The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-28
OLIVER IS GIVEN
 CANAL CONTRACT
Must Associate Himself With
 Other Contractors
TIE OFFICIAL STATEMENT I
Mir. Oliver Has Been Notified that Within Ten Days He Must Form Corporation With $5,ooo,ooo
 Capital.

Washington, D. C, January 2e-Fol- lowing a conference at the white house tonight it was officially announced that the contract for building the Panama ca nal would be awarded to William J. Oli- yer, who with Anson M. Bangs was the lowest bidder in the recent competition, provided that within the next ten days he associates himself with at least two independent contractors whose skill and experience combined with his swn shall cover the entire field of the wosk to be performed under the contract.
 The official announcement tonight con- firms the Associated Press statement of last Friday night. President Roosevelt then took the position that since Mr Oliver had met all the requirements Of the government it would be unjust to reject his bid of 6.75 per cent for the con- struction of the canal or even to require him to submit a new bid for the con- tract Mr. Oliver had informed the Pres ident that it was his desire to submit an independent bid for the work. and that when the canal commission officials in formed him that It would be necessary to form q partnership with some other financially responsible contractor, they even went so far as to suggest that he enter into an agreement with Anson NJ Bangs of New York City.
 MT Oliver said that after receiving this suggestion from Chairman Shonts he vis- tied the war department and was in- formed that MT. Bangs would be entirely satisfactory to the government. Mr. oli-- yer told the President with this assur- anee as to the reliability of MT. Bangs he immediately entered into an agreement with the New York contractor Powerful influences were brought to bear on the President and Secretary Taft to reject all bids and advertise for new proposals, but the President insisted that MT. Oliver should be given a reasonable time In which to make a satisfactory arrange ment to substitute another contractor or group of contractors 20 take the place Of MT. Bangs.
 Argued for Increase.
 At the White House conference Satur- day night, the friends of the MacArthur- Gillespie syndicate argued that the con- tract figures should be increased to per cent of total cost of construction. and that the contract be awarded to Oliver, Mac Arthur &. Gillespie. This suggestion, how ever did not meet the approval Of the New York firm, who insisted that they could not undertake the work for less than 12 .5O per cent of the total e., <~ figures mentioned in their original bid. The President, Secretary Taft and the canal commission officials then decided to award the contract to MT. Oliver pro vided he could make satisfactory arrange 5ments with at least two other imam eially responsible contractors.
 Secretary Taft and R. k. Rogers. gen. eral counsel to the canal commission, were in conference with the President for two hours tonight and the whole matter was again gone over. At the direction of the President, Mr Rogers prepared the official statement for the press. When informed of the statement by the direction of the President Mr. Divers representative tonight said: "There is absolutely no doubt about MT. Oliver being able to fulfill the requlre- ments of the canal commission. There are now at least twenty of the most responsible contractors in the United States who have expressed q willingness to join MT. Oliver in the work of con- strueting the canal at the figure men toned in his original bids. These names will be submitted to President Roose- welt tomorrow, with proof of their finan- eial ability. Before entering into an other arrangement MT. Oliver wants to know positively that the contractor he chooses will be acceptable to the govern ment"