Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-17

tried in housing. in hygiene, in street re-
pairing. in dredging. and in digging earth
and rock. Now and then an experiment
will be a failure; and among those who
hear of it, certain proportion of doubling
Thomases will at once believe that the
whole work is failure. Doubtless here
and there some minor raScality will be UNI
covered; but as to this, 1 have to say that
after the most painstaking inquiry l have
been unable to find single reputable per-
son who had so much as heard OF any seIf-
Gus accuse tons affecting the honesty of the
commission or Of any responsible officer
under it. I append letter dealing with
the most serious charge, that of the owner
ship of lots in Colon; the charge was not
advanced by a reputable man, and Is utter
ly baseless. 1t Is not too much to say that
the whole atmosphere of the commission
breathes honesty as 1t breathes efficiency
and energy. Above all, the work has been
kept absolutely clear of politics. 1 have
never heard even suggestion of spells
politics in connection with 1t.
1 have investigated every complaint
brought to me for which there seemed to
be any shadow of foundation. In two or
three cases. all of which I have indicated
In the course Of this message. I came to
the conclusion that there was foundation
for the complaint, and that the methods of
the commission in the respect complained
Of could be bettered. In the other instances
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.
Slanderers and Libelers.
So much for honest criticism. There re-
mains an immense amount of as reckless
Islander as has ever been published. Where
the slanderers are of foreign origin 1 have
no concern with them. Where they are
Americans, I feel for them the heartiest
contempt and indignation; because, in
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 coun-
trymen to put to the credit of America one
of the giant feats Of the ages. The out
rageous accusations Of these slanderers
constitute a gross libel upon a body Of pub
lie servants who, for trained intelligence.
expert ability, high character and devotion
to duty, have never been excelled any
where 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 for his own per-
sonal or pecuniary advantage.
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 a kind suited to the peculiar
genius of our people; and our people have
developed the type of contractor best fitted
to grapple with it. 1t is of course much
better to do the work in large part by con-
tract than to do 1t all by the government.
provided 1t Is possible on the one hand to
secure to the contractor sufficient remu-
neration to make it worth while for
sponsible contractors of the best kind to
undertake the work; and provided on the
other hand 1t can be done on terms which
will not give an excessive profit to the con-
tractor at the expense of the government.
After much consideration the plan already
promulgated by the Secretary of War was
adopted This plan In It's essential fea-
lures 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
sonal experience of this very type of con-
tract Mr.. Stevens then submitted the
plan to the chairman of the commission,
Mr.. Shonts. who went carefully over it
with Mr.. Rogers, the legal adviser of the
commission, to see that all legal difficult
ties We're met. He then submitted copies
of the plan to both Secretary Taft and my
self. Secretary Taft submitted 1t to some
of the best counsel at the New York bar,
and afterward I went over it very care
fully with Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Shonts, and we
laid the plan in its general features before
Mr.. Root. Ny conclusion Is that 1t com
bines the maximum of advantage with the
minimum of disadvantage. Under it a
premium will be put upon the speedy and
economical construction of the canal and a
penalty imposed on delay and waste. The
plan as promulgated Is tentative; doubtless
1t will have to be changed In some re-
spects before We can come to a satisfac-
! tory agreement with responsible contract
ors-perhaps even after the bids have been
received; and of course 1t is possible that
we can not come to agreement, in which
case the government will do the work it
self. Meanwhile the work on the isthmus