New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-17
PRICE THREE CENTS.
"STANDPA1TERS" IN ARMS
OBJECT TO TAFTiS POLICY.
Would Haze Supplies for Isthmian
Canal Bought at Home.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAu.l

IRON THE TRIBUNE BUREAC.l
Washington, May ia long and deep howl
from the stand patters' OF the country has
gone up over the decision Of the Panama Canal
Commission, which was sanctioned by Secretary
Taft permitting the purchase of supplies and
machinery for the construction of the Panama
Canal abroad and numerous protests Of most
emphatic character have reached the President
and Secretary Taft. The argument that the
canal is a ni-phianthroDic undertaking. and
that so long as American manufacturers are, not
deprived of the domestic market they should
regard with compIaisaRce the construction Of the
canal on the most economical basis possible.
appears to have no weight with those who had
hoped TO sell TO the commission at domestic
prices, ana they even go to the length Of declar-
ing that Secretary Taft must be a free trader
TO have sanctioned SUCH a programme
The utmost pressure is beicg and will con-
tinue to be brought to bear on the President to
induce him to rescind the order Immediately.
Those who advocate the policy OF Secretary
Taft claim that the saving would be so great
as amply to warrant the course. They declare,
for instance, that steel rails with which TO
double track the Panama Railroad can be pur-
chased abroad for $50 ton. whereas IL they
are bought in this country, without the COM
petition of foreign markets they will cost SS3
a ton. Asked if the quality of the rails would
only be identical in quality but they will be
made by the same company.
MR.. TAFT NOT WORRIED.
Secretary Taft. when asked. after the Cabinet
meeting to-day if he had any thing TO say
L o subject of the protests of the high protec-
tio,Iisrs replied: "Oh! I said all I had 10 say
about that last night I'll let that sizzle for a
while before I do anything more
Later in the day the Secretary explained that
neither he nor the commission was particu-
Iarly concerned with the policy involved by his
decision. but that. he had explained last
night, ne was of the opinion that the commits
sion would not be warranted in favoring Ameri-
can manufacturers at material increase OF
cost in the construction OF the canal without
some authority from Congress. He had brought
the problem to the attention Of Congress and
asked for some law which would guide the COM
mission as far back as last December. but Con-
gress had given no indication of its wishes in
the matt r and he must assume that ne and
the commission were in duty bound TO construct
the canal as economically as possible in the ab-
sence Of instruction to the contrary.
stand patters'' declare they Will force a
change OF the Secretary's decision within
week They are all up in arms and will bring
to bear every pound of pressure which they can
command It is regarded as entirely probable
that Congress will take definite action the
subject next fall but in the interim the COM
mission can purchase an immense quantity Of
supplies and this is precisely what the
facturers fear
When a member of the administration was
asked to-day if an act of Congress reversing the
police of Secretary Taft would not be construed
as more or less of a rundown for the President,
he declared that such could not possibly be ths
case for the reason that the President, rep
resented by the Secretary of War. was merely
acting within existing law, and as they believed
to be their duty under that law, but that they
had expressed no opinion to the effect that Con-
gress ought not TO have passed a law requiring
the commission TO purchase all machinery and
supplies within the United States. and. Incl
dentaIly relieving the commission OF materially
enhancing the cost to the people Of the United
States of this great and in any event expensive
undertaking
It was stated az the War Department to-day
that it was now found impossible TO purchase
the two ships which it yesterday deter
mined to buy abroad. as the vessels which had
been offered to the commission had already been
sold In some quarters it is claimed that this
indicates that the Secretary of War Is already
weakening in the policy he has outlined, but no
such Indication is given by the Secretary HIM
self
Some Republican Senators who favor tariff
adjustment declare that had the House con-
sented to send 20 the Senate some measure for
readjustirg tia tariff last session this trouble
might have been avoided. but that the stand
pattefs' in the lower chamber were afraid 70
send even a bill requiring that all supplies for
the canal be purchased in this country 10 the
Senate because. being a revenue measure, IL
might have been subject TO amendment chang
ing certain tariff schedules in the upper cham
ber. and they insist that before such a meas
ura can pass the Senate next fan it VIII be so
amended.
GENERAL GROsvENOR IRRITATED-
Representative Grosvenor who is one of the
arch "standpatters" of the House. appeared TO
be peculiarly irritsted after reading the an
nouncement OF Secretary Taft's decision. He
said@
This proposition to buy ships abroad is the
result of our laSgard policy in reference to
the building up Of the American merchant ma
rine We have permitted our merchant service
to decay until We have ships. have no trained
sailors To ships II they are purchased
abroad. and We are wholly dependent upon for
year in fre-sEts. ana the whole thing is a dis
grace to American intelligence.
Our Presidents have never taFen hold CT the
subject with visOr They have COnteuted
themselves with mild comment and reconneDta-
ions. but have not made practical suggestions
nor followed them with the Persislepcy w.tA
which some other policies have been urged
So at this time the very vttals OF TIE coHn-
try are being stirred over the questions of lower
railroad rates when our rates now are lower
than those of Germany and some other CCun-
tries. 1 wish that could be much in
erested in the upbUildirG Of our merchant
marine. which is "a very essential part OF the
freight carrying business
..wrat DO YOU think of the proposition to buy
general supplies aA~oa52'' General Gtosveno-
was @--cd lie replied as follows.