The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-18
Big Manufacturers Lose By
Panama Canal Decision
SPEAKER CANNON Cl"1IOUS
Says His RecolIectio' % nat Presi-
ident Has PIena' 80 sr to Buy
Supplies ooS ger He
o$.

Washington May 17-(Special.)--I is no
wonder that protests are on the way
from shipbuilders manufacturers and
others against the decision to buy canal
supplies in the open market. These firms
lose anywhere from ten to two hundred
per cent given them by the Dingley tariff.
Take steel rails for instance. Rails
manufactured here in The United States
would cost the government S33 per ton.
Identically the same rails by the same
American firms can be bought abroad for
about $40 a ton. 1t is the same way all
along the list
For example here are a few articles
with the domestic and foreign price, which
are necessary in the construction of the
canal. Axes can be bought abroad at
$40 dozen, they cost tie consumer here
S.25. Wire nails cost abroad 81. 30 a hum
dred pounds. They cost $2.25 here. Saws
can be bought from % per cent to 40 per
cent cheaper abroad, trowels % per cent
cheaper, levels and plumbs 81 per cent
cheaper, shovels per cent, hinges 80
per cent, tackle block IL per cent,
wrenches per cent, jacks 80 per cent,
drills IA per cent vises % per cent The
above list might be continued indefinitely
Cabinet Members Oppose Plan.
In the Presidents cabinet the UNDER
standing is that Secretary Shaw, Seere-
tary Metealf and Secretary Wilson are
not in full sympathy with the proposition
to buy canal material in the open market.
This is a little remarkable in view of
the fact that they are all western men.
where the tariff revision sentiment is
supposed to predominate.
Speaker Cannon came to Washington
today for brief stay. He is not discuss
ing with his accustomed freedom the new
phase on the tariff question which has
developed with the agreement of the 18TH
mian commission to purchase ships and
materials abroad. That he had the matter
on his mind, however. was evident. Soon
after his arrival he called for documents
containing the treaty with Panama and
the law authorizing the construction of
the canal. These he pondered over for
some time.
Presidents Power Is Plenary.
''I do not know" said he later in the
day. that l have any message to the
public touching the construction of the
Panama canal My recollection is that
the act of 1902 authorizes the President
to construct the Panama canal and to
acquire and operate the Panama rail-
way, and it especially authorizes him to
enter into the Necessary contracts to ae-
complishd the work. My recollection is
that the authority of the President in the
premises is plenary."
DO you regard the purchase of ships
abroad as necessary" was inquired
II do not know the necessity for the
purchase of ships or supplies made or
produced abroad" said the Speaker, with
the same equanimity reiterating that he
had little to say anyway about the recent
decision of the commission
Il am under the impression that the
labor in the construction of the canal
will probably come from the tropics-the
West Indies, Central and South America
-on account of climate of the isthmus.
so far as the purchase of materials for
the construction is concerned we have
here in the United States the greatest
market in the world. making one-third
of the whole manufactured product of
the civilized world. l take 1t for granted
that all the supplies needed should be
and will be the product of our own labor
wherever practicable"
Having put significant emphasis on this
last sentence, the Speaker recognized as
high priest among stand-patters, went
on his way His opposition to tariff re-
vision has been one of the greatest bar
riers to such action by Congress, and will
probably continue so.