Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-12-14
CLARK DEMANDS
SQUARE DEAL
WANTS TO KNOW WHY HISS
IssIPPI VALLEY is IGNORED
IN PURCHASING CANAL
SUPPLIES.
ALL ARE BOUGHT IN qHE EAST.
Ship Line Operates From New
York, When New Orleans Haul
wonld be Shorter Emsr-
genoy Bill Passed.

" VaSniNNAOH ACb t---OuauiP O4df X
to-day demanded square dealn for
Mississippi Valley markets in the COM
merce and contracts for Panama Canal
supplies. During the debate In the
House on the Panama emergency ap-
propriation bill which Was finally
passed, Mr.. Clark charged that the
Canal Commission has developed a
system Of purchasing which discrimin-
ates against the Middle West markets
including st. Louis and Chicago,
and operates In favor OF New York.
Mr.. Clark first catechised Represen-
tatiye Hepburn Of Iowa. chairman OF
the House Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce, asking him
why the Government line OF ships
operates between Panama and New
York only, whereas shorter haul
would be found by operating.from New
Orleans. Mr.. Hepburn admitted that
practically all Of the supplies for the
commission are shipped from New
York. He could not say why the
Government boats ply only between
New York and Colon.
ALL-wETER ROUTE.
Mr.. Clark then turned to Represen-
tative Wanger Of Pennsylvania and
said.
''It is not simple New Orleans, 1t is
every State drained by the Mississippi
River and its tributaries, including a.
large part Of Pennsylvania, beginning
with Minnesota and Winconsin, all
the way down the banks Of the Missis-
sippi, and including the greatest IRON
producing place on the face of the face
of the earth. undertake to say that
you can ship coal and steam engines
and everything thatis used In the con-
struction Of this canal more cheaply
from Pittsburg by an all-water route
to Panama than you can ship 1t across
the continent to New York and then
ship 1t by water to PaE ana
sThs United States 4 ferpmepthasl
shipsIof its owns haulingthis stuff down
there?
Wanger: ayes, Sir"
Clark: "What is the reason it cam
not take material from New Orleans,
ton for ton, a good deal more cheaply |
than 1t can take 1t from New York,
not counting the railroad expense Of
getting 1t to New Yorker
Wanger: "If there was commerce.
for the regular employment Of the
steamers 1T might be able to do that"
WANTS FAIR DEAL.
Mr.. Clark then turned to Represen-
tative Mann Of Illinois, who declared
hissympathies were with him so far as
New Orleans is concerned.
Clark: "This is exactly what !
thought. Iwant to find out the reason
why the Mississippi Valley does not
have as fair deal In this business as
the Eastern part Of the United States.
| want to ask the gentleman from
Illinois leading question. How can
the Representative from Missouri,
Minnesota and the other
States in the Mississippi Valley stand
here and indorse performance that
,uts our people out and gives all this
business to the New York gang?n
Mann delared that there is an appro-
priation now by the Isthmian Com
mission to maintain line between
New Orleans and Colon owned by the
as we'll as between New
York and Colon, and one between
Panama and San Francisco.
10 CUT DOWN APPROPRIATION.
The first amendment to the Panama
Dill was presented by Mr.. Williams,
lie moved TO cut the appropriation
rom sl6,500,0Oo to s6,s5s, 1888, stating
hat he had come to the conclusion
hat this latter sum was SUFFICIENT to
neet the needs Of the commission to
January Is next This was vigorously
opposed and an amendment to that Of
Ar. Williams was offered by Mr..
Prince, Of Illinois, making the appro-
,riation s10,o00,000. Basing his argu.
nent on the speedy appointment Iof
COMMITTEES, which, he said, should