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Show CHIEF ENGINEER JOHN F. WALLACE OF THE PANAMA CANAL HANDS PRESIDENT HIS RESIGNATION; WILL BE ACCEPTED NEW YORK. June 7. The resignation resigna-tion of John F. Wallace of Illinois, chief engineer of the Panama canal. Is now in the hands of President Roosevelt, Roose-velt, according to a statement made today to-day by the Herald, which adds that it will be accepted today or tomorrow. It is said to have been handed to Secretary Secre-tary of War Taft in this city after a rather stormy conference, during which Mr. Wallace is said to have expressed Ms Ideas of what should be done on the isthmus in very concise language. It is understood that Engineer Wallace will at once take charge of a large railway system in this country and that Theo- dore P. Shonts will remain as president of the canal commission. Mr. Wallace Is still in this city, but declines to discuss dis-cuss canal affairs in any way. Since his return last week he has kept from public view,, his address being known to only a few friends and the department depart-ment officials. Two Versions of Cause. As to the cause of Engineer Wallace's resignation there are two versions, one coming from friends of some of the canal ca-nal commissioners and the other from friends of Mr. .Wallace. The first is to the effect that it was requested because of differences between the chief engineer, engi-neer, members of the commission. Secretary Sec-retary Taft. and, through the latter. with President Rooseelt The other version deals with hampering orders. "That serious differences in the conduct con-duct of the work on the isthmus had arisen between the chief engineer, the administration and some members of the canal board was knewn," says the Herald, "almost the first week after Mr. Wallace arrived at Panama. Delay De-lay in obtaining supplies, methods in advancing the plans according to procedure pro-cedure at Washington, were all strange to him, and became irksome. Wanted Absolute Control. "Being chief engineer of the great undertaking, knowing that he would be held responsible for failure, he insisted that he should be put in a position to have absolute control and objected to orders prohibiting his leaving the isthmus isth-mus unless he obtained permission from the War department." These matters are said to have been discussed at the Sunday conference with Secretary Taft. which followed Mr. Wallace's arrival here, and at which William . Nelson Cromwell was present. Being a man of independent nean.s, the 130,000 annual salary was no object to the chief engineer, and no rneain having been found to meet his Trews' as to tEe manner in which the canal work should be conducted, his resignation was presented. President Shonts Talks. ' President Shonts is also in this city. He ' refused, however, to confirm for publication the announcement that Engineer En-gineer Wallace had resigned. Personally, Person-ally, he said he had no intention of leaving the commission. "Whatever trouble there may be between be-tween Mr. Wallace and the President and the Secretary of War," he continued, contin-ued, "will not affect me. I do not intend in-tend to resign, but further than that I cannot say. I am not at liberty to talk of the affairs of the commission, and any explanation to be made must come from the President." |