The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-02


Pennsylvania aud myself WILDE able arrange amend
men with the aid Of the honorable senator from Cali
iorna, which will meet the exigencies OF the The
dock VIII not be delivered until next fall aud we VIII
have ample time to make this provision in the naval ap
preparation bill think however, that the provision sug
gesled by the honorable from Pennsylvania Is in
some respects liable 10 objection and VIII slate TO The
Senate Tue why think it Is This floating dry
dock in California originated in provision made in the
naval appropriation bill OF September, 1850, in these
words;
"For commencing the construction Of floating dry
dock upon the Of California, 100000 and Sec
reary Of the Navy 10 enter into contract for
the Construction with all reasonable despatch, OF
tona or balance ioa.lng dfy-dock basin, and railway
such hafbor the coast oil the Pacific he
ec Of capacity and Dimensions respect inferior 10
those Of the dock in OF construction at Pensa-
mission, IL required, prepare tho chiefly
hafbor on the Atlantic scaboard and advancing moneys
thereon as the works progress the said works can DO com
peted sdIng by than twelve per
the total contracted be paidtor the floating dock
addition hereo what would be the or transportation
said coast OF the said materials thus prepared and with
the reservation ill the works done. per and
the usual surety for the faithful OF the
and the Secretary of Navy shall also be author
lied 70 enter into agreement with the contractors II they
will keep the said works in repair and take Of
the for any given period of years. free Of chage
period their account repairing
vessels when occupied by vessels Of The which
precedence shall at all times be gven such terms he
shall deem reasonable"
Congress at subsequent session, after verbal agree
ment had been entered into between the Secretary OF the
by this law the floating dry-dock basin and railway,
repealed much of that law authorized contract for
The erection OF basin and railway leaving the residue
Of the law in force and my impression is that all the
arrangements made in the Navy Department. and the
contract made BY the Navy Department. all founded
upon and related 10 the whole Of the provisions here by
virtue OF which the contractors to have the Of
the dock for the purpose OF repairing private vessels
when the government OF the United States did require
III. think, therefore, that il should first be asceained
what the fact with respect to that agreement for il
n IN be n n
them, and not warranted by the understanding between
the government and the contractors 10 adopt such pro
vision the one proposed. The Senate will reco
lee, that the whole authority given by the law Of 1850
was not repealed, but only much related to the
basin and rail way wish therefore, 10 suggest TO the
senator from Pennsy that think every object will
be accomplished by allowing this to rest until the
naval appropriation bill comes up and in the time
look into the matter regard TO the contract and
see what disposition we ought 10 make There will then
be ample time.
Mr. BRODHEAD Mr. President, cannot yield to the
suggestions OF the honorable senator from North Caro-
lima He states that this dock will not be finished until
fall, and hence that this provision or similar one had
better be incorporated in The general naval appropriation
bill Well sir seems 10 me that the fact that this dock
is to be completed renders quite necessary that
the amendment which have offered should be
adopted, because notice must be given and contract
entered into II we defer until the general naval APP
preparation bill which will not pass until August there
will not be sufficient time give public notice and have
contract entered into What objection, therefore,
be urged against the adoption OF this amendment this
Secretary Of the Navy necessarily have time
to enter into the contract for the use OF this dock Ii
fifty thousand dollars be obtained without any detr
ment 10 the public servce-because the amendmea pro-
vides that the by the commercial marine is not 10
Interfere with the government vessels that may be
brought there Tor repair-why should lake when
an opportunity offers think that the fact that this
dock is soon 10 be completed is strong why
we ought TO adopt the amendmen, now.
The honorable senator also seems 10 think that the con-
tractors for this dock should have the and occupa
ton of it. do not think Sir BY reference 10 their
contract, II will be that their work is TO be
ned aud IT is then, il done properly 10 be taken of their
hands. think, therefore, that those who have
sucled this dock should not be the essees, and should
not have the OF H. Besides that, under the provision
which the senator has read and which was in part
peaed during the last session. these contractors, II
dersland it Alright, would make fifty thousand dol
lars year by having the OF it, il they to have il
gratutously from the government they merely keeping
II in repairs so Informed, at any rate by the honor
able senator from Rhode Islam, who placed this
amendment in my hands. He tells me that the Of
this dock by iae com nercal marine is worth some iJ
hope, sir, that the amendment will be adopted at this
time Ii is simple proposition to lease the OF this
sructure upon good security, for term OF years This
dock has cost the government large OF money and
Il receive large sum IN return for the use OF
the without any detmen TO the public service,
il to me that we ought not TO hesitate moment
Mr. BADGER Mr. President il is entirely unneces.
sary for the from Pennsylvania TO assume any
oratorcal display on this subject
Mr BADGER Ihave very great indifference whether
the proposition be adopted or not | simply made the
suggestion TO him of what ] supposed to be some ditii.
Guilty embraced in the adoption OF the amendment That
is al, sir | suggested that under the impression
thai the arrangements which have been made between the
Secretary OF the Navy and the contractor for the dry
dock under the OF $780, modified by the subsequent
repeal OF portion OF it, referred to or included this very
subject and all wanted was, If that so, that
should not now adopt different arrangement
confess that am not exactly pleased with the idea
that the government shall let out this structure 10 the
highest bidder | would have them put il out to CON-
pelen person who understands its management and who
will take OF II upon just and fair terms. would
suggest that 1t may be proper TO let the matter rest
until the Naval Committee shall have had opportunity
to consider it, do intend to enter into any argument
discussion oil the matter. would not IN fact. be con-
sdered opposing il for | introduced proposition
what similar the other day, which Withdrew, OBJ.
eclion being made, saying that personally cared moth
ing about it.
Mr. HUNTER ! feel under some difficulty in relation
this amendment, because sir have not the niorma-
lion to enable me 10 form decided judgment in relation
to il. Commodore Smith told me that IT would be
necessary but estimate was sent to me. II will be
necessary provide appropriation for the purpose
OF receiving the dock which IL shipped round, when
il gets there and for the purpose oil painting IT. Some
thing will be necessary for this was tod but no est-
male sent TO me. understand that letter on the
subject has been sent TO the Navy Department had
supposed that this proposition substitute Tor that
understand that this dock far larger than s necessary
for the oil the government and that the government
could at least dispense with four sections OF ~ Various
have been suggested practicable and adj
ntageous One would be 10 sell four sections upon
condition that The parties would put up pier, which
could easily be done Another would be 70 icy ine dock
out by contract on condition that Il should be re-.
roeI in good ,rder heeve that the practice OF dock