New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-09
PRESIDENT ON CANAL
COURTS INVESTIGATION.
Message We'll Received IN Congress
Bet5ccen Taft and Shonts..
IFrom The tribune bureau. /

Washington, Jan S-The Presidents message.
transmitted to Congress to-day. with the annual
report of the Isthmian Canal Commission. nades
markedly favorable impression in both houses.l
Its frank and manly tone and the cordiaIty-
with which the President courts full and cons
plete investigation of the canal administration
seem likely effectively to dispose OF the spirit OF
carping which has from time To time manifested
itself in connection with Panama Canal ahairsS
The criticism of Chairman Shonts, expressed by.
Secretary Taft in his letter of transmission. was
regarded as in some respects sensational. how-
ever, as it revealed completely the cause Of that
friction between these two high officials. OF
months ago.
The Presidents message follows:
To the Senate and House of REPRESENTATIVES:
nclose herewith the annual report Of the
Isthmian Canal Commission, the annual report
OF tne Panama Railroad Company and the Sec
retary Of Wars letter transmitting the sames
together with certain papers
The work on the isthmus is being a1nrablys
done, and great progress has been made esss
pecially during the last nine months. The plant
is being made ready and the organizations per-t
fected. The first work to be done was the work.
Of sanitation, the necessary preliminary TO the
work of actual construction. and this has heen,
pushed forward with the utmost energy and
means. In a short while shall lay before you
the recommendations of the commission and oEi
the board Of consulting engineers as to ths
proper plan to be adopted for the canal ITSELF
together with my recommendations there
on. All the work far has been done not only
with the utmost expedition. but in the most
careful and thorough manner. and what has
been accomplished gives us good reason to be-
lieve, that the canal will be dug in shorter
time than had been anticipated and at an ex-
pendture within the estimated amount. All our
citizens have right to congratulate themselves
upon the high standard of efficiency and integ-
rity which has been hitherto maintained by tha
representatives of the government in doing this;
| great work. If this high standard Of efficiency
and integrity can be maintained in the futures
at the same level which it has now reached thes
construction of the Panama Canal viii be ons
of the feats to which the people of this repub-
lie will look back with the highest pride
MANY UNFOUNDED CHARGES.
From time to time various publications have
been made. and from time to time in the futures
various similar publications. doubtless viii be
made purporting to give account of jObhery@
or immortality inefficiency misery as OBJ
tanning on the isthmus. | have carefully exams
tned into each OF these accusations which seemed
worthy OF attention In every Instance the &C
cusations have proved to be without foundaticu
in any shape or form They spring from several
sources. Sometimes they take the shape o.
statements by irre sponsible investigators or s.
sensational habit Of mind. incapab bic OF GbseTV~
| ing OF repeating with accuracy what they see,
and desirous of obtaining notoTiety by wide.
spread slander. More often they originate with
or are given currency bv individuals with per-
| sonaI grievance. The sensation mOngers. botni
| those who stay at home and those who visit the
| icthnus may ground their accusations on falss
statements by engineer. who, having ap~
piled for service on the commission ana neen rs
1 fused such service. now endeaVors TO dlScreClt
4
| owner Of real estate who has sought action o
| inaction by the commission to increase the value.
of his lots, and is bitter because the commission
cannot be used for such purposes, or on the LalS
/ of disappointed bidders for contracts, or CT o.
| fcehoders who have proved incompetent or
who have been SUSPECTED OF corruption anu
dismissed or who have been overcome by panic
and have fled from the isthmus. Every spe-
cthc charge relating to jcbbery 10 imlnoFaIi9s u NJ
come has been Immediately investigated ana IN
no single instance have the statements OF theSe
| sensation mongers and the interested complain
ants behind them proved true Inc oIilS ~ W =,
credit inhering in these false accusations Is -
those who originate and give men gu +b-av,
and who, the extent Of their aollltles, Ie.sIs
hammer and obstruct the completion OF the great
work in which both the honor and the hIeIest
of America are so deeply involved 1t matters
NOT whether those guilty of these false accusa-
tions utter them in mere wantoi IeCAIJs 1sSa e.
and folly. or in a spirit of sinister malice I"
crafty some personal or political grudse'
RUINoUs TO CUT DOWN SALARIES.
ANY attempt to cut down the salaries OF the
officers of the Isthmian Commission or oA - I
subordinates who are doing important WoIhs
would be ruinOuS from the STANDPOINT Vi a. ~.
nIishing the work effectively. To quote tt7
words of one of the best observers on the IsIil
mus Decentralization of the service Is Ger toH -
If the reward for suceessful ehdeaeor Ij II o in
panama a gigantic task-the largest piece oL
engineering ever done. The employment VI ~ tIi3
men engaged thereon is only teulpoIdl >, 80
nt u iii reouire the highest order of ability
iP II is to be done economically, hohesliy ~ a.
work on insufficient salary Wouiu en- r,,,,
putting a. premium upon inef1ciency ana C GolIul
tion Men fit for the work VIII not uLueI en- ah
~ - - Ivbo do undertake il will be left TO seek
other employment with as thelr ehIeI i Ie;; ~ ~
the rer,lltations they achieve IheT WoIh Il II
Anitelv more difficult than any private WoTh'
both because Of the peculiar conutlohs o oI eIlo
tropicaI land in which IL is lald s1ifu DeCIt DeCatS
II is impossible to free them from i tns PeC1l P,
i;r1itot lions inseparably connected with govern
-1ant ernDIoyment; while fl is unfortunately ttue
that men engaged In public work no I'. matter no%
devoted and disinterested their serves, sIt l-uS
exnect to be made the objects or nllsrepreseI-t,
tinn and attack At best. therefore the posi-
tions are not attractive in proportion 70 u!TII
irnnortance and among the men mt 10 Go tno
+aIIS civ those with a genuine sense OF pubic
snjrit and eager TO do the great WorK ior tho
works sake can be obtained; ana sucI ten niett
cannot be kept If they are 10 De Lreateu ~ ~
oI1ea r5iIness and parsirnony, in ADDITION 10 Cne
caSfsiTtv that false accusations viii contlnudliy
be brought against theih'
FULL INVESTIGATION CoURTED
repeat that the work the isthmus has
been done and Is being done adnllraoiy me
organization is good Ine nflStaAss $50 sae 49, og
nrac+ically no consequence The zeal, mteth-
rence and efficient public service OF the Isthnlan
Commission ana us 81 Saet most eShaustve
and most searching investigation OF any act
OF theirs and If any one or them IS ever sn9Wt
10 have done wrong his punishment shah oe
exanpiary But I ask that they be decentiY
paid and that their hands be upheld as Ions IS
they act decently. On any other conditlohs We
shall not be able to get of the right type
TO do the work: and this means that on any
other conditions we shall insure. if not failure.
at least delay scandal and inefficieney Ia tho
task of digging the giant canal.
~ THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, January = l9Vo
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
When the message had been read in the som
,+e Mr. German took the floor He said in part: