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

III
The highest bidder, Will be without reference ai al 70
the form Of the pier which is necessary 10 make the dock
ehectual
Mr.. WELLER Mr. President, il is extremely desira
BILE that some ar angemen should be made by which the
merchant marine upon the Pacific coast should have the
use q hs dry oul as % Tue oes uoas s,m q m
opinion readily perceive that II the amendment be
adopted. without any additional restriction or guards
around n i the .osS maaus a
Cypress one class OF shp-owners al the expense OF
olher He may refuse the OF the dock to some ship
upon Inc raef g. 9r 10 other
extensive ship owners that that course can be
adopted il there be no restrictions placed upon the con
tacos- there be no limits fixed upon the charges TO be
levied upon the vessels using that dry-dock, think
that the adoption Of any regulation upon this subject
there ought to be limitation Fixed upon the power o.
the contractor.
Tbs same objection that would arise to letting the
contract out TO the highest bidder would apply with equal
force 10 the form prescribed in the old law for that law
provided that contract should be made with the orgl-
nal contractors Of the drydock for keeping in this
power s night night Be- abused oontrae,ofs that those
who have obtained this contract from the general gov.
erament for the use Of the dy-dock might use that
power in such way to Cypress one portion OF the
merchant service and favor another portion should
therefore, have preferred myself that question OF tins
importance shoudha have been malurey considered before
was brought before the Senate. was not aware nnlu
the amendment offered to-day that was the inten-
on OF the senator from Pennsylvania to submit It.
would rely much upon the superior judgment OF those
who are familiar with these subjects than am.
Doing So shall vote for this amendments but, at the
same tine must confess that there are not those re-
strIctions thrown around it which, in my judgment
would be necessary order prevent abuse OF power
on the part OF the contractors. .
MIR. DAVIS MIR. President, this dock. it is said, is
larger than necessary for the OF the government
dare say il will turn out TO be true. This is what Is
called sectional DOCK have one of those
structures called sectional dock but have right
understanding of them, they built in sections which
are separate and consequently sections that are capable
OF being used separately think that will turn out, in
the end that here dock enough to be divided IN such
way that portion Of it he appropriated TO the civil
maIne and the other portion be appropriated to the use
of the government and that both branches oil the service
be accommodated by 1.-THE government prescribing
the terms upon which the portion devoted TO the civil
marine shall be employed. do not think there is any
very great difficulty in prescribing terms that shall save
The public from imposton Ter there are other modes OF
repairing vessels which be resoIed to, which are
well known and undersiood and which generally are re-
sorted 10 in OF necessity and # very exrayagan
terms demanded OF course vesses-uness mere
need of great hasiewll 90 to the old mode OF repairing
But see no difficulty. il understand and compre hend
this structure, making something like the arrangement
which suggest-an arrangement which SHAH acsommo-
date both The government and the civil marine.
Now suppose il is very desirable for the civil marine
that this dock should be brought into operation II Is
very convenient for REPAIRS because haslens that opera
ton very much. suggests that Il cannot be
used without pier. That there great deal OF incon
venence in using il without pier take TO be true bu
take il not TO be that IL cannot be used without
III
deep water where they be carried under ship aud
if proper care and proper skill exercised vessel may
be raised and carried into dock without pier. pier,
admit Is very convenient but ,ae very opepanon nave
Mr. HALE. The dock at Portsmouth is floating
and mol sectional dock
dock | had supposed il sectional one But
whether it a sectional dock not, ship-o-the. line
be taken into it without pier; and that operation
understand is now going on or has been performed, al
Portsmouth. / believe II has been done.
take it, then, that there is no insuperable obstacle TO
the OF this dock in the way which have suggested
But if the senator from California does not think that
this is necessary for the port OF San Francisco, should
be dislncllned TO press II upon them. IL seems TO me,
however, that II you cothe the Secretary oil the Navy
with power into the contract not he sees
f. and 10 enter into which shall and protect prop
erly all interests there can be no particular objection
whether il is done now or on some Other occasions but
the sooner IL is done, II seems to me, the better.
There are undoubtedly many vessels visiting Califor-
MIA that would be benefited by this dock. There are
many vessels belonging there that would be greatly ben
Gifted by H. There is a large steam marine plying be.
tween California and Panama and other ports II is mol
very convenient 10 lay down one OF these steamers oi
repairs II difficult job, and the vessel is apt 10 be in
ufed by the process Now, If they could have the
commolaon OF a dock, | have no doubt j, would be
very useful them and very convenient TO the pubc
il would give great despatch to the making oi repairs.
have no great anxiety IN regard TO THIS measure bu
Il seems 70 me reasonable enough 10 suppose that the
government may by contract indemnify itself to some
extent for the expense Of this work But IT. as said be-
fore. the senator from California does not think expe
dent, | shall not press the amendment
Mr. CASS Mr.. President, II seems TO me that there
is very easy mode OF obvIating this difficulty. ~
clear that this dock might be put TO the uses which the
honorable senator from North Carolina MIR. BADcER]
has suggested la the hands OF the contractors, unes:
guarded they might put very extrayagant terms upon the
vessels OF the commercial marine, and might forbid lhe
going in Now, 1t TO me that II is provided tha
this contract shall be made terms that shall be adyan
taaeous TO the interests OF the commercial marine, wei
as 10 the interests OF the United States, Tor which the
amendment already provides, II would be very well
with this simple addiion--the Secretary OF the Navy
would have the whole power, and then we could holt
| him responsible.
Mr. HUNTER. I understand that the senator from
Maine has such an amendment as that 10 offer.
Mr. CASS. | am glad to hear IT, 1t is idle for us Il
sit here and regulate all the details with reference TO TIM
matter We cannot understand all the details with re-
gard TO the dry.dock in California Let us refer them
TOE proper department TO examine al me Questions con
necied with the matter. Let us put the amendment II
such shape that shall protect not only the nieres
OF the United States, but also the interests OF the com
mercal marine, and not have the commercial marine m
posed upon by extravagant demands.
/ Mr.. HAMistN. | move TO amend the amendment o
the senator from Pennsylvania, BY submitting as sub
stitute for il the following
The said dock may used Cor the purpose OF repa II
ing merchant ships, when not in use by the government
manner, such pensaton, and upon such
and conditions shall be prescribed by the Secretary
the Navy"
/ Mr.. BRODHEAD | will modify my amendment b,
adopting the suggestion OF the senator from Michigan
/ Mr.. MASON. Mr. President, the amendment ofere,
BY the from Name is which has pressed itse
upon my mind in considering this question az TO h'
true mode OF disposng OF the subject take il for grant
ed that IL be the design oil senator that lease
OF government property should be placed in the hands
private individuals for purposes OF private speculation