The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-06
]. F. WALLACE
 IS EXAMINED Appears Before Senate
 Committee. TELLS OF HIS RESIGNATION Was Tired of Cromweli's Mixing
 in Canal Affairs. Former Chief Engineer, Says secEtary Taft. Has Attempted to Put Him In a Wrong Light Befcrs@
 the People.

Washington, Feb. 5.-John Finlay Wallace, formerly Chief Engineer of the Panama canal, today testified before the Senate committee on Interoceanic Canals, which Is Investigating the Pan anna canal affairs.
 He related the details of his selection as Chief Engineer and said he made a protest particularly against what he called red tape methods and a multi plicity of masters and then read long statement. He first spoke of the 'vio- lent attack upon me which Secretary Taft and MT. Cromwell gave to the newspapers last June" and asked that Judgment upon the justice of that ats tack be suspended until he had "an opportunity to. exr lain to you why thik 1t was absolutely uncalled for and unjustifiable." He declared that the only I.asis for this attack was a difference of opinion between them "as to my right to decide for, myself when l thought the welfare of the entire en- terprise and my own welfare Justified me in resigning my position" .
 My appointment" he added, named no length of time I wrAI to hold It, and I was likely to be dismissed at any moment by telegraph. Such being the case I believed then and believe now 1t was my undoubted personal right to resign 1t whenever I thought ot neces- sary to do so, provided took abundant care that the work in my charge would suffer no harm by my resignation.
 MT. Wallace continued that hs came North to have talk with Secretary 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" etc.
 What He Told Taft.
 sWhen I found myself confronted with both Secretary Taft and Mir. Cromwell" he said, 'T contented my sef with giving as a reason for resign ing the larger compensation l hoped to secure in another employment. l did SO because I assumed that reason would be accepted as sufficient for the time being and avofd the discussion of other reasons in the presence of Mir. Cromwell. But Irsoon found that they had both come into the interview determfned to discredit me and if pos sfble, to destroy my reputa Pon simply because insisted upon resigntng when I had become convinced some other man in my place could render better service to the enterprise under the conditions which without my concur renee had been created.
 MT. Wallace expressed his desire to give to the Committee all the infor- nation in his possession resulting from a years experience on the isthmus.
 In regard to the type of canal he asked to be excused from examination until he had had an opportunity to examine the majority and minority re- ports Of the board of consulting engi- neers.
 Concerning his understanding of his tenure of office, he read from letter written by the President at the time the new Canal Commission was ap- pointed, reading that he would substi- tute any other person whom he believed better equipped to perform the duties of Commissioner.
 Mir. Wallace said he left the isthfnus June 16 and had at that time made up his mind to resign as Chief Engineer. He said, however, that he had expected to remain with the Commission and give the benefit of his advice on all matters but this relation, he said, de- pended upon the interview he expected to have with the Secretary of War.
 Had Made Mistakes.
 One of the reasons for the with drawal. he said. had been that he had made many mistakes in his attitude to- ward the canal, and that Secretary Taft and Mir. Cromwell had made mis- take in sizing up his adaptabilities. He thought that he had been placed in secondary position sc far as exerciS- ing executive judgment was concerned, after MT. Shonts had been appointed as a had of the Commission. He real ized, hs said that his position was such that friction was bound to occur be- tween himself and Mir. Shonts and him self anc MT. Cromwell.
 Tho inquiry was pursued by Senator to determine What Mir Crom- well had to do with it." MT. Wallace then rsad from a public letter issued by Secretary Taft, saying that Mr. Cromwell through designation of the President, had been acting in an ad- visory capacity on all matters relating to canal affairs. Referring to a visit made by Secretary Taft to the isthmus. MT Wallace said that MT. Cromwell was a memEer of the party and ap- peared to be acting as ''go between in matters pending between the Pan anna Government and Secretary Taft.
 Senator Morgan examined the wit ness regarding his interview with Sec retary Taft in New York at which MT. Cromwell was present and MT. Wallace said that MT Cromwell called at his hotel delegated by Secretary Taft to arrange an interview"
 When asked by Senator Morgan if he lad protested when Mir Cromwell had been asked to remain at the interview ay Secretary Taft, MT. Wallace said: No; thought l had made my wishes plain and was impressed with the fact hat the Secretary seemed to be very angry and was trying to suppress his feelings. felt until my resignation was accepted. I was the Secretary's sub ordinate. did not want to precipitate md i'll feelings, hut the situation changed my entire attitude"
 Cromwell and Taft.
 MT. Wallace said MT. Cromwell be- | gan to interrogate him. The Secretary | md Mir Cromwell. the witness said. had 1 been together a great deal whan the | was on the Isthmus and the alter had delayed an interview con .ernlng the canal work until MT. Crom- we'll could be present,
 How did you regard him. as an ad- ,isor or spy?"' asked Senator Morgan. md Mr. Wallace replied that he sim ,ly felt that MT. Cromwell had a great leai of influence with the Secretary, senator Morgan asked what reply he lad made to the question as to why he lad come to New York,
 ''I said I desired to resign as chief ,ngineer." said MT Wallace The Sec -etary made no reply, and I outlined he method in which thought my sev-