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Show CANAL BIDS DELAYED Isthmian Commission Makes Important Changes in the Contracts. WASHINGTON, Dec. .7. The Isthmian Isth-mian Canal commission today announced an-nounced that the opening of bids for the construction of the Panama canal has been postponed from December 12 to January 12 next. The commission, in a statement, explains ex-plains that the postponement is on account ac-count of certain changes made at the instance of a number of contractors in the invitation and form of contract required re-quired to be executed by the successful fl bidder. Tho investigation and form of S contract, with tho changes made, will I! be held in the oflice ot the Isthmian Canal commission here, subject to in- B spection by all contractors or others in- y terested, until December 15, on which 1 day, in their finnl form, they will be K formally reissued. m The changes mado in tho invitations for bids, etc., fix the working hours for I American t labor on the construction & work at eight hours and foroign labor C at ten hours, and requiro at least two I shifts during the twenty-four hours, ft They reduce the contractor's bond from i?3,000.000 to $2,000,000 and requiro con- I tractors to have $5,000,000 capital. 1 |