The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-20
BICEL0W WILL
NOT Be MARTYRED
Ssnate Committee Decides Not
TO Punish Magazine Writer.
WILL CALL HIM UP AGAIN
So Much Lumber Has Been Bought for the
Canal II Is Now RottIrg, Says Ssna-
Tor Morgan


Washington, Jan. 90-Poultney Bge-
on inter-oceanic canals in refusing TO di-
vulge certain Information in connection
with the Panama Canal charges, prob
ably will go unpunished.
This was made apparent yesterday by
the postponement of consideration OF his
| rccalcitrancy until after he has gone on
with his testimony which Will be on Mon
! day or Tuesday.
The committee has set Monday as the
| day for his examination. but Mr. vBige-
low has asked that II 40 over until Tues
| day.
The committee held an executive session
OF two hours yesterday. Senator Hopkins
| offered a resolution certifying Mr.. Bige-
lows contumacy To the vice president for
action in the courts and asked that u
he adopted.
Several Democratic senators opposed the
| course, and Senator simmons addressed
the committee at length. He declared that
il was an extraordinary penalty that was
proposed and contrary 70 common laws.
Concerning Mr.. Bigeow's article the
senator said that there had been many
other articles written against the canal
management by other writers equally bit
ter who have not been called into dis
repute and that this one appeared to have
been singled out by the president for a
denunciatory reply.
NOT ENOUGH IMPORTANCE.
The course Of the committee, IL II should
proceed against Mr. Bigelow. said the sen.
ator would be to intimidate witnesses,
and would be bad policy so early in the
canal investigation.
He eaid that much OF the news printed
by newspaper men employed at the capil-
tai Is obtained from confidential sources
and that II the committee Is To declare
that these condolences are TO he violated
Il would at once array the press OF the
country against the committee.
He closed with the statement that he
would never sign a resolution 10 certify
the case TO the courts. and he was Joined
| in this by Senators German and Talia-
ferro.
Several other senator's expressed a
doubt as TO whether Mr. Bigelows testi-
mony was OF sufficient value 10 Justify
the committee i'm making a martyr Of
him" Senator Hopkins withdrew his
resolution
At the afternoon session OF the canal
committee Mai Hugh Gallagher assist
ant purchasing agent OF the Panama ca
nal commission. said pig lead and Port
| land cement have been secured from
foreign countries, although supplied by
American firms. at less cost than the
same articles could have been obtained in
the United States
TOO MUCH LUMBER
on account Of the great variety OF ma
terials purchased the ma ior said the prac-
tice Of sending out proposals for bids
had been discontinued. Proposals were
advertised in the principal newspapers
he said, and specifications were furnished
only TO firms applying for them
Senator Morgan asked Mai Gallagher
II no knew that there were supplies Of
lumber on hand sufficient TO last one or
two years. which Is rotting on the ground
The witness said he knew the purchases
had been extensive. but that he supposed
the acquisitions were for material for i'm
mediate use
Senator Morgan then made the state
ment that such supplies We're now rot
ting for the reason that there was no
immediate use for the large amount on
hand.
The committee in executive session de-
cided to meet on Monday at $50 to hear
Auditor r s. Benson of the canal com
mission and 10 postpone the hearing Of
Poultney Bigelow until Wednesday at 2:30
-, IL