The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-02-01
GOT CANALCONTRACI
VIM. D. Oliver CAPTURED Big
PANAMA Prize.
he, With A. N. Bangs, Was the Low
est Bidder-"Show Me" Policy Is
Adopted-it is Said There Is No
Doubt Mr.. Oliver Will Fulfill Re-
quirements.

Washington, Jan. 28.-Following a
conference at the White House yes
terday, 1t is announced that the con-
tract for building the Panama ca
nal would be awarded to William D.
oliver, who, with Arson M. Bangs, was
the lowest bidder in the recent COM
petition, provided that within the next
ten days he and his associates, with
at least two Independent contractors
whose skill and experience are known,
shall demonstrate they can cover the
entire field of the work to be per-
formed under the contract.
The official announcement confirms
the recent statement of the Associated
Press. President Roosevelt then
took the position 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 Of
the cost Of the construction of the
canal, or even to require him to sub
NIT a new bid for the contract. Mr..
Oliver had informed the president that
it was his desire to submit an indie
pendent bid for the work and that
when the canal commission officials
informed him that it would be neces.
sary to form partnership with some
other financially responsible contract
or, they went so far as to suggest that
he enter into an agreement with An.
son M. Bangs of New York city. Mr.
Oliver said that after receiving this
suggestion from Chairman Shonts he
visited the war department and was
informed that Mr.. Bangs would be en-
tirely satisfactory to the government
Mr. Oliver told the president that with
this assurance as to the reliability Of
Mr.. Bangs, he Immediately entered
into an agreement with the New Yorl
contractor.
Powerful Influence at Work.
Powerful Influences were brought tt
bear Oh tht president and Secretar!
Taft to reject all bids and advertise
for new proposals, but the presiden
insisted that Mr. Oliver should b.
given a reasonable time in which tt
make a satisfactory arrangement t.
substitute some other contractors o
group of contractors to take the plac
of Mr.. Bangs. At the White Hous
conference held recently, tn
friends of the McArthur-Gillespie syr
dictate argued that the contract figur
should be increased to per cent of tn
total cost of construction and that tn
contract be awarded to Oliver, M
Arthur and Gillespie.
This suggestion, however, did nc
meet with the approval of the Ne'
York firm, who insisted that the
could not undertake the work for les
than 1880 per cent of the total cos
the figure mentioned in their origins
bid. The president, Secretary Tai
and the canal commission official
then decided to award the contract
Mr.. Oliver, provided he could max
satisfactory arrangement with at lea'
two other financially responsible CO.
tractors.
Secretary Taft and r. r. Roger
general counsel to the canal comml
sion. were in conference with tt
president for two hours, and the who
matter was again gone over. At tt
direction of the president Mr.. Roge
prepared the official statement for tt
press.
Say oliver viii Fulfill Contract.
When informed of the statement
sued by direction of the president, M
divers representative said: The
is absolutely no doubt apo
Mr.. Oliver being able to fulfill the
ouirements of the canal commisslo
There are now at least 20 of the mo
responsible contractors in the Unit
States who have expressed wlllin
ness to join Mr.. oliver in the work
constructing the canal at the figu
mentioned in his original bids. me
names have been submitted to Pre-
dent Roosevelt. Before entering IN
another arrangement, MI. DIV
wants to know positively that I
contractor he chooses will be acce
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