Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-02-07
that CANAL JOB.
Statement From White House Says
Oliver Has No Assurance That
BE viii Get II.
MAYLETNOC0ATRlCTATALL
Rsports Coming From Authoritative
Sources Seem Conflicting And
Contractor and His Friends
Are Guessing.

washington, Feb. LIN . state
ment made at the White house
wednesday evening It is stated en-
phatically that no decision has been
reached that William J. oliver is to
be- given the contract for the con-
atruction Of the isthmian canal. Not
only does the announcement declare
that Mr.. Oliver has not been awarded
the contract even Professionally. but
it opens the possibility Of the work
going 10 the Macarthur Gillespie
combination. which submitted the
only bid other than that Of Mr..
Oliver to receive serious considers
ton.
For several days there have been
symptoms OF desire ON the part of
the president to have the govern
ment do the work. and 1t is be-
lieved that this will very likely be
done. The statement Of Wednesday
evening indicates that 1t is possible.
Mr.. Oliver and his associates are
surprised at the attitude taken by
the administration. They refuse to
talk openly about the matter, but 1t
IL known that since last. Sunday,
when an announcement was made
that Mr.. Oliver would be given an
opportunity to get the contract, they
have thought that all that stood be-
tween them and the contract was the
forming Of an association of contrac-
tors which would meet the require
ments OF the government. From the
White house It Is declared that no
assurances, ''of any form, shape or
manner" had been made to Mr..
Oliver that he would get the con-
tract.
The following statement was made
public at the White house Wednes-
day night by Secretary Loeb:
Reports in the papers seem to In
dictate belief that the canal con-
tract has been eonditionally awarded
to Mr.. Oliver. This Is not so. No
decision has been made even that
the contract will be awarded to any
Of the bidders.
Mr.. divers bid was 80 hopelessly
defective that It could not even DO
considered, and time was given him
10 complete and put It in shape that
will enable It to receive consldera-
ton. II II is put into shape, 1t will
DO considered, together with the bid
already made by the Gillespie-McAr-
thur combination, which may itself
be altered, and then, whichever bid,
after the most careful examination,
seems most advantageous, may be
taken, or both bids rejected, and the
canal be constructed under the direct |
supervision Of the government.
In such case the government would,
were It to choose, use the contractors |
simply as agents. The real object in |
contracting for the work Is to have |
assembled large number Of the
best specialists in each class Of
work, and the prime consideration
will be the ability and fitness shown
m a variety of directions by the men
making the bid.
The president and the commission
would not even consider a bid Of
merely one or two men. The work
II already going we'll. Over half
million cubic yards were taken out
Of the Culebra cut in January. and
the amount being taken out is stead
ily increasing.
Mr.. Oliver has been negotiating
with other contractors and has about
completed his combination. HIS
efforts in this direction will not be
retarded by the statements made
nom the white house.
/