Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-15
BUY WHERE CHEAPEST.
President Approves Taft's Policy in
Buying Canal Supplies.

Washington, May l5.---The president
from Secretary Taft accompanied by
numerous appendices, bearing on the
controverted question OF the right Of
the lsthantan canal commission to pur-
chase supplies abroad, II they can be
secured cheaper than in America. The
president simply states the views ex-
pressed by Taft in the affirmative have
his full approval.
The letter of Taft to the president
relates to the purchase of dredges for
use In construction of the canal.
In this particular case, says Taft, the
exact question presented Is whether on
the sole ground that one. bidder for
construction of two sea going suction
dredges to he used on the isthmus is an
American corporation and the other a
Scotch firm, the Isthmian canal COM
mission shall pay the American COM
pany from 100000 to $4,000 more for
dredges than the price at which 1t may
buy dredges from the Scotch bidder.
In a letter Jan. II. 1905, the secretary
says he appealed to Congress to specih-
cally direct him whether or not he
should continue the policy of purchas-
ing in tne cheapest market. but re-
marks that no action since has been
taken by congress on the subject.
He then briefly reviews the law as
1t stands bearing on the requirement of
supplies under government contract,
beginning with the appropriation act
OF 1876, giving preference to American
material, which act he points out ap-
plies only to the United States and not
to the isthmus. Coming down to the
experience Of the army in the Philip
pines the secretary shows large am
cunts of meat had been purchased from
Australia instead Of from the United
States. because Its cost was about half
that brought from the Pacific coast.
Therefore" says the secretary "as a
result of consideration of the general
principles OF the law and practice of
the government, in the absence of 'spe-
cific direction to the contrary, Is that
in construction of the Panama canal,
which is outside the tariff wall sur
rounding the United States proper, and
into which, by virtue of the Hay
Hvarilla treaty with the republic of
Panama, material, supplies and ma
chnery for construction Of the canal
are to be introduced free from
tariff or imposts, it is your
duty to buy where you can
obtain material, supplies and machin-
cry at the cheapest price. other condi-
tions with respect to quality prompt
delivery etc, being equal. This view
1T seems to me is confirmed by the
failure Of congress to direct any differ
ent course on your part, altho the mat
ter was brought to its attention more
than year ago, and your view of your
duty in the premises, II congress took
no further action, was clearly indicated.
ought to add that, while Of course,
a very large proportion of all purchases
made for construction of the canal
have been from American merchants
and manufacturers, some purchases
have already meen made abroad, and q
saving effected in the purchase Of COM
paratively small quantities of cement
in construction Of canal. Enormous
quantities of cement will have to be
purchased and the question will soon
recur again as to acceptance Of for
eipn bids for this material"