that labor condi
lions there. TO be of service and pre-
vent discords. must apply TO foreign
as well as American workmen.
When he sent cables calling atten-
ion TO the fact that II he was expected
% do work he must have men and ma
'erial, he was answered that cable
grams cost money hint to be still
Labor Job Boteh, He Says.
AT times great numbers of men we're
sent down-all of one calling. This
an Overbalancing OF labor-too
many Of one kind and not enough Of
another. They were useless for the
reason that what was needed was an
equal number OF the several kinds Of
aborers and mechanics, so that the
whole body might work in their sew.
eral stations at once. The outcome Of
his was great increase OF expense
! great army OF idle men and but few
nen at work
He added that the man who Is 10 dig
he canal should be "despot, given
absolute power and the country should
'Dhold his hands"
The engineer was of the ouinlcn tia.
he man who took charge OF the work
bould be allowed 10 hire Chinese
Japanese. Indians. Ma:sve or Span
ards as he saw it, He pleaded iha,
be reason why works done under su
'ervision had cost so much was due to
he fact that the government IS bound
" conditions as regards hours OF
abor, pay and the like. that a private
ntractor Is not bound ny.
Senator Morgan. when the witness
xpained the governmental conditions
here and the questions that arose as
D whether martial or civil law pre-.
allied. asked:
~ IS an excellent place far shys'ers.
u Bci7"
yes" replied the witness q bniiy
lace for them
few of the questions put by Sen.
or Morgan threw a food q light ~
} the subject Here are some Of
em.
Civil Service Errors.
@ You were bound by civil service
ies there
A. Yes. and ssnt to- say a fes
3rds about 6 now. o. reemcl 10 me
at men who we're glib of tonsle and
iaft with a pen got the best pos
ms. One time they sert t0 me tven-
Eve men A. tracl forcmen-meu
10 could not drive a spike. Men niih
ots upon their hands and who could
{ write. bot we're Thoroughly ne
snical and TIE like came to ne a.
J lowest grade Of salaries. Ehiie the
b fellows came down ss the bet
q men. don't think that The civil