The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-02-27


 There are no more shifts that can be made without stepping in old tracks, and the chances are that this decision will stay for some time.
 The President announced that all the bids submitted under the recent advertise ment had been rejected. This meant that after all his work and negotiations w. J. Oliver the one big contractor, the man in over-alls who was to assume the whole task, had been turned down. At the same time the President announced that the resignation of John F. Stevens, chief en- gineer, and but recently named for a place in the canal commission had been accepted. A third part of the President announcement told of the ordering of three army engineers, Majors George ". Goethals, David D. Gaillard and William l.. Sibert to Panama forthwith to take up the work. Todays shift leaves one point, however, on which there is still room for alteration of plan. The contract idea for which Stevens contended so viz orously until it brought about his down fall by threatening to overlap him, is not abandoned entirely.
 There are still to be opportunities for contractors, but instead of having one big job of the whole work the canal will be divided into small pieces so that a lot of men in overalls can get aboard. About the White House and the war de-
 
 dence of disappointment and disgust. From the very beginning of the canal un- dertaking there has been a steady stream of criticism, very large part of which has been based upon the never-ending complaint, dissatisfaction and accusation that has come from the men actually on the job. It has been crimination and re- elimination. What one man knew was the greatest thing ever devised the next has declared utterly impossible.
 The first commission headed by Admiral Walker, accomplished, according to the second commission, headed by MT. Shonts. very little better than nothing. Then there was reorganization.
 Infrequent Visits. Shonts and Wallace came in, railroad men of topside ability and experience, who were to go right down to Panama and stay until the ships were sailing through the canal. Shonts promptly de- veloped into proper Washington office holder. who saw the isthmus on infre- quent occasions, and the exit of Wallace, after q brief but heated spell at Pan "r'a was matter of angry and widespread
 nent Then Stevens came in, and he
 le one man who has stuck to his sda so far. But even Stevens did not sr0 the back talk, and at last he had
 nerve to telegraph the President that
 ss things went to suit him he too
 quit Shonts had just been got rid
 ;oing out with smiles both sides sa carefully concealed the real feelings, 'f'- l Stevens began to display lis knowl- of his own importance.
 Put Off on Army.
 this situation there was but one way
 urn. There remained the army who
 never hankered for the job, who
 zed very clearly that it was thank task, with small glory in the end
 hose who actually do the work but
 are in the game to the end and who
 where they are sent and stay until q are relieved or dead with no back
 no complaint and no criticism. They
 no conditions, but sweat and en-
 in silence. They work for small pay
 they seldom resign, never under fire.
 last the army is to build the canal,
 ather try to build it.
 ere is no doubt that Stevens has
 up a fine organization. That will be
 nued Mir Ripley who was his chief
 tant is still on the job, and up to
 he has not submitted a list of
 ances nor expressed the opinion that
 sthmus is no place for white man. #s three engineers already detailed with ls for Panama very soon, and will con- as far as Is possible for them the
 aization Stevens has built up.
 ne day the whole story of how
 lost out Will De IOlu. NOW IL Call be pointed out that he made a very
 rising change of front when it be-
 known that Oliver was the lowest bidder He had been all for the contract up to that time, but when he heard that Oliver was likely to get the plum, he cabled his ultmatum that he would quit if that happened. He knew Oliver and could not get along with him. No one here is willing to explain just why Oliver did not get the contract
 The administration spent months per- fecting the contract scheme. with liberal advice from Stevens. Oliver and Anson M Bangs of New York submitted the low bid of 6.75 per cent. Their nearest real competitors the MecArthur-Gllespie com bination, bid 121s per cent. But the gov ernn1ent rejected Bangs. He had not done satisfactory in other government con tracts, and the President would have none of him. Oliver reorganized without Bangs, but has been turned down.
 Southerner With No Pull.
 Railing from Tennessee, a southerner and practically without political pull, there is no great surprise manifested over Oliver's failure to be given the prize. There is room for big improvement In canal affairs and perhaps Canal Commis- sioner Joe Blackburn can find way to bring it about.
 WANTED-A good machin-