The Washington times., 1912-12-30
THREATEN War ON
.TAFT'S' APPO|NTEES
FOR CANAL POSTS
Charged Colonel Coethals Is
Partial in Treatment of
~ His Subordinates.
CONTINUED from First Pase.)

mlttee giving assurance that he would
not make the appointments before there
was real necessity for tlicm.
"Ampls Loophole" In Letter.
"A letter was secured from the Prcsi.
dent, which, on . casual reading,
seemed to carry this assurance. though
there was ample loophole In 1t. That
letter 10 IT. tho committee records
In the fucc Of this situation. the Pres:
ident has made his trip to Panama, and
!! !: definitely u1der:tood that |. n he In; ~;
GOV oternment appointments.
II no does no, promise is made, In the
most positive terms. that there will be
determined opposition 10 confirmation,
b indulged in before the two houses Of
Congress. One member Of the last coin.
inittes that went to the zone. today told
this incident:
ago. Colonel Goethals plainly wanted to
dominate all the hearings. He would
sit In the rear Of witness. where the
witness could not see him. but where
the committee could Hs would "s .,,s%S nSs
testimony. but he would frequently
shake his head vigorously. a. II in con-
tradiction Of statements by the witness,
or nod It approvingly. AZ II to give MS
own emphasis.
Must get Kl0 OF Stoert.
'.At onc> time Colonel Sibert was on
the stand, telling Of something that he
considered necessary to make the foun-
dations of the Gatun dam safe. He
frankly told the committee that Colonel
Goethals did not agree with him. but
Colonel SIbert insisted on his own opln-
ion. despite his superior.
Later Colonel Gocthals. referring to
this incident. said to members Of the
committee that Wen have to get rid
of sibert,' or something to that effect.
This did not at all please members
of the committee, who had come 10
have thorough confidence In Sibert.
The result was that some Of the COM
mjtteemen went to Colonel Goethals and
adIfscd him not to attempt such a
course as getting rid Of Sibert; that
the committee believed nn,SSx IN Sioerf ro,n ahd
ing Of the sort ~ere attempted. And II
hasn't been DONE"
Now. with the plans rapidly maturing
to establish the civil government and
make Colonel Goethals governor. "a
well as chief engineer, Congressman IA
,niliar with these details believe that the
chief aides Of Colonels Gorgan. 9ibert.
end Gailiard-would come out with very
be barred from their share Of the glory
and recognition. II the civil power were
placed In Colonel Goethal's hands AZ
this time. This 10 the basis Of the oppo-
sition to confirming civil government
beyond this. however. 1t is pointed ou,
that there 10 no possible need for estab-
l!Shing the civil government at thtl
time. Nobody dreamed, when the b.!
the con- pleticn or approximate compile
tion Of the great work: that 10, perhaps
BY 1915.
Southern Members Incensed.
1t was urged that provision for the
new government ought to be made early,
In order that an operating force and an
administrative corps could be retained
on the zone. from among the men OF
experience there. during the period when
approaching completion would make II
necessary 10 reduce working forces
Men whom It was desired to retain for
this permanent service would be kept
while those whor, 1t was not desired tG
from the rolls from time to time as II
became necessary to reduce the stan.
On the strength Of this explanati tion
Of the necessity for It., and with the
promised that '' he would not actually ally
make the appointments. the measure
was passed.
Southern members Of Congress are
especially inccnsed because, as they
point out. the three men who seem to
be In the bad graces Of Colonel Goe.
thals-Coloneis Sibert. Gaillard, and
Sorgas-are all Southern men. Two Oi
Them are from South Carolina, and one
from Alabama. The Southerners are
mad all through at the prospect that. al
they fear, Colonel Goethais will manage
10 organize the civil government and
the permanent operating corps in such
manner as to freeze these highly de.
serving officers out Of their share Of tho
credit, distinction, and substantial re.
wards.