The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-12
TAFT IN FAVOR Of
PANAMA CONTRACT
Believes Work Can Be Done
More Rapidly
SEES HOUSE COMMITTEE
Talks About Panama Railroad and
Shonts of Relations With Pa
cfic Mail Steamship
Company.
SEES HOUSE COMMITTEE

Washington, February 11.-Secretary
Taft, Chairman Shonts of the isthmian
canal commission and r. B. Rogers, gen.
eral counsel for the commission, APP
peared before the house committee on in
terstate and foreign commerce today to
explain the proposed canal contract and
the plan to merge the Panama Railway
conpany's management with the canal
commission. Mr.. Rogers explained that
the chief purpose of the contract is to
permit the government to avail itself of
the practical experiences and efficient la
Dor organization OF an association Of
contractors.
The percentage to be paid the contrac-
tors is to be only in cost of labor and not
In supplies and equipment, which are to
be supplied by the government In dis
eussing cement, Mr.. Rogers said there
had been an investigation of stone on the
isthmus thought desirable for cement
and that it might be decided later to
have the contractors manufacture cement
on the canal zone. The contract Is SO
worded that the cement may be obtained
in. whatever way the commission may
deem best.
Small hand tools are the only supplies
which the con, 'ctor will supply under
the contract IN response to Inquiries
from members of the committee, Mr..
Rogers and Secretary Taft stated that
the eght-hour law would apply on the
isthmus unde rthe proposed contract.
When Mr. Rogers was asked what the
total amount probably would be ON which
the contractor would receive percentages
he had to
and that as far as he knew no careful
estimate had been made by any contrae-
tor
Secretary Taft made a statement about
the Panama railroad, in which he ex-
planned that 1t Is controlled exclusively
by the government The directors are
named with the understanding that they
shall vote as the government desires and
Mr. Taft SAND any director would be re-
moved at once for failure to vote as in
Mr. Taft said any director would be re-
at length before any steps are taken 10
change the administration of the rail
ways affairs. Secretary Taft stated
positively that he was in favor Of the
proposed contract as it now stands
He said he believed that with the
highest class OF contractors I'm charge the
work can be done more rapidly under
contract than by the government. Secre
tary Taft said the chief reason for rum
ming the Panama railroad as it is run at
present Is the convenience of administra
ton. He said the railways affairs would
be confused In case It We're put directly
under charge of the government.
Responding to inquiries as to tho rela-
tons between the canal commission and
the Panama railroad and the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company. Mr.. Shonts
| said the relations at present are amicable
and the complaints OF friction have been
few of late. Secretary Taft expressed the
! opinion that the annual payments to the
| contractor under the contract would
probably be about 100000. He said that
| the total amount which the contractor
would be paid a percentage of is esti-
! mated at SEQ, 900 600 TO 100000 Mr.. Taft
| said that his understanding of the con
| tract and the present law that they
would not prevent tho successful con-
tractor from employing Chinese labor on
! the Isthnus.