The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-01
Canal Bidder Refuses to Ac-
cept 100000 Deposit.
WILL CONSULT ATTORNEYS
southerner Intimates He Has Not
Been Given Square DeaI-De-
cIares Negotiations to Have Been
spiked Game''-Engineer stevens
Weary of Contract at Panama.

bidder for the Panama Canal contract,
was yesterday formally notified by the
Isthmian Canal Commission of the re-
lection of his bid, and the certified check
for $20o, zoe, which he deposited as
guarantee, was rendered him.
He. however. declined TO receive the
check. and directed its return to Counsel
Rodgers, of the commission. that ii be
retained until Mr. Oliver had oppor-
tunity to consult his attorney and J. b.
Mcdonald, one Of his associates in the
recently organized Panama Construction
Company. The latter are expected TO
reach Washington to-day, when a de-
cislon viii be reached as to what course
will be taken,
Mr.. Oliver declined last night TO inti-
mate what his course would be or whether
OF not he would take any steps to secure
from the government reimbursement for
the $4,000 he had expended in organizing
the big construction company.
He said, however, that the company
had been organized at the suggestion OF
President Roosevelt. and had reason TO
believe the latter was satisfactory 70 the
Executive.
Did Not Get square Deal.
He did not hesitate in saying that he
does not believe that lie has been given
a square deal in the matter, but de-
ferred until after the consultation to-day
to say what action he would likely take.
II is probable. however. that the Panama
Construction Company will be dissolved
as a result of the conference.
Il is declared by officials here that there
is no truth in ths reports that Chief
Engineer John +. Stevens was forced TO
resign because he had written an inn
pertinent letter to the President in which
he attempted TO dictate what should and
what should not be done. It is stated that
Mr.. Stevens did not Try 10 dictate TO the
President. and that he did not threaten
to resign if the contract for the con-
struction of the canal was given TO VIII
liam J. oliver and his associates.
Advised Against Oliver.
II is true that Nj Stevens advised
against giving the work 70 Oliver. He
believed that the company which the con-
tractor had formed could not do the
work. and that he could not get along
with the men who would necessarily bs
associated with him.
Mr.. Stevens letter OF resignation was
written on January 90. and was received
10y the President on February T. In It
ther- was no mention of the plans for
building the canal by contract. nor Of
ans phases of the status Of the bids
which had been submitted.
Prior TO this time Mr. Stevens had
cabled the President about the bids
which were then under consideration. and
as the Investigation of the resources Of
the bidders progressed Nh Stevens was
kept informed.
Resignation Was VeXing.
I'm the various exchanges of cable
grams Ar Stevens made no mention OF
his intention to resign. and when his let
ter asking 70 be relieved came the ad-
ministration was greatly vexed and en-
bdrrassed.
The President cablcd Mr.. Stevens ac-
cCptng his resignation on February A.
This cable contained no comment. il is
understood, and the administration took
the view that If Mr.. Stevens wanted 70
quit there would be no urging him 10
stay on the job.
Ia his letter to the President Mr.
Stevens said he felt klenlv the sacrifice
He was making in continuing the work on
the isthmus, and that the best years OF
his life were being spent upon work
the remuneration for which was much
smaller than he could command in some
other field of cndeavoT. The President
Inferred from Nr. Stevens letter that the
chief engineer was somewhat uneasy in
the knowledge that other engineers work
ing in a more congenial climate and under
moro .frrpnfI f1lp fRudffiou= u-era rauafv--
ing salaries twice as large as his own.
stevens Resented Crfticism
The Stevens letter also said that he re-
scented the criticisms that had been passed
upon him by members OF the Senate and
others, and that hc was unwilling 20
continue under these circumstances. lie
concluded by asking that his resignation
DE accepted as soon as his place could be
filled 1t is said authoritatvely at the
White House yesterday that Mr. Stevens
did not offer his resignation as an aIterna-
tive TO anything, but that il was offered
without conditions and with quite a clear
explanation OF his reasons for retiring.
This business, said Mr. Oliver.
, reminds me OF that spiked game of
poker out West. The sucker held four
aces and reached for the pot Nothing
doing. said one Of the other players 7
hold whang-dOodle; that takes every
thing; you lose. You should have noticed
the sign behind the table
Gould Not Win.
The next night" said the contractor.
the sucker returned with a big bunch OF
dough. determined 20 get even. The
game progressed, and when the table was
stacked up with the long green he called.
! have % whang-dOodle, he said. Moth
ing doing, replied one of the gamblers.
hold four aces; you lose
" I thought a whang-doodle took every
thing said the sucker.
Oh. no; YOU didn't read the sign care
fully. You can only play a whang-doodle
once a week
We'll, I'm the sucker. I entered into
this canal game and made the lowest bid.
] called the administration hand. but
was whang-doodled out Of the job
Together with Mr. Mcdonald. Mr. Oliver
intends preparing full statement for pub
LEGATION showing how he was led 10 be-
lieve that he would get the contract. and.
therefore went TO great expense to per-
iect his bid and secure the necessary
financial and professional backing de-
manded by the administration
Macarthur Syndicate Not in II.
lie cannot understand how the Near
thur syndicate. which bid nearly double
the percentage for which he offered to
construct the canal. had any right to be
concerned in the negotiations.
II is said that Mr.. Oliver was Informed
by one Of his friends that only few DAYS
ago the positive statement was made in
official quarters that he would get the
contract He was the most SURPRISED man