The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-01-28
For Panama Canal Work
LikeIy'fo be Accepted.
WITHIN TEN. DAYS
He Must form a Partnership witt
Two Responsible Contractors
Of Skill and Experience.

Washington, Jan. 2S.--Following o
conference at the White House last
night twas officially announced that
the contract for building the Panama
, canal would be, awarded to William j.
Oliver. who,s with Anson s. Bangs, was
the lowest bidder in the recent com.
petition. provided that within the next
ten days he associates himself with
| at least two independent contractors
whose skill and experience, combined
with his own shall cover the entire
field OF the work to be performed.
President Roosevelt took the posi-.
| ton that since Mr.. Oliver had met all
the requirements OF the government,
| IL would be Unjust TO reject his bid OF
G75 per cent. for the construction oil
the canal orr even to require him to
| submit a new! bid for the contract, Mr..
Oliver had Informed the president
that IL was his desire to submit an in.
dependent bid for the work and that
when the canal commission officials
informed him that It would be neces.
sary to form a partnership with some
other financially respor sible contract.
| or they even went 90 far as to suggest
that he enter into an agreement with
Arson NJ. Bangs, of Nes York City.
Mr.. Oliver said that after receiving
this suggestion from Chairman Shonta
he visited the war department and
was informed that Mr.. Gangs would
be entirely satisfactory to the govern.
ment Mr.. Oliver told the president
that with this assurance as to the nc,
liability Of Mr.. Hangs he Immediately
entered into an agreement with the
New York contractor.
Powerful Influences were brought to
hear on the president and Secretary
Taft to reject all bids and advertise
for new proposals, but the president
insisted that Mr.. oliver should be
given n reasonable time in which tC
make d satisfactory Arrangement tC
substitute some other contractor or
group of contractors to take the place
Of Mr.. Bangs. AT q White House con.
ference on Saturday night the friends
Of the McAathur.Glllespie syndicate
argued that, the contract figure should
be increased to 3 per cent. of the tota!
cost of construction and that the con.
tract be awarded to Oliver, Macarthur
and Gillespie. ~
This suggestion, however did not
meet wlthuthe approval OF the New
| York firm, who Insisted that they
| could not undertake the work for less
than 12.5 per cent. of the total cost
the figure mentioned In their original
bid. The president. Secretary Taft
and the canal commission officials
then decided to award the contract tc
| Mr.. Oliver, provided he could make
satisfactory arrangement with at least
two other financially responsible con
Mactors. trf
Secretary Taftaand r. r. Rogers
general counsel to the canal commits
| ion. were In conference with the
president for two hours last night ant
| the whole matter was again gone over
| AT the direction OF the president Mr.
Rogers prepared the official statement
| for the press a
When informed of the statement is
sued by direction OF the president Mr.
divers representatives last night
| said:
| There is no doubt about Mr.. Oliver
being able to fulfil the requirements
| Of the canal commission. There arr
now at least 20 of the most responsi
, Bile contractors In the United States
who have eXprnssed a willingness to
| Join Mr. Olirer in the work OF con
structing the canal at the figure men
toned In his original bid. These
names will be submitted to President
Roosevelt on Monday with proof o.
their financial sponsibility."