Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-06
THINKS HE WAS VERY MUCH ABUSED,
Complains OF Red Tape and Too
Many Masters==-He Left to Take
a Higher Salaried Position.

| Washington, Feb 5.-John Findley
Wallace. former chief engineer of the
| 1sthmus Canal Commission. today test
| ified before the Senate committee on
inteT-oceanis canals, which is investi-
eating the Panama canal affairs. He
related the details of his selection as
chief engineer and said he made a pro-
test particularly against what he call
| ed red tape methods and a multiplicity
of masters and then read a long state
ment.
He first spoke Of the violent attack
upon me which Sec, Taft and Mr..
Cromwell gave TO the newspapers last
June and asked that judgement upon
the justice of that attack be suspended
until he had an opportunity to eX-
plain why l think it was very uncalled
for and unjustifiable'' He declared
that the only basis for this attack was
a difference of opinion between then,
'as to my right to decide for myself
when | thought the welfare OF the en-
terprise and my own welfare justified
me in resigning my position"
My appointment" he added. named
,, no length of time was TO hold it, and
| l was liable to be dismissed at any
| moment by telegraph. Such being the
case l believed then and believe now
| it was my undoubted persona! right to
resign 1t whenever | thought it neces-
sary to do so provided took abundant
care that the work in my charge would
| suffer no harm by my resignation"
Mr.. Wallace continued that he came
north to have a private talk with Sec.
Taft to explain the real reasons for
his resignation, ito put myself at his
disposal, TO assist him in securing if he
desired. my successor"
When l found myself confronted
with both Sec. Taft and Mr.. Cromwell, .
he said, Il cOntented myself with Civ
ing as reason for resigning the larger
compensation l hoped to secure in an
other employment. l did so because 7
| assumed that reason would be accepted
as sufficient for the time being and
avoid the discussion of other reasons
in the presence of Mr.. Cromwell. But
l soon found that they had both come
TO the interview determined to dis
credit me and if possible to destroy my
reputation, simply because | insisted
upon resigning when l had become con-
H'''S ot'iNi man III my pAtCc
could render better service to the enter
prise under the conditions. which with
my concurrence had been created"
Mr.. Wallace expressed his desire to
give the committee all the information
in his possession resulting from a wears
experience on the isthmus and in this
connection said he would be grate-
| full for the opportunity to reply to such
criticisms as may have been publicly
made in any way affecting my honor
as gentleman, my loyalty as q citi-
zen or my reputation as an engineer. +"
In regard TO the type of canal he
| asked to be excused from expression
until he had an opportunity to examine
the majority and minority reports Of
the board of consulting engineers.
Mr.. Wallace said he left the isthmus
on June 16 and had at that time made
up his mind to resign as chief engineer.
He said. however. that he had expect
ell to remain with the commission and
give it the benefit of his advice on
all matters but this relation he said.
depended upon the interview he ex-
pected to have with the secretary of
war. One of the reasons for his with
drawal, he said, had been that he had