Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-08

their error says the secretary In his
ietter 10 the president, "and hereafter
| questions OF this character will not
DE Ated upon finally by the commission
or the diretf2rs OF the railroad until
after conference with the proper au-
| thorities.'
THE MARKET CONTRACT
| Another matter calling for COM
| thent, Secy. Taft says, Ifs the cam
| cellation OF the so-called Markell con-
| tract and subsequent settlement In
! Marcn, lsOo, II became an urgent ques-
| tloh now the employees OF the canal
/ commission and OF the railway company
! on the isthmus could obtain proper food
| az reasonable prices. Chief Engineer
wallace knew j. f.. Markell Of Omaha
as contractor engaged by railroad
companies TO feed boarding camps and
70 cater for railroad hotels and restaur.
ants. Mr.. Markell had been in the
business Tor 90 years and had carried
OUT !Hrge contracts OF THIS kind IN con-
suucuOn work done by the Union Pa
enc railroad, the Illinois Central rail.
roaG and other large railway systems
OF the west, Mr.. Wallace In March
last wrote To Mr. Markell and invited
MN to come 10 the isthmus and look
an arrangement to feeding all the en-
ployes on terms satisfactory to the gov
eminent and himself. The latter did
not reach Mr.. Markell until May when
ne answered accepting the suggestion
and with his son and partner and pri.
N1te secretary, visited the isthmus
about the first of July returning to
this country after months stay on
the lsthmus. and after an absence Of
something Ike six weeks. The con-
tract was awarded 10 Mr. Markell an
the lowest bidder on the seventh OF
September. When notes of the contract
reached the isthmus, MIR. Stevens by
cable objected 10 II as fixing too high
price, and thereupon a clause was
introduced into the contract by the
consent Of Mr.. Markell. by which the
company was permitted to cancel the
contract at any time In the discretion
or the president. In view OF the new
cancellation clause, Mr.. Markell took
only four persons 10 the isthmus and
others were directed to remain In New
YORK until the matter In respect to the
contract was definitely settled. on the
end OF September, Mr., Shonts and Mr..
Markell sailed for the isthmus and did
not return until the 18th of October.
During this time, after conference
between Mr.. Shonts, Mr.. Stevens and
GOV, Magoon. the notice OF cancellation
In accordance with the new clause. was
given and accepted, and Mr.. Shonts
and Gov. Magoon then stated that Mr.
Markell ought to be and would be COM
pensated for his loss OF time and money
and for services which had Injured to
the benefit OF the government. The rea-
son for the cancellation of the con-
tract was In carrying out Mr. Markets
recommendations the railroad company
under Mr.. Stevens had been able to
furnish food to its employees and those
of the commission at a less price than
that fixed in the contract Markell
still insists that the estimate OF cost
made by him was reasonable, and that
the results obtained by the company
were due to two circumstances--on
that all the elements OF cost to the con.
tractor We're not included in the rail-
road company's estimate for the cost
OF first class meals, and the other that
the specifications Of the contract re-