Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1907-02-02
GOTCANALCONTRACT
VIM. D. OLIVER CAPTURED Big
PANAMA Prize.
He, With A. M. Bangs, Was the Low
est Bidder-."Show Me" Policy Is
Adopted-lt Is Said There Is No
Doubt Mr.. oliver Will Fulfill Re-
quirements.

Washington, Jan. 28.-Following a
conference at the White House yes
terday, it Is announced that the con-
tract for building the Panama ca
nal would be awarded to William D.
Oliver, who, with Arson M. Bangs, was
the lowest bidder in the recent COM
petition, provided that within the next
ten days he and his associates, with
at least two independent contractors
whose skill and experience are known,
shall demonstrate they can cover the
entire field of the work to be per-
formed under the contract.
The official announcement CONFIRMS
the recent statement of the Associated
Fress. 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 of
the cost of the construction of the
canal, or even to require him to sub
nit new bid for the contract. Mr..
Oliver had informed the president that
it was his desire to submit an indie
pendent bid for the work and that
when the canal commission. officials
informed him that it would be neces-
sary to form a partnership with some
other financially responsible contract
or, they went so far as to suggest that
he enter into an agreement with An
son M. Bangs of New York city. Mr..
Oliver said that after receiving this
suggestion from Chairman Shonts he
visited the war department and was
/ informed that Mr.. Bangs would be en-
tirely satisfactory to the government
Mr.. Oliver told the president that with
} this assurance as to the reliability OF
Mr.. Bangs, he Immediately entered
into an agreement with the New York
: contractor.
Powerful Influence at Work.
Powerful influences were brought t6
bear OH tht president and Secretary
Taft to reject all bids and advertise
for new proposals, but the presiden
insisted that Mr. Oliver should b.
given reasonable time in which t
make a satisfactory arrangement t.
i substitute some other contractors o
group of contractors to take the plac
. of MI Bangs. At the White Hous
conference held recently, tn
3 friends of the McArthur-Gillespie syn
dictate argued that the contract figur
should be increased to per cent of tn
total cost of construction and that tn
2 contract be awarded to Oliver, MI
/ Arthur and Gillespie.
i This suggestion, however, did nc
Q meet with the approval of the Me-
York firm, who insisted that the
v could not undertake the work for les
than 1850 per cent of the total cos
G the figure mentioned in their origins
bid. The president, Secretary Tai
d and the canal commission official
~ then decided to award the contract
Mr.. Oliver provided he could max
satisfactory arrangement with at lea'
two other financially responsible col
tractors.
D. Secretary Taft ard r. R. Roger
general counsel to the canal commi
IT sion, were in conference with tn
Of president for two hours and the who
,e matter was again gone over At IL
. direction of the president Mr.. Roger
prepared the official statement for tt
: press.
Say oliver viii Fulfill Contract.
When informed Of the statement
y sued by direction of the president, M
divers representative said: "The
-, is absolutely no doubt abo
- Mr.. Oliver being able to fulfill the r
10 quirements of the canal commissio
There are now at least 20 of the mo
e. responsible contractors in the Unit
of States who have expressed willin
ok ness 10 join Mr.. Oliver In the work
at constructing the canal at the fgu
e. mentioned in his original bids. The
:, names have been submitted to Pre-
n dent Roosevelt. Before entering In
N. another arrangement, Mr.. DIV
lr- wants 20 know positively that t
ey contractor he chooses will be accel
m, able to the government"
ey
n