Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-20
nnacr1LANrona REcoRp.
Rohhery In Canal Work.

When the sundry Ciwl~Appropriation
bill was under consideration in the House
Of Representatives, last week, Mr.. Sulli-
van moved to rccommit it TO the COM
mittoe, with instruction to insert pro-
vision that none Of the money appro-
priated for the Panama Canal should be
used in purchasing materials manuiac-
tured in the United States unless those
materials were sold TO the government at
export prices when the export price was
less than the domestic price. A point Of
order raised by Mr.. Tavney was sustained
by party vote, and the House proceeded
to adopt the Senate resolution, providing
that none but American materials and
supplies shall be purchased unless the
President deems the bids "extortionato
or unreasonable"
This means that, so far as the law is
concerned, for all the material used in
the construction Of the Panama Canal,
the government must pay the high prices
charged 70 consumers in the United States
by the tariff protected Trusts of this
country Notwithstanding the fact that the
same make OF materials may be purchased
in foreign markets az much lower rates.
Thus will be afforded this strange and
unbusinesslike spectacle. A private cor
poation in Panama desiring American
made steel rails may purchase them for
delivery at any point in Panama at prices
30 70 80 per cent lower than our govern
ment will be compelled, under this law of
Congress TO pay for steel rails necessary for
canal work.
In the course Of the debate in the House
over the businesslike proposition which
was so inconsistently set aside, Mr.. Ross,
purchasing agent for the Panama Canal
Commission, was quoted as saying that
American steel rails from foreign markets
could be laid down in Panama at S26.40
a ton, while the railroads of the United
States are paying s2s per ton. Thus,
Amercan-made steel rails, after being
sent to Europe and then to Panama, are
sold in the latter country at 81 60 per ton
less than the selling price in this country
But in the construction of the Panama
Canal our government must not enjoy
the advantage Of the lower foreign prices
for American steel rails. but must pay the
higher prices Of the United States market,
plus the cost of ireightage to Panama.
If this is not a swindle, bold robbery
Of the American people, then there never
was victim Of robbery OF swindling in
the entire world For the purpose of
maintaining the protective tariff in an
its Trust-protecting operations, the
American people, in the costly undertake
ing Of constructing a great canal to con-
meet the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
must buy steel rails and other materials
at exorbitant prices, in order 20 further
enrich wealthy Trusts under the guise
Of protecting home industry"
We're private interests in charge Of the
canal construction, they would buy
material whore il could be obtained the
cheapest, and their stockholders would
commend the prudence of the manage
ment But because the American people
are paying for this great work, lot of
Trusts must be permitted to sell their
products TO the Canal Commission at
prices anywhere from 25 70 so per cent
higher than they sell the same products
for in foreign markets This vital point
should be kept in mind Il is not a cues
tion Of buying foreign products because
they are cheaper than home products.
In such event the question Of home pro-
lection would apply. Il is a question
of paying more for American products
than they are sold for in foreign markets
Panama is a foreign country, and the
products Of the Trusts are sold there Al
much lower prices than In this country
But when the American people 20 "a
Panama TO expend their money in IN,
construction Of the great canal, they an,
not 10 enjoy the lower foreign prices foi
home products, but must pay hom,
prices for them.
Was there ever a proposition mon
ridiculous or one that involved mon,
completely the elements Of extortior
and absolute robbery Let us hop,
the President win protect the peopl,
by exercising a wise discrimination as &,
bids that may be "extortionate or un
reasonable"