The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-06
WALLACE WOULD
NOT PLAY SECOND.
Former Chief Engineer of 18TH
mian Canal Commission Testi-
fies Before Committee.
CROMWELL A THORN IN FLESH
Latter Sized Him Up Wrong
When He Thought He Would
Serve Under Shonts.
AN Assoclnted Prcss. J

CBy Associated PrcSs.l
WASHINGTON, Bepruary 5.-John f.
Wallace former fhief engineer OF the
Isthmian Canal Commission, to-day testi-
fed before the Senate Committee on
Inter- Oceanic Canals. He said he made
a protest particularly against red-tape
methods and a multiplicity of masters.
and then read a statement referring 10
Secretary Taft's attack on HIM, saying
THE only basis pretended for this az
tack upon me was Il difference. of opln-
ion between Secretly Taft and Mr.. Crom-
well. on the one side, and myself on inc
other as to my right to decide ior m ~
enterprise and my own welfare just'heo
me in resigning my position. -
MY appointment named no length OF
time | was to hold 1t. and was liable 70
Such being the case I believed tnen, anu
believe now, 1t was my undoubted per
sonal right-and I believe every reputaoie
engineer must be OF the. sane oplnlon.
sary to do so, provided. OF course. that
took abundant care that the work IN my
charge would suffer no harm ny my
resignation ,.rv
precaution to that end, and came nome
to have a private talk with Secretary
Taft This was denied him. ,.d
In regard to the type OF canal ne, ne aS Sntii
to DE EXCUSED ITOll
he had an opportunity to examine the
majority and minority reports al the
Board of Consulting Engineers. -,
Would Not Play Second Fiddle.
One of the reasons for his withdrawal "a , al
he said had been that he had made many
mistakes In his attitude toward the ca
nal. and that Secretary Iaie a. ana sting In,
up his adaptabllities. He thought th n,
he had been placed in secondary posi-
ton so far as exercising executive luut
ment WAS concerned. after MI; S,o tha
commission. He realized. he said, that
his position was such that friction vas
bound to occur between himself and MI
shonts and himself ana N M sena t .or Nor.
gan an to determine what Mr.. cromwell
had had to do with it.. Mr.. Wallace then
read from a public letter issued by sec
rotary Taft. saving that Mr.. Grotnw had
been acting In an advisory caracity on
ali. ma..ars relating TO canal AFFAIRS.
Mr.. Wallace said he felt Cromwell mad
great deal OF influence with the seere-
TAFT "Cromweil's connection with AFFAIRS.
He had done several things With the
railroad property which questioned ana
seemed TO be the controlling force III
the management of the property.
considered he WAS doing business aions
dangerous lines"
Couldn't Garry Cromwell.
"1f r catch your meaning. part of
Your business with the Secretary was to
shake Cromwell off your shoulders sug-
gested Senator Morgan
you have caught my meaning" was
the reply. Mr.. Wallace went on TO ex-
plain that he thought Mr.. Cromwell to
be mived up In so many local enter
prises on the isthmus tina, his views must
be perverted and II adopted by the COM
mission. scandal might be the result.
One of the acts of which Mr.. Wallace
complained was that in which he assert
ed that the Panama Railroad. the year
before IT was taken over by this govern
ment. had declared dividends of 100000
more than it had earned and had then
issued bonds for the rebuilding and i'm
proving the property. This. declared Mr..
Wallace. meant that the amount OF money
had to De taken out of the pocket OF
Uncle Sam. He explained that Mr.. Crom-
well had been counsel for the road and
said the action hor1ered upon nigh
finance Adjournment was then taken
until tomorrow.