The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-27


class, two OF the second class wenty-one sloops Of
war, four briggs three sehooners hve OF the first
class. steamers less than the first class, and five
store -shps-n all seventy. hive. Now we have docks
enough for every eight vessels that own whether in
commission or out OF commission, whether old or
think. therefore, Mr. President. we ought to abandon
the contract system or, II contracts are TO be made. let
them be made by the executive branches OF the govern
meat, and lei them be given TO the lowest bidder.
Mr., GWiN Does the senator Iaean 10 abandon all
contracts Are we to make no more For instance,
wond he do away with contracts in regard to our print
Mr.. BR0ADHEAD The honorable senator from Cal
ornia asks whether am willing TO abandon all
tracts, and he illustrates by referring contracts for
printing. In answer to that, reply at thar would
prefer to have government printing establishment But
that 10 business which particularly apperiains to this
body the business of building drydocks does mott and
how shall we undertake 10 decide beweea these different
classes OF docks therefore think that we should aban
don this contract system, because many respects has
an evil tendency do not blame these gentlemen for
coming here and obtaining large contracts They have
perfect right to do so bu one set Of gentlemen
here and make large contracts and thereby secure
themselves large fortunes others may do the same thing,
and their number will increase from year year Sir,
we have Secretary OF the Navy; we have Bureau OF
Docks and Yards; have Bureau Of Construction and
Repairs we have naval architects and engineers and yet
We cannot trust our Navy Department with the building
OF dry dock We ourselves to decide the par
licular kind of dock that shall be built What necessity
is there for hs If we TO canvass and decide upon
these matters IN detail, let dispense nj with the
Navy Department let abandon Bureaus OF Yards
and Docks and Construction and Repair in the Sem
ale are TO do the business which appropriately belongs to
them. Sir, regard this perfect answer TO any ad
yocacy OF this contract system which has grown up
here.
Now, sir, will remark here that have prepared a
bill somewhat modified from that proposed by the honor
able senator from California, and which think will be
sufficient 10 carry out his design. willing that he
should have dry dock and navyyard am also willing
that he should have marine barracks although ques-
ton the utility OF barracks and that pier should be
established But il is saidthis is the great argument
against this peItba it would be eaten up by the worms
Now, would like 10 know from the honorable senator
from Rhode Island how they protect ther piers where
these immense whaling vessels are fitted out have
been given TO understand that in the North they have
from the in Rhode Island by covering them with
copper, driving copper nails in them which UNDER
stand to be the process this pier be protected in the
same way, But very much doubt whether that dock
will be very much used there if they establish this
basin and railway, for it will be eaten up with the
before they can be constructed will take at least six
or seven years TO do all this and the Secretary OF the
Navy knows it, This dock, therefore, will be useless,
and The great number OF ships engaged in the Pacific
commerce, and anchoring in the bay OF San Francisco,
will have no dock to which they can resort for the space
OF SIX or seven years. under the plan which is here
proposed. | have prepared bill, cir, which in
tend 10 offer substitute for that offered by The sem
ator from California; and allow to say here that
never could understand why another commission should
be sent out 10 California.
Sir there was joint commission sent out to Calfor-
MIA composed OF six highly respectable gentlemen, three
from the army and three from the navy, who selected
location in 1850, and they made report establishing
navy yard and depot on the bay of San Francisco Here
is the extract respecting that subject II may be
sary. do not come here TO dispute the propriely OF
another commission believe IT only to be considered
necessary 10 accommodate the miserable structure OF
dry dock which has been sent out have, however,
provided, in the substitute which propose, that when
the last board shall report the location shall be LETT 10 the
President and the Secretary oil the Navy. think we
ought 10 leave some discretion with the department upon
that subject therefore propose 10 strike out that por.
ton OF the bill which is in these words:
will be suitable everv respect such an
establishment susceptible of complete both by
land and water at the point TO the city OF San
Francisco"
And insert the words
Suitable every respect for such establishment pro
vided u has not already been done"
Then provide that this jnry shall be sworn and
also provide that the Secretary OF the Navy shall decide
which OF these sites he will select and then provide
for the establishment Of pier in place OF this basin and
railway and the last section contains provision Tor an
appropriation OF 100000 intend to offer this al a
proper time substitute for the entire BILL establish
ing navyyaid, depot marine barracks, and marine hos
pita and pier TO be used in connexon with the dock
and which is now on It's way 10 California, which would
be useless for six years. II we did not establish
pier. A pier can be constructed in a few months.
Mr. HALE. II the senator from Pennsylvania will al.
low me, would like to ask him single question.
Mr. BRoDHEAD Certainly.
MIR HALE. perceive that the honorable senator has
given considerable attention TO this subject, and appears
to be well acquainted with IT, He spoke OF some of these
docks being nusances and also OF their being tested
would like TO ask him If any one OF them has been
iesled-eher that al kttery, al Philadelphia or al
Pensacola
Mr. BRODHEAD. | will answer the question Of the
senator from New Hampshire as well as am able. BY
the contracts for the construction o this drydoek and
basin aud railway kery, and also for the co nsruc-
ton OF those at Philadelphia they were to be completed
in May or June last. They were 10 be tested with a
sbip-of- -ihe-ine No test has yet been made to my
knowledge The Secretary Of the Navy, a, the opening
Of the session. reported to upon this subject He says
that in regard TO this dock at Philadelphia, there is
operation. because in the deficiency bill there is item
asking an appropriation OF $4,000. He makes the
remark in regard to The dry dock at ktery lie says the
ice prevented the test from being made But You will
find that they to have been tested last June. We
have no knowledge OF their having been tested yet
would like TO know from the honorable senator from
New Hampshire whether he has any knowledge OF their
having been tested
Mr. HALE | am not aware that the dock at ktery,
which is some twelve miles from my residence, has been
tested perceived that the senator from Pennsylvania
possessed considerable information upon the subject and
asked him the question for information. So Tar as |
aware. the dock in my neighborbood has not been
tested at all
Mr.. BRoDHEAD. Now refer TO the contract on the
table, and II will be that they were to have been
finished last Jane, taken OIL the contractors hands, and
the reserved 20 per cent paid The contractors said
no doubt il for them 10 find water to test them
Congress ordered the contract TO be made, and that is
OF the ways in which can see the evils OF this
contract system That is all have 10 say at present
will now inquire il il will be IN order to offer the
substitute at this time
The PRESIDENT. Does the senator propose 10 strike
out the whole OF the bill, and insert
Mr.. BRODHEAD Yes, sir. | do not wish 10 offer
amendments in detail, and have put the whole in bill
',nn,.s,n,>r ~, -. Il,