New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-20
B[GEL0W MAY ESCAPE.
Committee Postpones HIS Case-Mr.
Wallace Called.

Washington, Jan. 19.-Poultney Bigelow's de-
fance Of the Senate Committee on Interoceanic
Canals, in refusing to give the sources of in
formation he says he has that many eminent
engineers had declined to go to the Isthmus Of
Panama because of physical conditions prob
ably will go UNPUBLISHED. This was made an
parent to-day by the vote to postpone considera-
ton Of his recalcitrancy until after he has gone
with his testimony Monday or Tuesday
The committee has set Monday as the date for
his examination, but Mr.. Bigelow has asked
that it go until Tuesday. While no definite
action was taken, 1t is generally understood that
proceedings against the witness will not be
begun.
The committee held an executive session Of
two hours to-day. Senator Hopkins offered a
resolution certifying Mr.. Bigelows contumacy
to the Vice-President for action in the courts
and asked that it be adopted. Several Demo-
cratic Senators opposed this Senator Simmons
declared that 1T was an extraordinary penalty
that was proposed, and contrary to common law.
He suggested that the courts might refuse to
act on the certiication, which he asserted would
prove most embarrassing Concerning Mr.. Bige-
lows article. the Senator said that there had
been many other articles written against the
canal management by other writers equally bit
ter, who had not been called into disrepute, and
that this one appeared to have been singled out
by the President for denuncatory reply.
The course OF the committee If it should pro-
coed against Mr.. Bigelow. said the Senator.
would be to intinlidate witnesses and would be
bad policy early in the canal investigation.
He said that much of the news printed by
newspapermen employed at the capital was OBJ
tanned from confidential sources. and that If
the committee was to declare that these conf
dences would be violated it.woud at array
the press OF the country against the committee
He closed with the statement that he would
never sign resolution to certify the case to the
courts, and he was Joined in this by Senators
German and Taliaferro. Several other Senators,
expressing doubt as to whether Mr.. Bigelow's
testimony Of sufficient value to justify the
committee in making a martyr" of him, Sena-
tor Hopkins withdrew his resolution.
Chairman Willard of the connrnitte sent a tel
egram to John f. Wallace. formerly chief
gineer of the Panama Canal. asking when it
would be convenient for him to appear before
the committee
Major Hugh Gallagher, assistant general pur-
chasing agent of the Panama Canal Commits
sion. in testimony before the committee, said
that the commission had agreement with the
United Fruit Company for the shipment of pur-
chases to the Isthmus when the amount of ship
rlents was in excess of what could be carried by
the ships of the Panama Railroad Company
NN-"O~
shippers.
Pig lead and Portland cement, he said, have
been obtained from foreign countries, although
supplied by American firms at less cost than the
same articles could have been bought in the
United States.
On account of the great variety of materials
purchased, the major said the practice OF sena-
ing out proposals for bids had been discontinued
Proposals were advertised in the principal news
papers, he said. and specifications were fuTrlsnea
only to the firms applying for them senator
German asked If that was not reversal OF tns
methods practised for nearly all firms purchas-
ing large supplies The major replied that he
believed the system necessary.
INQUIRIES by Senator Morgan brought out the
statements that coal was purchased by the COM
mission from the Panama Railroad, and that
iron was purchased in Southern markets because
1t was the cheapest and best That Is wnere
the coal would be purchased, also. If the mines
had an opportunity to bid" said the Senator
There were many articles, 1t was brought OUT
which could be obtained abroad at a much less
cost than in the United States, and senator
Morgan wanted to know why more goods hsd
not been bought in the foreign markets. Major
GaI1aeher said II was because the business could
be handled better in the United States