The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-31
CHAIRMAN SHONTS
 ON THE GRIDIRON
Senator Morgan Probes the
 MarkeI Contract
SIMMONS ALSO INSISTENT
MT. shsnts Says Spanish Labor Is Now Being Given a Trial-He Thinks the Canal Zone Is Too
 Narrow.

Washington, January 30.--After an exec utive session of more than an hour today, the Senate committee on inter-oeeanic canals resumed it's examination of The odore P. Shonts, chairman of the 18th milan canal commission. Senator Morgan questioned Mir Shonts concerning the cancellation of the contract that had been made with J. E. Market of Omaha, Neb.' for the installation of a complete com- mssary on the isthmns.
 A clear understanding of the allow ance of expenses 10 Mir. Markel was sought by the committee, and an extend- ed inquiry was made along this line, MT. Shonts explained in detail all of the preparations for the awarding of con tracts.
 The Market contract took effect Sep tember 5, 1905, and was cancelled on De- tober Il. Mir Market claimed expenses amounting to $5745, and an allowance for time. He was allowed a sum exceeding Sl0,O00 MT. Shonts said that MT. Market had gone to the isthmus first at the in- vitation of former Chief Engineer Wallace to assist the commission in devisng a plan of feeding employees on canal work.
 The examination of Mir. Shonts devel- oped very little that had not been given to the public. At Ills o'clock a recess was taken for luncheon.
 The executive session of the committee was held for the purpose of determining whether d hearing should be given Robert Schwerln, manager of the Pacific Mail Steamship company. He had requested an opportunity to reply to charges made by Secretary Taft and Chief Engineer Ste- vens that his company had been responsi- ble for great part of the congestion of freight on the wharves on the isthmus
 After long discussion it was agreed that MT Schwerin should appear before the committee at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow The date of hearing Poutney Bigelow. the magazine writer has been indefinitely postponed and it Is doubtful If he will again be given an opportunity to appear before the committee.
 Take Up Markel Contract.
 At the afternoon session Senator Sim mons ought to show that the bid of Hud- gins and Dumar of New York for the feeding of the canal employees was lower than the bid of J. b. Market & Son.
 Mir. Shonts replied that 1t would be inn possible to tell which bid had been the lowest but that the experience of the Market firm in feeding large bodies of men had been taken into consideration.
 Senator Simmons asked Mir Shonts if he thought the law had not been yio- lated in letting the contract to a firm whose bid had not been the lowest Mr Shonts replied if the law declared tha the lowest bid should be accepted with out regard to the time of delivery of goods, or the quality furnished, then the laws had been violated by the commission in number of instances. Finding the MarSel contract had been cancelled, said MT. Shonts, 1t was suggested by MT. Stevens that Mir. Market ought to have some compensation for the trouble and expense which he had incurred.
 As matter of fact" asked Mir Sim mons, was not this contract cancelled because you received a message from MT, Stevens saying the contractors would make a million dollars a year out of the arrangement. and asking that 1t be held in abeyance?'
 Well, l remember receiving such a message said MT. Shonts T immedi- ately called in Mr. Market and told him we would have to make some other ar engagements. Mir. Stevens said the men could be fed on the isthmus for 30 cents day. MT. Market said that he could feed them for 30 cents if permitted to reduce the food in the quality furnished laborers."
 Trying Spanish Labor.
 Mir. shonts said that he had been in- formed that plenty of Spanish labor could be found, and from his point of view they would help to solve the labor prob lem. Men of that type ar paid s1 a day | and upwards. He quoted Mir. Stevens as desirous of getting Chinese coolie labor admitted to the canal zone.
 Mr. Shonts said he did not believe the canal zone was wide enough, and that the zone should be made so wide that any other nation could not get close enough to blow the United States out of the canal. MT. Shonts said the zone should be large enough so the lakes in the interior could be under the control of the canal. The commissioners held an executive session, at which 1t was agreed to continue the examination of Mir. Shonts for a few days.
 The cnmmlItee adinnrned mill tnmnr.