Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-05-26
Cannon Checks
Secretary TAFT
Tells Taft and the President That
Congress Must Be
Consulted.
HOME SHIPS and HOME SUPPLIES
Will Be USED At Canal
The Speaker Pointed Out to the
President and Secretary the Eff
feet of Purchasing in the Cheap
est Market, and They Heark-
ened-Taft Says He Is Satisfied.

Washington, May 20.-No ships will
be purchased by the government for
use in connection with the isthmian
canal work.
No purchases of supplies will be
made by the government in foreign
markets in connection with the 18TH
milan canal work except those which
are absolutely essential for the con-
duct of current work.
The administration has been given
definite assurances that if this course
if followed congress will take the mat
ter up as soon as it convenes and will
pass legislation which will accept full
responsibility for the future course OF
the government in connection with the
markets to be patronized in building
the canal
The change in front on the part of
the administration is due to repre-
sensations and urgings of Mr.. Speaker
Joseph G. Cannon, who gave the assur-
ance that congress would enact the
necessary legislation promptly when
opportunity comes.
The action of the administration,
announced to those who inquired by
Mr.. Taft, is elimination OF four or
five days of intense and heated discus
sion. Senators and members of con-
gress have been unsparing in their
criticism of the administration for pro-
posing to make home markets COM
pete with foreign markets in the pur-
chase of supplies with which to build
the isthmian canal. They have been as
ursparing in their criticism because
the president of the United States de-
cided to buy two ships abroad which
could not be purchased at any price in
this country, and if the administration
waited until they could be constructed
would cost nearly 100 per cent more
than the price asked by the foreign
owners.
Then there came to the national cap
ital Mr.. Cannon, who called upon the
DIGolu6uI dllu upOll IlC VI
war, and made clear to them the polit-
ical effect of what they proposed to do
in the way in which it was being re-
ceived by the people of the country, as
we'll as the public men who gave adher-
ence to the party Of which they were
| the representatives. and to whose hands
| it's fate had in measure been con-
fided. 1t had the effect.
The argument used by Mr. Cannon
| in getting the administration to take
| the step was that the proposal to have
| home market, regardless of the cheap
| ness of products or manufactures, is in
direct line with long line of pre-
| cedents of congress itself Mr.. Cannon
showed to Mr.. Taft that what was pro-
| posed now had been proposed to con-
gress several times before, and it had
refused to authorize the executive de-
partments to purchase in foreign mar
kets or patronize foreign institutions
He gave specific instance in the fifty
seventh congress, when the govern
ment sought to employ foreign trans
ports for the carrying trade across the
Pacific, which congress refused.
AS for Secretary Taft, he is com
| pletely satisfied. He points out that al,
he has been striving for in the an.
nouncement of the proposal to make
purchases abroad is to place the re-
sponsibility where it belongs-with
| congress.