The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-01
CHAOS ON THE CANAL
men OFFICIALS ARE DISSENTING
 POSTS.
Enzployes InsHberdtnate-~-En3e af Low Ebb--Now Enown ff wnn
 Because of Into1ernbie Condf-
 tions that Stevens Resigned.

Tho greed of politicians for Federal patronage and the subeerviency of Administration officials in yielding to their importunfties have brought con- struction work on the Panama Canal to condition of approximate chaos. A situation has arisen which threatens to retard operations and delay the conn pletlon of the great waterway for years. If not indefinitely. The only remedy in sight is the turning over of the gigantic enterprise to contractors.
 President Roosevelt and Secretary Taft have had a conference on this sub jest at Oyster Bay. and MT. Taft will be here tomorrow in readiness Tor the application of heroic treatment He will seek to institute such retrench- ments and make such changes as will prove remedial.
 Politicians have dominated and de- layed construction work on the canal since the advent of John F. Stevens as chief engeneer. Senators and Repre- sentatives scrambled for desirable places and anchored their constitu- ents in them MT. Steveens soon found many of them utterly incompetent and dismissed them. In almost every in- stance the man discharged appealed to the President. Secretary Taft, his Sen- ator or Representative was retained.
 Stevens Lost His Temper.
 Mir. Stevens saw that he would make no progress toward completing the ca nal with an inefiicient force. He wrote letter after letter to President Roosevelt protesting against the dom nation of politicians. He finally lost his temper and sent an uitimatum, saying that if political control must contirlhe he would be forced to resign, The President immediately cabled to the Isthmus that the resignation pr Mir. Stevens was accepted.
 The interference of politicians was the sole reason leading to the retire. ment of Chief Engineer Stevens This astonishing fact never developed until today. Neither the President nor dr. Stevens would make public the letter which led to the acceptance of his resignation.
 Lieutenant- Colonel Goethals. chief engineer of the canal since March 10. has asked Secretary raft to grant am '. four months leave of absences accord ing to unofiinial advice received here from Panama 1t is said that during his four moths. leave he will seek 70 release himself from further service Tn Pauarna. This information was brought here by employees returning from the canal kone. They declare Cotonei Goethals forwarded his request TOT leave three weeks ago.
 
 Goetha1s will be refused leave. This impression is strengthened by the facs that Mrs. Goethals has perfected ar raugemeats to join her husband on the Isthmus( and is expecting to sail on uuly B. She has not been notinea by her husband to change her plans.
 Advices received here declare thas Major Sibert. the cnief assisltnI Vh Colonel GoethaIs, has filed an applica- lion for two months leave of absense: It is further understood that General Manager Bierd of the Panama hail-. road. who arrived in New York two or three days ago, brought all his oe- lonRfngs with him and has fendered his resignation, based on the plea ot i1l-health,
 Jackson smith, a member Of the fsommission. has been In this country several weeks It is said his resigna- lion rests in the Presidents hands. Also Major D. D. Gaillard, Supervising En- ginear in charge of the excavation or fine canal prism and dredging, IS said to. have rendered his resignation. ana Engineer Ripley. who was expected 70 build the great dam at 0atun, is crcu- ited with having requested another as-
 Accordinr to this information. four members of the Commission, Messrs- CoethaIs. Siebert, Gaillard ana Sinith, hava urged the President to relieve them from further labors in connectlon with the canal. But three of the seven rnembers-Mes Blackburn, Sorsas ana Rousseau--evince any desire 70 rrrtinua drawing their salaries of SI1 O0o wear. Messrs Goethals, Sic bert and Gaillard are army ohicers and must obey orders If instructed to re- main on the Isthmus. They nave no option. except that of resigning from the military service
 It is said that Colonel Goethals nas been unnerved by the immense task placed before him and by the senersA auathy prevailing among his subordi- nates. Those employees. given positions through political influence. when as- atlred of security from dismissal, nave elapsed into complete indifference.
 The percentage of progress in all branches of the work has tallen on Each monthly repom submitted by Coi- onel Goethals shows less cuplc yarus If dirt taken out than for the cor resnondine period under stevens. In one instance. the falling off amounted to sO,000 cubic yards
 BishOp to Be Bnnished.
 The fate of Joseph Buckltn Bishop. sAcretary of the Commission, at Sl0,00O d wear. will be decided when secretary Taft returns here tomoFronc WI. gave Mir. Bishop an ultimatnm tnae ne n, Ina isthmus MT Taft said he de- sired to close the offices of the conn naission here. Mir. Bishop asked for delay of five days in which to commu. nioafs with the President. MT TaIt will. bring the Presidents hnal oecis- ion. MT. Bishop admitted this aItes- noon that that decision VIII De verse. and already preparatio1ns 1evs alS y~ - ing made for at least tenhpolaAs residence on the isthmus < The offices of the Canal Cemmlsslon have been maintained here almost en- tireIy for the convenience of MT; sn b,sn- on Nearly 100 employees are perlto1r,.nh. t1,.1h ing more or less work here Hlsn l rent Is paid by the G0yerni1srs eye slsrre gate ste .e3ca accommodations. The agsresa's oir,u oi.na,,sa is easily S2O0,o ,o00 year.