The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-02-01
OLIVER HAS THE OPTION.
Is Finally Awarded Canal Contract
Provided That He Only Secure
Two Independent Partners.

A Washington special says: Fol-
lowing a conference at the White
House Sunday night, it was oficially
announced that the contract for build
ing the Panama canal would be award
ed to William ]. oliver, who, with
Arson M. Bangs, was the lowest bid
der in the recent competition, pro-
Vided that within the next ten days
he associates himself with at least
two independent constructors whose
skill and experience, combined with
his own, shall cover the entire field
of work to be performed under the
contract.
President Roosevelt took the posi-
ton that since Mr. Oliver had met all
the requirements of the government,
it would be unjust to- reject his bid
of 6.75 per cent for the construction of
the canal. or even 20 require him
to submit a new bid for the con-
tract.
Mr.. Oliver had informed the presi-
dent that 1t was his desire to submit
ar independent bid for the work and
that when the canal commission of
ficials informed him that it would be
necessary to form a partnership with
some other financially responsible
contractor, they even went SO far as
to suggest that he enter into an agree
ment with Arson M. Bangs, of New
York City.
Mr.. Oliver said that after receiv-
ing this suggestion from Chairman
Shonts, he visited the war department
and was informed that Mr.. Bangs
would be entirely satisfactory to the
government. Mr.. oliver told the pres
ident with this assurance as to the
reliability of Mr. Bangs, he imme-
diately entered into an agreement
with the New York contractor.
Powerful influences were brought to
bear 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 a reasonable time in which to
make a satisfactory arrangement to
substitute another contractor, or
group of contractors, to take the place
of Mr.. Bangs.
At the White House conference on
Saturday night the friends of Mac
Arthur Gillespie syndicate argued that
the contract figures should be in
creased to 9 per cent of the total
cost of construction and that the
contract be awarded to Oliver, MacAr-
thur and Gillespie. This suggestion,
however, did not meet with the APP
proyaI of the New York firm, who
insisted that they could not undertake
the work for less than ~. so per cent
of the total cost, the figure mentioned
in their original bid The president,
Secretary Taft and the canal commits
sion officials decided to award the
contract to Mr. Oliver, provided he
could make satisfactory arrangements
with at least two other financially re-
sDonsible contractors.
Secretary Taft and r. R. Rogers,
general counsel to the canal commits.
sion, were in conference with the
president for two hours Sunday night
and the whole matter was again gone
over. At the direction of the presi-
dent Mr.. Rogers prepared the official
statement for the press.
When informed Of the statement by
the direction of the president, Mr.
divers representative said:
There is absolutely no doubt about
Mr.. Oliver being able to fulfill the
requirements OF the canal commits.
zion. There are now at least TWEEN
ty Of the most responsible contrac.
tors of the United States who have
expressed a willingness to join Mr..
Oliver in the work mentioned in his
original bids. These names will be
submitted to President Roosevelt at
once, with proof of their financial
ability. Before entering into another
arrangement Mr.. Oliver wants to know
positively that the contractor he
chooses will be acceptable to the !
government"