The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-29
TISSUE OF FALSEHOOD"
 SAYS SECRETARY TAFT
Denies That There is Dissatisfaction With Work on the Isthmian
 Canal.


 Washington, June 2s.-'It is a tissue of falsehood," said Secretary Taft, when his attention was called to the reports of dissatisfaction on the part of the administration of the manage ment of affairs under the Isthmian Ca- nal Commission and of the intention of the officers engaged in that work to relinquish 1t and return to the United States.
 The Secretary was very emphatic in his declaration that he had not re- ceived a single communication from Lieutenant Colonel Goethals, showing in any way that he was dissatisfied or desired to end his connection with the work
 No immediate change is contempla- ted in the administration of affairs on the Isthmus," continued. the Secretary, and there has not been a single kick of any sort. There Is no truth in the stories of the army officers asking for leaves of abesnce to return to the Uni ted States"
 Work Doing Finely.
 Continuing the Secretary said:
 ''The work there appears to be pro- gressing finely. It is true that in a recent month the excavations made un- der Colonel Goethals's directions were 150,O00 cubic yards less than under his predecessor, but this was dde to a strike and to other causes beyond his control Colonel Goethals will have all the help in the way of army officers he may need with a view to the thorough ness of the work he has in hand"
 What about David w. Ross, the re- tiring general disbursing agent?" was asked.
 MT. Ross resignation was not asked for. His work as been in every way satisfactory and he was one of the most efficient officers we DVer had Be- cause of his private business, MT. Ross wanted to leave the commission June l. but I wanted him to stay at least until the fifteenth of June"
 Secretary Taft declared that the res ignation of Engineer Ripley was vol untary.
 He and Colonel Goethals did not agree" he said, 'as to the character of some work under way on the Isthmus and MT. Ripley retired. He had been Nor has General Manager Bird of the Panama Railroad resigning as has been reported.
 If Jackson Smith. the commissioner who has charge of all the labor on the Isthmus has resigned" continued the Secretary, 'I don't know 1t. There is no truth so far as I know in the re- port of his resignation and I think would know 1t.
 As to MT. Bishop.
 "As to MT. Bishop, the secretary of the commission, who is on duty at Washington, I am not prepared to say what his future assignments will be. That will be determined next week."
 Secretary Taft added that none of the three army officers had recently ap- piled for leave of absence.
 "The President promised the army of- icers when they took up their work on the Isthmus," said Secretary Taft that they should have ample leave of absence, no less than four months, in fact, every year and so arranging their affairs that one might readily take up the work when another was absent. don't know where it all come from. They have gathered a lot of circum- stances having no connection with each other and have put the whole thing to- gether as evidence that dissatisfaction exists. 1 reiterate that the statements are not true"
 From Secretary Taft's statement to- day 1t is evident that the whole or a portion of the work of the canal may yet be given out for construction under private contract. This question was considered very fully by the President and the Secretary last winter but it was decided at that time not to accept any of the bids which had been sub mitted for doing the work in that way.
 Colonel Goethals is under instruction from the department to submit his views on this subject with a view to their presentation at the coming ses- sion of Congress. Secretary Taft's plan of reorganizing the clerical force of the commission contemplates the concentration of muhch of the work on the Isthmus as the greater amount of the money is expended there. The office of purchas- ing agent will remain in Washington under the direction or Major H. F. Hodges of the corps vf engineers.
 Secretary Taft today said the retire ment of Auditor Benson was entirely voluntary and that a civilian will be appOinted in his Dlaea