The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-07
DAY OF DECISION IS
TO Be SET TODAY
Oliver Submits His Bid on
Canal Contract
STICKS TO FIRST FIGURES
Incorporators of Panama Construction
Co. One Thing, Stockholders An
other, Says Official-Closest In
vestlgatlon-oliver Confident.

Washington, February 6.-By noon to-
morrow William j. Oliver, Jr. of Knox
vile, Tenn, who was the lowest bidder
under the proposal for digging the Pan
anna canal by contract and who has
formed a company of contractors known
as the Panama Construction company,
will know when he may expect final
decision Accompanied by his counsel,
| Judge Morgan f. Brien of New York.
Mr.. oliver shortly after O'Clock this
afternoon called at the offices of the
isthmian canal commission and submit
ted his bid in accordance with the re-
uuirements of the President, after having
been given ten days time in which to
do SO.
In the absence of Chairman Shonts the
documents were delivered to Richard r..
Rogers, general counsel of tho commits
sion. who perused them carefully in tho
presence OF Mr.. Oliver and Judge O'Bren
and found them correct in form, except
as to one or two minor details.
A number of papers were submitted
including not only the list OF those whom
Mr. oliver proposes to associate with
him in the actual work of construction.
but also the names of the stockholders
and the amounts subscribed by each.
Ii was ascertained that the original
figure submitted by Mr.. Oliver. 6.75 per
cent of the estimated cost of construction,
was adhered to in the papers filed to-
day.
Mr. Rogers, after satisfying himself
that the papers were In due form, would
at once have taken them to Secretary
Taft, but the secretary was detained at
the capitol, where he went before a com
mitee and did not return to the war de-
partment until 6 o'clock. He found
Messrs. Oliver, O'Brien and Rogers
awaiting him, and the four held a short
conference, at the conclusion of which
Secretary Taft said he would tonight re-
ceive a report from Mr.. Rogers on the
papers filed, and that in the morning
he would take the whole matter up
with the President and make the an
nouncement as stated.
Secretary Taft said he did not wish
1t to be understood that at noon to-
morrow Mr.. Oliver would get his final
answer, but that he would know at that
time when he may expect II.
Accordingly Mr.. oliver deferred leaving
here tonight for his home in Knoxville
Tenn.
At the war department tonight it was
stated that closest investigation would
be made regarding the stockholders and
in. fact regarding everybody inter
ested in the company
"The incorporators are one thing" said
one of the officials, "and the stockhold-
ers are another"
The question of tho skill. experience
and financial interest, and responsibility
Of those with whom Mr.. Olvsr has as
ISOLATED himself will be gone into"
After his interview with Secretary Taft
Mr.. oliver declared that he had got
together a combination OF the greatest
contractors in the world.
while / am not inclined to discuss
the matter" he said. '1nasmuch as 1t is
now before the secretary OF war, yet
feel that | have disappointed some peo-
pie who thought / could not make good.
Asked as to how soon he would be
able to begin operations in the event
he was awarded the contract. Mr. Oil
YER said that he could not say, but that
he would act with all facility Regarding
the question of labor. he felt no uneasi-
! ness. He said:
I'VE will be able to get all the men
we want. The sanitary conditions on
the isthmus are well nigh perfect, and
laborers will not hesitate to go there
on that account"
Incidentally Mr.. Oliver paid a high
compliment to Colonel Gorgas. chief san
tary officer of the canal zone. for the
work done by him In riding the sthmus
of all infectious diseases and placing 1t
in thorough sanitary condition.
Richard Rogers, general counsel for the
isthmian canal commission, tonight
made public the names OF those consti-
tuting the board OF directors and list
of stockholders of the Panama Construc-
, tlon company. The directors are:
Directors Of Company.
w. j. Oliver. Knoxville, Z enn.; Charles
ii. Ackert. Washington; H. j. Walsh,
| Davenport Ia. Robert Russell. Lynch
burg, Va; F. 7. Brennan, Washington;
| j. b. Mcdonald New York; John Pierce.
1 New York; G. II. Hartman, New York;
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