Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03
SUPPLIES FOR CANAL
ADOPTION OF JOINT RESOLUTION
By THE SENATE.
Purchases From American Manufac-
turers Except in Cases Of At
tempted Extortion.

The Senate yesterday received the con-
ference reports on the railroad rate and
statehood bills and heard the announcement
of the result of the deliberations of the
committee privileges and elections in the
case of Senator Smoot. In the case of Sena-
tor Smoot, Senator Burrows, who made the
statement as chairman of the committee
asked that day be fixed for the considera-
ton of the subject, but objection was made,
because the official report was not ready
for consideration, and that account the
further consideration of the subject was
postponed. There was no discussion of
either the statehood or the rate question.
The consideration of the Joint resolution
relating to the purchase of Panama canal
supplies from American bidders except
when they are extortionate and unreason-
able, consumed the major part of the ses-
sion. and 1t closed by the adoption of the
resolution by practically party vote The
democrats sought in many forms, but In
VAIN, 10 secure the adoption of amend
ment that would commit Congress against
the protective system. The only amend
ment adopted was one suggested by Senator
Pettus, providing that bids shall be from
the lowest responsible bidders
After passing large number of private
pension bills the Senate adjourned until
Monday
Senator Bacon's Argument.
After The Stars report yesterday closed
Senator Bacon continued his argument in
favor of his amendment to the supply pur-
chase bill providing that no greater prices
should be paid for domestic articles than is
paid for similar articles exported and sold
abroad
He said that many articles of American
manufacture were sold abroad at much
10. 49,, 10.
United States for the same articles, and
had read two letters citing such sales in the
matter of steel rails. In one instance it APP
peared that the same mill had sold rails TO
a TexasM Mexico road at the rate of S2S in
Texas and at $2i in Mexico.
To this Senator Aldrieh replied that at is
a well-known fact that producers in the
United States and elsewhere sell at a less
price in foreign markets than to their reSu~
lar customers at home; but this fact has
never affected the decision of the people
of the United States as 10 what our eco
nomic policy should be
Senator Morgan followed in a general
speech on the canal question, condemning
the principle on which the resolution was
based and urging that the contract system
be adopted He did not especially urge
that the entire work should be embraced
in one contract, but that If necessary nu-
merous contracts should be entered into.
He said that many dredges and many
steam shovels would be needed and that
unless there was a general contract cover
ing them no one would be prepared to sup
ply them. He declared that under the
present system the canal would not be
completed within thirty years He believed
the present effort at legislation calculated
to belittle the subject because this was a
land of law and not of discretion in indi-
viduals, however high their position. He
said, however, that he believed in preferring
the products of the United States. Incl
dentally, he said that the United States
should take the canal out of the control
of the New York trust" which. he said.
was holding on to the control because
OF the profit there is in it."
The Bacon amendment was then voted
down--15 to 81.
Amendments by Senator Money permit
ting the purchase of American goods in
foreign markets; by Senator Mallory, re-
curing the same conditions in foreign ana
domestic purchases and by Senator Dollf-
yer, providing that the legislation shall not
affect the purchase of dredges for which
bids have already been asked, were voted
down in succession by votes of more than
two to one.
Pettus Amendment Adopted.
At the instance of Senator Pettus the
resolution was so amended to require
that bids be from responsible bidders.
Senator Bailey spoke on the general mer-
its of the resolution. He said that he would
have been gratifed If the majority party
in the Senate had been found willing to
follow the President in his announced de-
termination to purchase abroad, If reason
able prices could not be secured at home,
but he said that even if that policy had
not been followed the present proceeding
was not without its moral effect upon the
public mind. The inevitable deduction must
be that the disparity between American
and foreign prices was so great that il had
required a congressional resolution to pre-
vent the President from patronzng the
foreign markets in seeking supplies for the
canal
He added that while his preference would
be favorable to supplies of domestic origin,
he would infinitely prefer to patronize
foreigner to patronizlng an American who
would charge his countrymen more than
foreigners.
The resolution was then passed-39 to 16-
a party vote, except that Senator Teller
voted with the republicans.