The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-02-07
taft ALL BUT
CURSED HIM
Engineer Wallace Tells Of Many
Difficulties Of a Canal Engineer
REPORT NOT WANTED, He SAYS
Secretary Of War Would Not Permit Hin
to Report French ErcantOTS There
Worthless 10 U. S., He Says
REPORT NOT WANTED, He SAYS

Washington. Feb. John r. Wallace
was again before the senate committee
on inter-oceanic canals yesterday. lie
gave a minute account OF the conditions
he found on the isthmus and the difricul-
ties he met in getting supplies and the de-
lays that occurred in filling requisitions
While he was cabling TO have orders ex-
pedited. he said. he received word from
Admiral Walker that cablegrams cost
money IL was a delicate hint he said.
that he had better not use the cables so
much
Mr.. Wallace told the committee that he
did years work. and that his successor
had no benefit OF his analysis or recom-
mendations, because" he said ''the sec
retary OF war told me he did not want II
and had no use for me- except on the
tsthmus az a directing engineer.
He was so angry in his treatment that
he all but cursed me-
'"rhe work ] did" said NH. Wallace
"extended over a complete year. ] was
working along a definite program which
intended TO put I'm writing In my annual
report. had l been permitted to make
report
COST HAS GONE Up.
Il experimental with the French exca-
vators so as TO tell whether Il would be
the more economical 10 use or destroy
these machines. which cost probably $50.
100000. experimental far enough 10
know that these machines were not ft
for use"
Telling OF these experiments Mr.. wal
lace said he had not estimated that be-
cause excavating could be done I'm March
Tor ~ cents cubic yard IL could be done
Tor the same cost I'm the rainy season
ppdqrStOOd hat ho k.J
gone UP great deal after he left The
organization was demoralized. he said
por the reason that the men had seen
their chief discredted and knew that n
successor was 10 be appointed who would
not be I'm sympathy with the work that
had been done
IL was brought out that Mr.. Wallaces
successor had not the benefit OF his anal
ysis OF the years work and his recon-
mendations, because the secretary OF
war told him he did not want Il and had
no use for HIM except on the isthmus as
directing engineer
CLERKS WERE THE KICKERs.
Al the afternoon session OF the com
mittee Mr. Wallace said that I'm all HIS
experience in railroad construction he
never had seen men better fed and housed
than they were on the isthmus.
clerks who went 10 the isthmus from
washington or New York who had got
ten the idea from musical comedies that
life In a tropical climate was 10 lie In |
hammocks and enjoy themselves
Efforts TO establish a Young Mems |
christian association on the isthmus for |
the benefit OF the canal employees were /
stopped because OF an official objection |
TO II. said Mr.. Wallace.
He was asked TO be more explicit and |
said that Gov. Magoon said that Secre- |
tary Taft did not wish the work to go on.
Mr.. Wallace thought this was because
the community was Catholic.
REBUKED WALLACE.
When Mr.. Wallace showed some feel
shonts that dirt had ip'''Sa been wasted ed by by
him Senator Hopkins said: 'If you are
as careful OF the reputation OF Mr.
Shonts as he was OF yours when he came |
before the committee there will be no i'll
feeling here"
"Nothing can repair the damage that
mas been done TO my reputation the
have been made which I had no chance
20 answer. This Is my only opportunity
end simply desire to set myself right.
heat"
Senators Simmons and Tallaferro said
chat Mr.. Wallace should be permitted To
make complete statement even II II
oh Involve criticism Of others II was
pointed out that Chief Engineer stevens
had corrected the statement OF Mr.. Shonts
nnd had set Mr.. Wallace right. and the
latter said that, 40 far as he knew. Mr.
Stevens had been perfectly fair.
AGAINST CONTRACT WORK.
Discussing labor conditions Mr.. Wal
lace said many civil service appointees
were sent 10 the isthmus who were not
quite bad enough TO discharge vet were
incompetent. He said Il had
been shown clearly that the civil service
system was not adapted 20 procuring ex- :
pert labor for work on the isthmus.
Speaking of the Bahio dam. Mr.. Wal
lace said he discovered that solid rock
bottom could not be found nearer than
Isl feet. instead OF 1es feet as had been
shown by the Walker borngs
He did not favor the eight hour day
and recommended that as few rcstric-
lions as possible should be placed on Mr.
Stevens and that the wolves should be
kept of his back" II the canal work
should be let by contract. said Mr. Wal
lace. IL would increase the cost about 90
per cent He thought the man IN charge {
should be permitted 20 get his labor I'm
China japan. India. Spain or whore ne
pleased
The hearing was adjourned until .
D oclock today.