The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-10-28

VIII De workHDle for q large number
OF ships every day In the year is also
a disputed question. Many eminent
engineers declare the lock system can
never be relied upon to work perfect
ly, that disarrangement of the ma
chinery OF single lock will disable
the whole canal. Even with the me-
chanicism Of all the locks working
perfectly the greatest number of ves-
sells which can pass through the
canal Is figured to be 12 a day.
II the canal costs between s40o,-
100000 and $500, 600, 900, as some en-
gineers expect. its earning power will
be, 1t Is declared, largely insufficient,
even under favorable conditions, to
pay the interest on the bonds issued
by the government to defray the cost
Of construction.
BY those who know the inner Sc
crets OF canal affairs it is declared
that the lock system was forced upon
the country by President Roosevelt
In the face of report recommending
sea-level canal made by a ma; ;rity
or the engineers who were appointed
to determine that important matter.
A lock system or high level canal
was favored in a minority report.
The reasons which influenced the
president to ignore the majority re-
port OF the engineers and adopt the
minority report are peculiar. Mr..
Cromwell and Secretary Taft were his
closest advisers In this matter.
The sea-level canal would have cost
$500. 100000 to build, whereas the re-
port OF the minority, who recommend
ed the lock system. declared it could
be built within the $1s5,O00, 900
stipulated by the spooner act. It was
pointed out to President Roosevelt by
Mr.. Cromwell that II the $3OO,OOO,-
900 sea-level plan was decided upon
the Spooner act would have to be re.
submitted to congress and another
congress. in drawing up a new canal
law. would never give him the extra
ordinary powers which the Spooner
act conferred upon the president
when William Mckinley held that Of
fee.
The power Of Mr.. Cromwell in canal
anairs at this time and throughout
Mr. Taft's term as secretary Of war,
was deemed strange. Though he was
merely counsel for the Panama repub-
lie and Its fiscal agent and otherwise a
corporation lawyer and private citizen
holding no Official position under the
United States government. he was
really the chief power in canal affairs
and possibly may still be.
Mr.. Cromwell's power was defined
by Secretary Taft himself in the
statement he made following the res
ignstion Of John F. Wallace as chief
engineer Of the canal on June s, 1905.
In a formal statement explaining why
Mr. Cromwell was present when Mr..
Wallace insisted upon a private inter-
view with the secretary Of war, Mr..
Taft said:
Mr.. Cromwell for some time had
been charged by the president and
the secretary Of war with general ad-
visory dutis In all Panama canal
affairs.
Thought President Roosevelt and
Secretary Taft berated Mr.. Wallace
publicly for resigning. charging him
with deserting an important govern
ment post for a higher salary offered
by private corporation, 1t is known
that Mr.. Wallace's real reason for
resigning was his refusal ito be a tool
Of CROMWELL In canal matters. Hold
Ing no official position. and being re-
sponsible to nobody. It is said that Mr..
Cromwell's word was law In all mat
tsrs pertaining to the canal. by rea-
son Of the strange confidence reposed
In him by the president and secretary
Of war.
Some light on Cromwell's power was
thrown by the investigation OF the
Isthmian Canal commission. When
John F. Wallace was a witness On the
stand the following testimony was
elicited:
@. Where were you when you were
appointed a (canaD commissioners? A.
I received my appointment in New
York-that Is, 1t was handed to me
by Mr.. Cromwell after my arrival
from the isthmus. My COM
mission as commissioner was signed
by the president and Mr.. Cromwell
met me when I came up from the
isthmus In New York and 7 xyas to