Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-13
SECRETARY OF WAR IN LETTER
TO PRESIDENT DENoUNcEs
FOES TO PANAMA CANAL
WILL CONDUCT INQUIRY
Senate Committee on Inter-oceanIc
Canals Holds Initial Meetins-con-
gresham Grosvenor Speaks in Fa,
vor of the Philippine Tariff Bill
Political Pulls Unknown.

Washington, D. c., Jan. Ii The
senate committee on inter-oceanic ca
nails held it's initial meeting today in
its inquiry into Panama canal affairs.
Secretary Taft was Intercepted
with view to acquiring information
needed as a guidance for an intelIi-
gent Investigation.
The meeting chiefly was for the
purpose Of formulating program for
the investigation and the discussion
was behind closed doors, although it
is the intention to hold public hear
ings
Philippine Tariff.
The debate on the Philippine tariff
bin was resumed in the house today.
Grosvenor, OF Ohio, took the floor in
favor Of the bill. He reviewed the
causes Of the Spanish war and de-
clared the American people could not
then shirk their duty and that no more
can they now shirk the consequences
of that war.
Presidential Nominees.
The presidential nominations today
were as follows: Postmasters-
Illinois-Jacob A. Bohrer, Blooming
ton; William F. Calhoun, Decatur;
George N. Mason, Erie; Abraham L.
Cox, Elizabeth.
Iowa-Lyman Doors, Gilmore City.
Wisconsin-Mary A. McAskill, Gid
den
Nebraska William P. Freeman, Au-
burn.
The Taft Letter.
Secretary Taft, in letter to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, which was transmitted
to congress yesterday, literally fays
Poultney Bigelow, who wrote a maya
zine article criticising the canal man
agement and the unsatisfactory condi-
lions of the isthmus. Secretary Taft
shows that Bigelow was on the 18TH
mus only twenty-seven hours, and in
that time gathered material which
showed that the engineering difficult
ties had been unsolved; that the san
itary conditions at Colon we're fright.
full; that the laborers were housed In
Ia swamp; that the government was
wholly Indifferent in caring for the
health Of the employees, and in feeding
them; that the negro labor is mis-
treated, and is attracted to the 18th.
mus under promise Of payment at
$3.50 a day, while they received but
76 cents; that incompetent persons
are appointed as the result of political
influence Of members of congress and
the cabinet; that the sewage system
of Panama is faulty piece of engi
neering work and does not carry off
the filth of the city; that a boat load
Of immoral women were sent to Pan.
ANA by direction of the commission
for immoral purposes, and that ship
load Of Jamaican laborers were beaten
and mistreated because they refused
to leave the ship and submit to vac
cination.
BigeIow Is Denounced.
Secretary Taft denounced these
charges as untrue and unfounded il
every particular, and declares thai
Bigelow Is not qualified to judge the
conditions because of his short stay
and that he does not know the differ
ence between dredge and q steam
shovel.
Chief Engineer Stevens comes tc
the aid Of the secretary of war. and
denounces Btgelow as a liar and falsi
fer and practically declares that Bige
low is not gentleman. Governor Ma
COON and Chairman Shonts and other
officials also aid the secretary in dis
proving the statements Of Bigelow.
Regarding the charge Of indifference
as to food supply for the laborers Sec