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Show TAFT SENDS A MESSAGE Believes Goethals Will Be Given Rank and Pay Justly Due Him New York, Jan 27. "The force of public opinion among the American people will compel the next congress to recognize the Justice of ihe sugges tion" that Colonel George W Goethals. Goe-thals. chief engineer of the Panama canal, receive rank and pay of a ma jor general in the United Stales army is the opinion of President Taft. A letter conveying this sentiment was received al a dinner in honor of Col. Goethals held here last night. "It is a source of special pride to me." the letter said, "that I recommended recom-mended to President Roosevelt the appointment of Col. Goethals as chief engineer of the canal. It Is difficult to overstate the work of organization and the obstacles which Col. Goethais has had to meet and has successfully overcome in the construction of the greatest engineering project of five hundred years." Four hundred men. a majority of them engineers, listened to addresses by Colonel tJoethals. Rear Adrirpal Peary an 1 others. The dinner was given on the eve of Colonel Goethais departure for Pan ama. nn |