The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-02
$4,000 Claim viii First Be
Presented to Administration
MONEY SPENT ON CANAL BID
Southern Contractor Says He Was
Given Assurance He Would Get
the Panama Contract On
His Lowest Bid.

Washington March 1.-(Speclal )-Wil-
liam ]. Oliver, the lowest bidder FOR the
contract to construct the Panama canal,
viii submit bill TO the administration
for $4,000, the amount which he says he
expended in organizing the Panama Con-
struetlon company. after he had been
given assurances that the award would be
made 10 him. If this bill is not paid
promptly the southern contractor will ap-
peal direct to Congress.
This in brief is to be the method of pro-
cedure or Ar. Oliver, according to per.
sons in the confidence of the contractor.
1 is understood that Mr.. Oliver had ex-
pected to present his bill against the gov
ernment as he thought several of the
directors of the Panama Construction
company would be here this morning
They disappointed him. however
j. b. Mcdonald, president: Morgan j.
y Brlen, general counsel, and George
Pierce, one of the directors OF the Pan
anna Construction company, are now at
Augusta, Ga, where they went for
weeks outing. They will stop here ON
their way home. and with X. A. Chester,
vice president of the Commercial National
'ahNf anu AHullt H. AtkelI OI the SOuIl1-
ern railway, Mr. Oliver will go over his
plans of procedure in detail
After this meeting it will be made
known to whom the bill is to be present.
ed. Mr.. Oliver believes that if he does
not get his bill settled without undue de-
lay he can get satisfaction in Congress.
Mr.. Oliver called at the canal COM
mission office today and accepted from
Counsel Rodgers. the return of the ssO0.
tod oh l.,
when he filed his first bid. He announced
that he would write the commission
letter In response to the formal notice
that the bid had been rejected. It Is
expected that this letter will contain
rather canstic eommcnt on the treatment
he has received.
Blackburn Lucky.
Senator Joe Blackburn. who goes on
the canal commission is the only de-
feated democratic member who Is lucky
Senator Duboise of Idaho, signed con-
tracts today with the Chautauqua people,
which will net him something like S40-
OO0 in the next year Tho women OF the
country are to be his patrons. They have
made the fight for the unseatng of Sen
ator Smoot and they are not migrate
full to the Senator WHO sacrificed his
place In public life in their cause. They
are today demanding through every
Ildn > CluD III the lHflu the privilege OF
hearing him tell of Mormonism and the
Mormons.
As n result Senator Dubose has been tile
most sought after man in the country
by managers of Chautauqua booking bu-
reaus and he has just closed the contract
which assures that he will probably make
more money In the coming year than
his entire salary for the six-year term
in the Senate, to which his state
fused to elect him. Senator Dubolse's CON
tract was made with the manager of n
Chicago concern. which has been figuring
with him for some time. and the man
ager finally came to Washington and
succeeded In closing the arrangements.
He was the best pleased man in town
after the signatures had ben put on the
documents. Senator Duboise Is to go prac-
tlcally from coast to coast the coming
season, telling Of the menace of Nor
monism.