The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-09
Collision Charges Made
Against Chairman Shonts

NEW YORK, Sept. s-Two our OF
three bidders for a SO, 900 concession
awarded by Theodore P. Shonts. chair
man of the Panama or Isthmian Canal
Commission, Joined yesterday In making
charges that a third contractor was
awarded the vast concession with I'M
due haste. without any public competi-
ton, and that advantage was taken of
leaks by which the successful bidder
received inside information.
Chairman Shonts is scored without
gloves in the charges, and an appeal
has been made 70 President Roosevelt
10 stop the official awarding of the
contract This was done in the fol-
lowing telegram:
New York, Sept Z. 1905.
THE President, Oyster Bay. L. 1:
I'm the public interest We earnestly
appeal to you TO direct the chairman
of the Isthmian Canal Commission to
withhold the award to j. z. Market, OF
Omaha. Neb.. OF certain concessions for
conducting hotels, boarding camps and
commissary stores on the Isthmus OF
Panama.
Enormous Business.
These concessions are the most i'm
portant of the kind ever granted by
the United States Government, involv-
ing a business, which, IL Is estimated,
will aggregate the enormous total Of
$50. 900. 600 for the term of the contract.
Circumstances connected with the
awarding of this privilege seem to indi-
cate collision, one entire section of our
bid having, as we discovered by exami-
nation yesterday. been credited to Mr..
Markell as an original production. while
the precipitancy with which bids were
called for, without public advertisement
and with no regular time set for re-
cefying and opening said bids in the
presence Of the bidders, warrant US In
The assumption that predisposttion
existed to award the contract TO Mr..
Markell, and that other considerations
were sacrificed to this end
I'm placing the matter before you
Mr.. President, we specifically waive any
claim 10 the Panama concessions Our
only desire now is TO prevent the con-
summati Of what We deem an irreS-
uiar proceeding, and in furtherance OF
this purpose we have. by advice of coun-
sci, formally Withdrawn our bid In q
letter to Chairman Shonts.
Respectfully.
Still Another Protest.
A second telegram was sent as fol
lows:
ITO the President. Oyster Bay. L. l.:
1--WE respectfully ask for thorough
investigation Of Panama privileges and
KEEL by Chairman Shonts. of the 18th
III. BALFE & co
ii. Balfe. president.
The successful bidder. j. E Market
is president OF the Natic=;al Hotel Com
pany. of Omaha, Neb. The charges are
made by Hudgins & Dumas OF this city
whose offices are at q State street and
they are Endorsed by II. Balfe & Co
who now have the contract for the res
taurant privileges on Ellis Island. which
up 20 last July HUdgins x Dumas held
In making the charges. which are IL
printed form and officially signed by
the makers. Hudgins * Dumas allege
that there must have been leak in the
office OF Chairman SfonIs. as an entire
section OF their bid consisting of sample
bills OF fare for a Week 10 be served Il
American employees. IL found incorpor-
ated bodily in the bid or Markell. tho
successful bidder
Contract Hastily Closed.
Hudgins & Dumas some time az,
decided to bid for the great canal con
tract. which was for the conducting
OF hotels. boarding camps. and commits
sary stores all along the line OF the
Panama canal. The contract was TO b,
let for five years
The three firms above were the only
bidders for the great contract and tbs
allegation is made now that there
should not have been precipitancy II
the closing Of the contract. which
Chairman Shonts awarded 10 J. 2
Markell on Thursday
IT appears that the contract was di
Yided into two sections The upDe,
classes OF canal employees. such al
supcrintendents. clerks and all classes
above laborers. were denominatet
gold men," The West Indian Iaborer.