The Cairo bulletin., 1907-01-20
MAKING READY TO
CUT CANAL MELON
MAC ARTHUR FIRM TRYING TO
KEEP CONTRACT FROM
OLIVER & BANGS.
FORMERS BID DOUBLE
Presidents Official Family Are
Kept Pretty Busy over
the Contest.

Washington, Jan. 19-Whether the
Isthman Canal shall be completed at
profit to contractors of SG,750000
or of $12,5000J is the apparently
simple problem which was presented
to the president tonight at the execu
tive Offices.
Behind this seemingly abstract
arithmetical proposition, however, is
an interesting story which is loaded
with possible favors to favorites of
Cabinet officers OF President Roose.
welt.
The secretary of state, Mr.. Root
has appeared on the scene in the
matter of the contracts, although no
one in Washington appears to know
why the secretary of state should
take an interest in the matter of con.
racts unless and perchance he might
plead that it is a matter Of foreign
affairs
1t is the fact, however that Mr..
Root was at the White House on
Tuesday night and talked with the
president on this very matter, Of
who should get the contract for com.
pleting the canal. the bids for which
were opened on January II.
Bright For Combine.
As it looks tonight after confer
enees at the White House, the Mac
Arthur,Gillespie Chicago-New York
Pittsburg combine may get the con
tract by custer of Oliver & Bangs, al
though the Macarthur bid is double
that of their rivals, Oliver & Bangs.
Just as soon as the bids were
opened and it appeared that oliver of
Tennessee and Anson Bangs of New
York, were ready to do the work at
a profit of 100000 tremendous
agitation. first privately and then
publicly was started to oust oliver & |
Bangs and let in some former favor !
ties Of the government, among which |
is the ]. G. White company, which not !
long ago wa, given a S900O,O0O con
tract for construction of railroads in
the Philippine Islands
It is said that Crayath & Wicker
sham. of New York, who represent
various legal firms in New York We're
behind the Philippine railroad deal
in favor of J. g. White, when that
concern got nine million dollar
Philippine railroad contract
1t was charged at that time that
Henry Taft was interested in getting
he Philippine contracts and that the
same bidders for instance J. G. White
would turn up as bidders
or the canal work. The war depart
nent denied that Henry Taft was in
crested aud stated that his firm,
'adwallader & Strong would not bel
considered if represented by him
Iohn G. Milhurn of Buffalo, was there
ore accepted as attorney for some
If The bidders on the Philippine rail
way work and his friends got con
racL Spever & Company of New
York. were heavily intere ted, a.
we're the Vanderbilts, in the Philip
zine railway contracts.
Crayath & Wickersham are again
o the front and appeared tonight rs
.ttorncys for the MacAr,hur-Gillespie
lid before the president for the canal
work.
The Macarthur Gillespie bid shows
hat # had included in it some large
Irms such as the J. G. White Com
ANY. Of New York. and the Atlantic
iulf & Pacific company. which is now
oing work in Manila.
Not All In the Open.
It is hin,ed that the legal firm
n New Yc.k which are behind the !.
arious members of the group in the /,
acArthur-Gillespie deal are not all :
penlv represented by Cravath &
It is said in fact tJa-
& Strong of which
lcnry w. Taft. brother of Secretary .
afr is a member. is "A firm support =
ne one Of the components Of the MAJ >
.rthur-GIlespie bid.
The White House tonight after the
difference gave out NO statement OK
chi that the people interested again-t|
he Olivcr-B Bangs bid had made repro
on their own behalf TO
how that their hid of st2.501oO0 was
lConciudad on --iffh Parel Id