The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-18
THE PRESIDENTS own POLICY
TO BUY CANAL SUPPLIES IN THE
CHEAPEST MARKET.

Determined Not to Swerve Unless Coz
gress Decides Otherwise-He Thinks
1t the Only Course TO Pursue II the
Canal Is to BE Built Economically.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE issue over
the action of the Panama Canal Commits
sion. In deciding not to oonhne its purchases
Of ships and supplies to domestic markets
Is squarely drawn. President Roosevelt
Is heartily in favor Of this course Of action
and will assume all responsibility for It.
In fact, 1t is the Presidents own policy,
and not merely that Of the canal COM
mission or Secretary Taft. There Is every
reason TO believe that the President is
determined not to swerve from his decision
and this In the face of the knowledge that
his position may cause dissension in the
Republican party, and has not the indorse-
ment OF some members Of his official family.
The President has made clear to bis adj
visers that he regards his co urse as the only
proper one to pursue II the Panama Canal
Is to be built economically. What has been
done by the Canal Commission at his insti-
cation and that Of Secretary Taft does not
mean that preference In the purchase OF
ships and supplies will be given to Euro
pean markets, but merely that II there Is or
appears to be Il disposition on the part OF
the American shipowners or shiPbWlders
and American manufacturers to charge
what would be regarded as e4orbltant
prices the Canal Commission will have the
option Of going abroad for what Is needed
to expedite the canal project and secure
its completion at the lowest possible cost.
1t is evident from what is said in Admins
4 81. . - ,oy,tx
picious that those Americans who had goods
to sell which were needed in the construc-
ton Of the clnal were figuring on profits
entirely too large, and that the President was
determined not to submit to any such con-
dition.
The Administration officials who are
with the President in the new policy ex-
press the belief that there will be few II
any canal supplies bought in foreign mar
kets before the Fifty-ninth Congress assem-
bles. 1t is the Presidents intention to
place the matter fairly before the national
Legislature and let it assume the response
bility Of determining whether the purchase
of those supplies shall be confined to United
States markets. As one member OF the
Administration expressed it to-day:
If Con gress wants the Canal Commission
W pay out lliOlC ihoilcy SSoii IT hNS-y
to build the canal, then Con gress must say
that it will furnish the money for the greatly
increased expenditure that is expected if
the purchase Of ships and materials is con-
fined to the American market"
The main objection that is being urged
against the Presidents policy by those who
are numbered among his party supporters
is that his attitude will work injur.' to Re-
ohap ~ In fut1lra
litical campaigns. In the opinion of high
tariff Congressm who are in Washington
and who have discussed the political aspects
OF the Taft policy, it is not strange that Mr.. |
Taft should have overloo ked political oon-
sequences, but they cannot understand why
the President, who has demonstrated his
political aoumen heretofore. should have
approved the plan. 1t is declared that
the Administration has deliberately played
into the hands Of the freetraders ana of the
Socialists.
The Administration has already been
made aware of the opposition Of ship
building firms to the policy of buying for
eign vessels for the Panama Railroad con-
nections. The suggestion has been made
that if American ships are not available
for purchase the Canal Commission should
ClaTteT 1OTtlSH DOttottiS ue" Nc-e-is
can be built by American contractors.
The opponents of the Presidents policy
declare that when the question of tariff
revision comes up next winter the Repub-
lican majority in Congress will be placed
in an embarrassing position by the Demo-
Gratis who will be able to show that, al
though it requires its citizens to pay
higher prices for domestic products. the
Government is unwilling when it first
comes to take the consequences of the pro-
tectionist policy.