Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-09

of these accusations which seemed
worthy Of attention. In every instance
the accusations have proved to be
without foundation in any shape or
form. They spring from several
sources. Sometimes they take the shape
Of statements of irresponsible invesu-
gators OF q sensational habit OF mind
incapable OF observing or repeating
with accuracy what they see and de-
sirous OF obtaining notorlety by wide
spread SANDER. More often they orig
mate, or are given currency by indi-
viduals with "a personal grievance.
"Thc scnsa ton mongers, both those
who stay at home and those who visit
the isthmus, may ground their ACCUSE
tions on false statements by some en-
gineer who, having applied for service
on the commission has been refused
such service and now endeavors TO dis
credit his successful competitors, or by
some lessee or owner OF real estate wnO
has sought action or inaction by the
commission, to increase the value of his
lots and Is bitter because the COM
mission cannot be used for such pur-
poses, or on the tales of disappointed
bidders for contracts or of office hold
ers who have proved incompetent or
who have been suspected of corruption
and dismissed or who have been over
come by panic and have fled from the
isthmus.
Every Chargc Investigated
Every specific charge rela ting to job
berry, immortality or inefticiency. from
whatever source it has come, has been
Immediately investigated, and in no
single case have the statements of
these sensation mongers and the inter-
ested complainants behind them proved
true The only discredit inhering in
these false accusations is to those who
originate and give them currency and
who to the extent Of their ability, there
by hamper and obstruct the completion
of the great work in which both the
honor and interest of America are 50
deeply concerned. 1t matters not
whether those guilty of the false accus-
ations utter them in mere wanton reck-
lessness and folly, or in a spirit Of sinis
ter malice to crafty some personal or
political grudge. An attempt 10 cut
down the salaries of the officials of
the isthmian commission or of their
subordinates who are doing important
work would be ruinous from the stand
point of accomplishing the work effec-
lively. To quote the words Of one of
the best observers on the istilnus, de
moralization of the service is certain IL
the reward for successful endeavor Is
a reduction of pay
I'VE are undertaking a gigantic task
the largest piece of engineering ever
done The employment of the men en-
gagged therein is only temporary and
yet it will require the highest order
of ability if it is to be done economic
ally, honestly and efficiently. To at
tempt to Secure men to do this work
on insufficient salaries would amount
to putting a premium on inefficiency
and corruption Men fit for the work
will not undertake 1t unless they are
well paid. In the end the men who do
undertake it will be left to seek other
employment with their chief reward the
reputation they achieve. Their work rs
infinitely more difficult than any pri-
Vate work, both because of the peculiar
conditions of the tropical land in which
it is laid and because it is impossible
to free them from the peculiar limita-
tions inseparably connected with gov
ernment employment While ii is uI-
fortunately true that men engaged in
government work, no matter how de-
voted and disinterested their services,
must expect to be made the objects of
Misrepresentation and attacks.
Positions Not Attractive
AT best the positions, therefore, are
not attractive in proportion to their
Importance and among the men fit to do
the task only those with a genuine
sense of public spirit and eager to do
the great work for the works sake can
be obtained and such men cannot be
kept if they are to be treated with
niggardliness and parsimony in addi-
ton to the certainty that false accus.
ations will continually be brought
against them.
Il repeat that the work on the 18TH
mus has been done and is being done
admirably. The organization is good.
The mistakes are ordinarily few and
these few have been OF no consequence.
The Jealous, intelligent and efficient
service of the isthmian canal commits
sion and it's subordinates have been
noteworthy I court the fullest, most
exhaustive and most searching invest-
cation OF any act Of theirs and if any