The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-16

 DOES NOT GO Supplies to Be Purchased
 Where Cheapest. BUYING FOR THE CANAL Whole World to Have Show
 in Contracts. Executive Committee of the Conamfs- sion Announces Important Dc
 cision, Endorsed by MT.
BUYING FOR THE CANAL

Washington. May 15.--The Executive Committee of the Canal Commission to- day decided to purchase in the mar kets of the world the materials and ships necessary for the building or the Panama Canal
 This important decision was reached with some reluctance because it was appreciated by Secretary Taft and the Executive Committee that there would surely be great outcry from che two great interests in this country. the producers Of material and the ship owners. If the purchases were not lim- tied to the American products, but r was decided that the money consider ation was So great that it could not bo ignored, for 1t was held that in some cases fully 50 per cent more would Do charged for material needed in the ca- nal construction than the same goods could be procured for in Europe Chief Engineer Wallace. for instance. showed that two ships Ill addition to those run- ming between New York and Colon and owned by the Panama Railroad Com pany were absolutely necessary to carry the food supplies and material needed for the work. No American ships could be bought at any reason- able price, and when it came to build ing such ships 1t was found, according to Secretary Taft's statement, that while he can buy two 2,600 ton ships n Europe for S750,000 1t would cost $1,- 400, GOO to build such ships here. In addition, while the European ships could be had at once, it would take at least eighteen months to secure Amer ican boats. Therefore it was decided to buy the ships in Europe or, rather in any port where they could De had cheapest and obtained the quickest.
 A Wise Step.
 toI Lad frr struction, the committee decided that by reserving to itself the right 70 pur- chase in the worlds markets, 1t would at least oblige American manufactur- CTS to give them the beneflt of their foreign prices if they wished fo sell goods to the Commission.
 Secretary Taft explained today that he felt obliged to endorse this decision because. having given Congress every opportunity to give q contrary dlrec- ton, he felt that the very terms of the canal act provided. that 1t should be constructed at the lowest possible cost And in this connection he called atten- ton to the following resolution con- tained in the reprt of the Isthmian Ca- nal Commission:
 An important construction of the policy Is to be determined. If the Isthmian Canal Commission Is not bound by any restriction of Congress as to where they shall purchase machin- cry, material and supplies, then it would seem to be their duty to con- struct the canal as cheaply as possible and to buy what they need where they can get 1t cheapest. This, however, Ia certain to produce every time that large contract Is awarded to a foreign manufacturer or dealer. an outcry on the part of the American unsuccessful competitors. If Congress approves the policy of favoring American manu- lecturers and dealers, even if 1t in- creases the cost of the construction of the canal, then it seems to be only just that 1t should declare this policy by law and lay down a rule which the commission can easily follow"