The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-14
SELECT OLIVER
FOR CANAL JOB
IS BELIEF NOW
Conference at White
House With Members
of Construction Com
pany Present.

The Panama Construction Com
pany, headed by W. J. Oliver, the
big contractor of Tennessee. will
build the Panama Canal. Although
no definite decision 10 this effect
has been officially announced, this
statement is based on the belief Of
several Government officials, who
have figured out the direction of
the wind in canal building, as the re-
suit of the conference on the sub
ject at the White House yesterday
afternoon.
In the belief of these officials, the
contract will be awarded within an
other week or ten days, at the lat
est, TO the Oliver combination. The
President already is fairly con-
WINGED that Oliver and his associ-
ates are capable, from every point
Of view, of carrying out the mon
ster enterprise, and he will make his
final decision after having heard a
little more abodt some of the minor
members of the new combination.
Made Thorough Inquiry.
Several days ago the President became
satisfied that oliver could make good it
is said by those CLOSE In on the con-
terences: but. to be sure he was making
10 mistake. he wished 10 sift the combi-
nation down TO the very bottom. This
he did 10 a great extent late yesterday
afternoon, with the assistance Of Secre-
tares Root and Taft. Chairman Shonts
and General. Counsel Rogers, OF the
Canal Commission. and Mai Gen. Alex
ander Mackenzie, chief of engineers Of
the War Department. All Of these Off
Gals Will continue TO devote their atten-
ton 10 an investigation Of the combina-
ton, General Mackenzie being instructed
ty the President 10 look up the con-
tracing records in detail Of each of the
men involved and have a report ready
for him previous TO the next conference.
next Tuesday afternoon.
Probably Final Conference.
This conference is expected to prove
final. If the President is able To keep
his agreement with the Oliver people,
made a week ago last Monday. that he
would give them a final answer as TO
the acceptance or rejection Of the low
hid of S6-75 in about a fortnight" II
that conference is as satisfactory as re-
cent conferences have proved 70 be. the
oliver people doubtless will be informed
by Wednesday Of their success, II the
contract is not actually awarded by that
time
BY some close in touch with the Ad-
ministration il is claimed that the Pres
ident really prefers that the Govern
ment should build the canal. but by his
advisors he has been shown that this
would raise cry of unfair" not only
on the part Of the Oliver people and
their friends. but by the other bidders
and, in fact. all contractors throughout
the country. who oppose the policy OF
the Government going too extensively
into the construction business II the
Government should prove to be success
-uI with the canal, doubtless IL would
deprive contractors of the work OF doing
other big Government jobs from which
they derive millions.
Gave Business Experiences.
At Yesterdays White House confer
ence. which began shortly after 3 o'clock
and continued for more than an hour,
John b Mcdonald and John Pierce
members of the combination. explained
TO the President and the other Of
ficials, their connection with the cor
poration and gave a history of their
business undertakings, with special ref
erence TO the big contracts they had
completed. =. +, Walsh. of Davenport
Iowa. Peter T. Brennan, of this CITY
and Robert Russell, of Lynchburg. va.
VIII be heard next Tuesday BY thar
time II is expected that the President
aud his advisers will have obtained all
the information they desire
General Mackenzie will be expected TO
report particularly on the work these
men have done for the Government.