The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-07-01
ACCOUNTANTS BUSY ON BOOKS
IN SEARCH OF FRAUD.
OFFICIAL SHOW UNEASINESS
Despite Taft's D,nisl, Geothsls is
Said to Have Requested a Four
Months Furlough-The Latter
is Staggered at the Task.

Washington. June 3O.-Adyices di. |
rect from the lsthmus of Panama
point To startling disclosures in the |
near future ON the accounts in con
nection with disbursements. In fact,
an investigation has been started to
ascertain whether figures have been
iuggled. \ stan of expert accountants
is at work on the books.
OF, course, the information concern
ing the state of isthmian affairs does
not come through the always well-hl-
tered official channels. The entire
corps of onicialdom. from Secretary
Taft down, was busy today In the en-.
deavor to discount the reports of the
unsatisfactory state OF canal business
and canal building.
However, the accountants were sent
to Panama by the auditing division
of the war department, which will as
sume the work Of auditing Panama
| accounts, succeeding MIR Benson on
his retirement. The accountants.
seven in number, sailed for the Canal
Zone June is. They are instructed
to make a thorough examination OF all
the books; to ferret out fraud ii 1t
safer method Of keeping track OF
the disbursements.
As yet specific charges of wrong.
doing have not been brought as to
any transaction or Individual. There
is. however, plain evidence of uneasi-
ness and suspicion in official circles,
On his return today from his con
| ference with the president at oyster
Bay, Secretary TAFT deied emphati-
cally that applications for leave of abb
sence has been made by Colonel GOe-
tnals, or by his assistants. This
statement is directly at variance with
information OF the most reliable char
acter which comes from the lsthmus
In fact, It can still be asserted that
Colonel GoethRls requested leave of
absence. II is clear, however. that he
will not obtain furlough at this
time
1t is also true that Colonel Goe-
thals quite recently has admitted that
the task confronting him quite stag
gers him, and that he finds disor-
gauizod stan AT hand The complaint
is that many of the subordinates. put
in their jobs by the politicians, are
indifferent and incompetent to the
point OF uselessness
When the task of canal building
was put upon the three army engi-
neers, Goethals, Sibcrt and Gaillard,
an understanding was arrived at,
W"ereuy only two would remain on
the lsthmus at the same time. Each
was TO have four months leave l
year. The plan was that this should
be- divided and taken in periods OF
two months each. Major Sibert has
asked for two months leave. by ask.
iug for four months leave AT one
time, Lieutenant Colonel Goethals is
believed TO have seriously irritated
his superiors and that this accounts
for the heated denials by Secretary
Taft.
IL is a tissue OF falsohood," said
Secretary Taft today, when his at
tention was called 10 the reports Of
dissatisfaction on the part OF the ad-
miuistration of the management of
affairs under the lsthmian Canal Com.
mission, and Of the intention Of the
officers engaged In that work to re.
linuuish il and return 10 the Unitcd
S'alv The secretary was very EN-.
uhliic in his declaration that he had
not received a single communication
from Lieutenant Colonel Goethals
showing in any way that he was in
any way dissatisfied or desired TO end
has connection with the work.
mo immediate change is contem-
plated in the administration OF affairs
ON the lsthmus," continued the sec.