Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-18

the complaints proved absolutely baseless, |
save in two or three instances where they
referred to mistakes which the commission
had already itself found out and cor
rected.
sIanderers and LibeIers.
So much for honest criticism. There re-
mains an immense amount of as reckless
slander as has ever been published. Where
the slanderers are Of foreign origin l have
no concern with them. Where they are
Americans, 1 feel for them the heartiest
contempt and indignation; because, in a
spirit of wanton dishonesty and malice,
they are trying to interfere with, and ham
per the execution of, the greatest work OF
the kind ever attempted, and are seeking
to bring to naught the efforts of their
countrymen to put to the credit Of America
one of the giant feats of the ages. The
outrageous accusations of these slanderers
constitute a gross libel upon a body of
public servants who, for trained inteli-
gence, expert ability, high character and
devotion to duty, have never been ex-
celled anywhere. There is not a man
among those directing the work on the
isthmus who has obtained his position on
any other basis than merit alone, and not
one who has used his position in any way
lOE MS own ptISOudl OF DttuuldIy duNaU-
tage.
Plan to Build by Contract.
After most careful consideration we have
decided to let out most Of the work by
contract. If we can come to satisfactory
terms with the contractors. The whole work
is of kind suited to the peculiar genius
of our people; and our people have devel-
oped the type of contractor best fitted to
grapple with it. 1t is of course much better
to do the work in large part by contract
than to do it all by the government pro-
vided 1t is possible the one hand to
secure to the contractor a sufficient re-
muneration to make 1t worth while for re-
sponsible contractors of the best kind TO
undertake the work; and provided on the
other hand it can be done on terms which
will not give an excessive profit to the
contractor at the expense of the govern
ment. After much consideration the plan
already promulgated by the secretary of
war was adopted. This plan in it's essen
tial features was drafted, after careful and
thorough study and consideration, by the
chief engineer Mr.. Stevens, who, while in
the employment of Mr.. Hill, the president
Of the Great Northern railroad had per-
sonal experience Of this very type of con-
tract. Mr.. Stevens then submitted the plan
shonts, who went carefully over it with
Mr. Rogers, the legal adviser Of the COM
mission, to see that all legal difficulties
were met. He then submitted copies of
the plan to both Secretary Taft and my
self. Secretary Taft submitted It to some OF
the best counsel at the New York bar, and
afterwards l went over II very carefully
with Mr. Taft and Mr. Shonts, and We laid
the plan in its general features before Mr..
Root. MY conclusion is that il combines
| the maximum of advantage with the min
| imum of disadvantage. Under It a pre-
MUM will be put upon the speedy and eco
| nomical construction OF the canal, and a
penalty imposed on delay and waste The
| plan as promulgated is tentative; doubtless
! It will have to be changed in some re-
| spects before we can come to a satisfactory
agreement with responsible contractors
perhaps even after the bids have been re-
| ceived and of course it is possible that
we cannot come TO an agreement, in which
case the government will do the work itself.
Meanwhile the work on the isthmus is pro
| crossing steadily and without any iet-up.
single COmmissiOner Desired.
| A seven headed commission is, Of course,
| a clumsy executive instrument We should
have but one commissioner, with such
heads OF departments and other officers
under him as we may find necessary. We
should be expressly permitted TO employ
the best engineers in the country as con-
sulting engineers.
| accompany this paper with map show
ing substantially what the canal will be
like when IL is finished. When the Cuebra
cut has been made and the dams built Of
they are built as at present proposedJ
there will then be at both the Pacific and
Atlantic ends Of the canal, two great fresh
water lakes, connected by broad channel
running at the bottom OF a ravine, across
the backbone Of the Western Hemisphere.
| Those best informed believe that the work
| will be completed in about eight years; but
It is never safe to prophesy about such
| work as this, especially in the tropics.
| 1 am informed that representatives OF the
commercial clubs Of four cities-Boston.
| Chicago, Cincinnati and St. Lous-the
membership OF which Includes most OF the
| leading business men of those cities, eX-
pect to visit the Isthmus for the purpose
Of examining the work of construction of
the canal / am glad to hear It, and shall
direct that every facility be given them