Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-30
PROMISE NOT GIVEN
Mr.. Oliver Not Assured Of the
Canal Contract.
GOVERNMENT NAY BUILD
Aid Of Contractors May Be Dispensed
With.
CHANGE IN OFFICIAL VIEW
Amended oners from Other Bidders
VIII Be Considered Pend
ing . Decision.
GOVERNMENT MAY BUILD
'HAHaE IN OFFICIAL VIEW

On inside authority today It was learned
that inaccurate and Misleading statements
have been made as to the probable award
Of the Panama canal contract to w. J.
Oliver II the Knoxville man can secure sat
isfactory contracting firms to Join with him
In carrying out his proposition to construct
the canal for 6N per cent Of the total cost.
The statement is positively made that Mr..
Oliver has obtained no promises from the
government that he will get the contract II
he can secure additional help. but he was
simply told that he could amend his propo-
sition by taking on other contractors If he
desired. When he has submitted his adj
ditional backing his contract will be taken
up by the President and the canal commits
sion, the same as IL 1t was an entirely new
affair. At the same time there will be con-
sidered amended bidsfrom any Of the other
firms that placed bids before the commits
sion when bids were advertised for.
The New York concern that offered to
do the work for II per cent of the cost has
been notified that II It desires to do SO It
Mr.. Oliver may, it is pointed out, go to
the trouble Of associating other contractors
with himself whose financial standing and
business abilities cannot be questioned, but
propositions and either advertise for fresh
bids or decide to build the canal itself.
The Government May Build Canal.
The opinion 10 gaining strong ground
among those acquainted with the official
mind that the outcome will probably be
the rejection Of all bids and the decision
Of the President that the government shall
construct the canal. The possibilities OF
contention over the terms of a contract are
pointed out as inviting much trouble and
the President is not committed to giving
the job to contractors. He Is simply await
ing developments, and probably cares little
whether the contractors succeed in satisfy
ing the government or not.
The government has no information that
Frederick c. Stevens of this city Is assoc
ciated with Mr.. Oliver in the revival propo-
sition that will be made to the government.
According to the statements that have been
made by Mr.. Sevens. he has apparently ar
ranged to give financial backing to Mr..
Oliver, without being associated in the con-
tract.
Under the present understanding, Mr..
Oliver not only has the right to associate
the right to raise the price Of his bid. mas
much az the privilege has been given to the
next lowest bidder to lower his bid.
Mr.. Oliver said last night that the syndi-
cate he Is forming will certainly meet the
approval Of President Roosevelt and Sec
rotary Taft.
Backed by Frederick G. Stevens.
he has ALREADY entered into a partnership
with Frederick C. Stevens, president Of the
Commercial National Bank Of this city.
who was recently appointed superintendent
of public works Of the state Of New York.
Messrs. Oliver & Stevens have estab-
lished permanent headquarters in the Com
mercial National Bank building in this city,
government Mr.. Oliver will assume charge
Of the work on the isthmus, while Mr.. Stew
ems will direct the work from this end. J.
c. and A. NJ Stewart Of New York city,
members of the contracting firm Of j. G.
Stewart & Co., are in Washington and were
in conference with Mr.. Oliver yesterday.
Mr.. Oliver says that Stewart & Co. have
submitted proposition to MIN, OUT mat
their offer has not as yet been accepted. It
is the opinion in official circles that their
offer will be accepted.
Attacks on oliver.
That the fight on Mr.. Oliver has not ended
is made clear from kilograms he has re-
ceived. from friends in New York and
Knoxville. He is informed that petitions
are being circulated in New York protest.
ing against the government awarding the
contract for digging the canal, while In
Knoxville, he says, an effort is being made
to connect him with peonage cases. In dis
cussing this last night he said:
my record as a contractor and my hnan-
cial responsibility and standing in the busi-
ness world have been Investigated by the
canal officials, and the fact that the con-
tract has been practically awarded me Is
sufficient evidence that the government 10
satisfied with the result of the investiga-
ton.
s'The President has been fully advised as
to the status Of the Tennessee peonage
cases. The fact that my brother was In
dicted in the federal courts during the last
campaign while he was a candidate for the
legislature. and that he was not convicted
-Uf,ey, those cases were brought to trial, and
the further fact that my name was in no
way connected with the case, is sufficient
for the government to entirely ignore these
charges"