The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-29
SUPPLIES FOR CANAL
RESOLUTION REGARDING THEIR
 PURCHASE CONsIDERED.
Rayner of Maryland Opposes its Adop- tfon, Although 1t would Prove of Benefit to Corporation
 of His state.

, a4a Washington. May 2s.--The joint rAso- lution reported from the Committee on Finance authorizing the purchase of articles for the Panama Canal to be of United States production. unless the prices were extortionate and unreason- able in the opinion of the President. was called up in the Senate today by Senator Hale
 | Senator Rayner of Maryland opposed the resolution. He stated his obiec- tions, he said, because the Maryland Steel Company, concern in his State. was one of the benehciaries of the
 resolution. as 1t was the lowest bidder in this country, for two steel dredges
 on which bids had been mailed. Continuing, Senator Rayner said:
 The Maryland Stee1 Company is a
 great industry. employing many me- chanics and workmen in the prosecution
 of it's business. and we are all in the
 city and State, deeply interested in it's
 success and prosperity. I am inclined
 to think that on the ground set forth.
 this company should have been award
 ed the contract. I believe that on the
 merits, 1t is entitled to this contract,
 as on a careful calculation it will be
 found that the cost to the Government
 would ultimately have been less If the
 offer of this company had been ac- cepted.
 If these sea- going dredges are built
 in a foreign country it will not be per-
 missible under the law to use them in
 the waters of the United States. If this
 resolution passes the contract for the
 dredges will be awarded to the Mary
 land Steel Company, as 1t Is conceded
 to be the lowest bidder.
 T cannot, however, vote for the res
 olution. I cannot change the princi- ,lAo in I ha1iave and for which
 have contended during the whole of
 my public career. for the purpose Of sending a contract for an enterprise in my State or because it confers ben- eft upon It's citizens. I have always advocated the doctrine that the people of this country have the right to pur- chase every article of consumption in the cheapest and most desirable mar ket of the world and must apply to the Government the same rule that l apply to its citizens"
 Senator Morgan discussed laws put in force by the President for the government of the canal zone, which he declared to be an abuse of power. No member of Congress would dare to 1 introduce such laws. he said. He mentioned as an instance the provis- undesirable persons. This law. he
 said, was absolutely necessary to good government and the canal zone could not be controlled without 1t. Yet, he said, the President had exceeded his authority. He said that two years ex- perience had developed the fact that the canal never can be built under ex- isting laws. The affairs of the zone. he said, had been placed In the hands of men who have no boundaries of power.
 Senator Mallory offered an amend | ment to the resolution to strike out | the word "extortionate" so that goods could be purchased abroad if Ameri- can prices were unreasonable. Senator Morgan offered an amend
 ment making the Canal Zone a military 1 reservation and providing that all Of the income of the Zone should oe set apart for the benefit of the Zone. to be administered for that purpose without | having to call upon the Treasury of | the United States. This amendment provided for the payment of duty of ten percent ad valorem on all goods l imported for the Canal Zone from terri tory not controlled by the United 1 States.
 Senator Gallinger offered an amend ment providing that all goods for the Canal Zone shall be carried in Amer ican ships wherever possible. | The resolution went over till tomor- row.