The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-10
GRAFT ON CANAL.
Suspicious Of Gigantic Fraud Are
Reported Among Officials.
Chief Engineer Worricd-Rcported
That He Wants to Throw up His

A suspicion has arisen that gigan-
! tic frauds have been committed in
connection with the Panama canal
accounts on the isthmus. 1t is believ-
ed that Juggling Of figures in con-
nect:on with the system of book
keeping utilized has been perpetra-
ted. a careful and thorough inves-
ugatlon Of these suspicious is now in
progress.
Seven expert accountants are now
IN the canal zone examining the books
OF those who have supervised the
canal accounts. These experts were
selected and sent to the isthmus by
i the auditor for the War Department,
! who will take over the worA now per-
formed by Mr. Benson upon his re-
tlrement. The seven experts sailed
for the canal Zene on June IS, and
are now prosecuting their inquiries.
The accountants sent to Panama
We're given the most explicit instruc-
tions to make their examination dras-
tic and complete. They are under
orders to discover and expose any
fraud if it exists. They are all direct
ed to suggest an improved and more
safe method of keeping track of dis
bursements.
No information has been made pub
lie here as to what the expert ac-
counts are expected to reveal as a
result of their investigation. No
names are mentioned, and no speci-
fc instances Of fraud are brought
toward, but there is evident unrest
and worriment among officials here.
because Of possible monetary scan
dals that may be unearthed in con-
nection with canal work.
Disquieting advices continue to
reach here from the isthmus. Condi,
tions are gradually but surely grow,
ing more chaotic.
: Arrivals from Panama today de.
: clare that Lieut.. Col. Goethals seems
: oewildered and appalled, by the stu.
s pendous task confronting him. Hi:
z immediate assistants appear to be
+ disheartened. Those farther dowr
the line, many of them proteges, O!
l politicians and patronage grabbers
t are Indifferent and agathetic.
$ Lieut. Col. Goethals probably vii
: not be granted the four months
0 leave of absence which he requested
e some three weeks ago. This is indica
a ted by the declarations of Secretarz
Taft, who recently returned from
: conference with the President al
e Oyster Bay and enphatically avowet
e that neither Lieut.. Col. Goethals no:
t any of his immediate assistants ha
$ requested leave of absence. It i
S known that Lieut.. Col. Goethals die
S request leave of absence. 1t is with tn,
e power Of the Secretary of War to re
e fuse it, thereby creating the inpres
y sion that Lieut.. Col Goethals is sat
q isfied with his present employment
q and does not desire to be relieved
/ even temporarily.
When army engineers were PLACED
d in charge of constructing the cana
e all understanding was had that bu
two Of the three men selected TO,
positions Of responsibility---Messrs
Goethals, Sibert and Gaillard---shoul<
=, remain on the>is1hmus, all the time
u one to be continually absent on leave
This would give each of the thre'
engineers four months leave from
q the canal zone in q year It was thel
: expected that this would be divided
t two months being taken at a time.
:, In making his request. Major ST
V bert followed that understanding an<
a asked for two months. Lieut., Col
k Goethals irritated his superiors by
requesting that the entire fou,
0 months be given at one time, Thi
r accounts for the vehemance Of Sec
d retary Taft's denial.