The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-04-07
COLONEL COCKTAILS
To INVESTIGATE
CANAL BRIBERY
Taft Has Instructed Him
to Prove Rainey'S
Charges.

m the result Of the sensational
charges that have been made in the
newspapers by Representative Rainey
Of Illinois. a coriRete and searching Of
fetal investigation of conditions that
exist in the commissary department of
the canal zone will be Immediately in
stituted.
IN the absence of Secretary Taft. and
owing to the fact that the chairman OF
the Canal Commission is on the 18TH
mus, no investigation viii be ordered
from Washington. These charges have
been made known 70 Secretary Taft by
the officials of the commission in this
city. however. and 1t is understood that
even before he sailed from Colon for
Cuba he instructed Colonel CSoethals.
the new chairman and chief engineer,
to take prompt steps for -Qn early and
thorough investigation.
Confidence in Colonel GoethaIs.
The graft. If any exists. as charged
by Representative Rainey, viii be
traced to subordinate officials, il is be-
leved here. and as Colonel GOethals
and all members OF the commission are
new. it is believed that satisfactory re-
suits win b. obtained by an investiga-
ton on their part.
For the time being the investigation
viii be conducted only by Colonel Goe-
that's. Upon the return OF Secretary
Taft to this city definite steps viii be
decided upon. This. doubtless, viii not
be until the War Secretary has con-
ferred with the President. Most likely
committee of canal commissioners
viii be appointed to make a careful in
vestigatiOn of the entire system Of
handling supplies and feeding and shell
tering men on the zone. This will be-
gin with the commissary department
Blackburn to See Taft.
An important part of this work may
fall 10 Senator Blackburn, one Of the
new members of the commission. The
former Senator from Kentucky was due
to sail from New York at this time. In
order TO arrive on the isthmus and take
up his duties as member Of the commits
sion and governor OF the canal zone.
but just before his departure from Colon
for Cuba Secretary Taft cabled. direct
ing Senator Blackburn TO await his ar
rival home for conference. This con-
ference win have to do with all phases
OF the canal situation that win come
under the attention Of Senator Black
burn as the canal zone governor.
II was stated yesterday by Joseph
q Bishop, secretary OF the Canal Com
mission, who Is in charge Of the Wash
ington offices. that no formal complaints
or charges have made their way into
the ofices here. Z they had. he stated,
they would have been promptly for
warded TO Colonel Cocktails as chairman
of the commission. Il was said. how
ever, that all OF Representative Rainey's
purported utterances in condemnation of
the system OF handling the food supplies
for the common and skilled laborers had
been forwarded in the mail to Colonel
Gotethals for guidance IN his investi-
cation.
Nelson Morris & Co. Furnish Meat.
Mr.. Bishop stated that there is no Of
fetal information in the Washington Of
fees to the effect that the meat supply
or anything else in connection with the
feeding of the men was not satisfactory.
All the meat is purchased of Nelson
Morris & Co., in Chicago, and accepted
by the commission after passing its own
Panama Steamship Company, in New
York BY contract, the packers send an
expert man along with the meat. which
is carried in a specially constructed cold
storage compartment of the ships. Re
ports show that this meat has always
been in acceptable condition upon ar
rival at Colon, and Il it has proved
unfit for use at any time it is doubtless
the fault Of the men handling ii. without
regard. possibly. to the proper cold stor-
age system. He stated that so Tar as
is known here. all vegetables and other
food supplies have been served in good
condition. AS to the charges of graft,
he says there has been no official com
plant, and he does not believe that the
system of handling the provisions is
such as would make such a hold-up
possible.