New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-02
TAFT AT CULEBRA CUT
FORK GOOD, EXPERTS SAY.
Pres;dent-eIect Observation-Disclosures
Resents Rainey's Charges.

fsEtebFG. EEOGfna5 EtD. A.--N' AA--4 -
snd the engineers accompanying him reacneo
here from Panama to-day on a special train ana
made g detailed examination OF the fourteen
miles Of the Culebrs cut All the members OF
she marty expressed qualification az the work
accomplished here.
The fact that the existing plans FOR the lock
and dam az Gatun are satisfactory 20 the visit
ing enzfneers has created a local feeling OF
optimism and the fears Of delay IN the COM
1letion % the work have been relieved MI
TAFT expected that the views Of the engineers
regarding The situation at Gatun would be IA
vorahie. and their finding consequently did net
come as q surprise TO him.
Panama. Feb THAT MI Taft IS acting as
pac:hoator in the strong post-election factonal
feeling Is Indicated by the fact that invitations
have been sent 20 both President Obaidia and
Senior Arias who ran against Obaldia, 70 the
dinner and reception arranged for tomorrow
by Herbert G. Squiers. The American Minister
su honor Of the American Presdent-elect.
Hr Taft this afternoon called upon ex-Presi-
Gent A-nadcr who IS Ill Fx-President Amador
and President Obaldia have not been on friendly
terms for a long time because OF political diff
fe-ences Mr. Taft wishes 20 make il plain that
his oordialfty is toward Panama whole and
not toward one or another political faction, and
he has endesvored during his stay here to treat
ali men 6rQ all parties the 6aIIlo CoI NAaA
manner
Both sides Of the controversy which has arisen
through the coulmissary system Will have a
hearing but Mr.. Taft will make recon-
-nendstion with regard to the treaty. which
refers the question TO arbitration. Without
doubt the commssary will continue, although
so-osIled l,ixuries will pe eliminated Mr.. Taft
has expressed full confidence in the judgment
o. Secretary Root IN this matter.
~4e f4 ne Tzff Tire n
sinee-s 10 the Culebra cut to-day, all dynamite
wigs removed from the workings, that posi-
biiity OF accident 10 the President-elect might
be eyoidsd. Although not speaking for publ
cation. the visiting engineers DO not conceaI
tFesr satisfaction at the feasibility Of the Gatun
. dam The chief OF engineers, Lieutenant Col
onel Goethals and the army engineers engaged
in the construction work much gratified at
the results of the investigation of the special
engineers Colonel Goethals said to-day that
naval vessels would sail through the lock canal
: bv January 1. 1915
The charges made in the American Congress
recently by Representative Rainey against
President ObaIdia and others have brought out
6sniais from the President and sixteen members
If trs National Assembly. The Assemblymen
have signed a statement asserting that they
we're present at q meeting in the President 5
ofHc7 where the contract for the exploitation
Of the timber industry along the Atlantic coast
81 Panama discussed, anu luot NullliS H.
meeting neither President Obaldia nor any one
else said OF implied that Charles p Taft. VIII
ian Nelson Cromwell Roger L Farnham hai
any direct or indirect participation IN the busl-
ness Among those signing the statement are
glr Pablo Arcsetnena Julio Febregar and other
r1rornfaent opposition leaders OF the Assembly
Concerning some OF the charges President
Cnaldfa has given out statement, which 1ol-
lows. in part:
At the meeting in my Office neither Mr. Ehr-
rrla-s nor any outsiders was present ana NO men
ton was made of Charles Taft William Nelson
cromwell or Roger L F3rnhaT1- The railway
proposal was presented to the Assembly by a
Mr. Weird and rejected The Assembly
then enacted a law authorizing the construction
Of q railway with national funds, to become ma
fional property. Mr. Ehrmans TIMBER coHtract
also was rejected by the Assembly, Where a Dill
IS now being discussed. regulating the foreign
exploftafIon of the Atlantic coast between the
River Conception and Costa Rica. excluding the
entire Chagres Valley
President Obaldia has discharged a local gov
eminent ernploye who published pamphlet
rritScissng william Nelson Cromwell and Presi
dent Roosevelt
u the cficial report OF the engineers accom-
panving M Taft is favorable 20 the work al
ready done on the Panama Canal-and the dis
matches from the isthrnus indicate strongly that
they viii take this view-the controversy be-
sdherents OF the iock system will probably be
ended The present plans are for locks, and
TIE approval Of thu engineers will mean the
completion OF the project this basis
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