Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-09


the part the contractors that there sufficient
water outside the basin but there not water enough
in the sill gate of the basin to foat the dock in and
neither there sufficient water within the basin to
tain the dock with the frigate on board when there
Sir it is perfectly unnecessary and wastefu expend
money this deep basn there is
sufficient water there and shall, therefore, vote for
the amendment proposed by the Senator from Pennsy
vania but do hope that in liberay to the Pensacola
he will not propose reduction OF the appro-
priation for that yard Taking it in the gross 1t is not
perhaps equal to the estimate for permanent wharf
there and every dollar Of the appropriation be adj
vantageously expended in its construction Ii is not
equal believe to the estimate sent in by the engineers
for the continuation of that permanent wharf is the
only work ever commenced in that navyyard worthy OF
the Government which constructed it, and hope it will
be allowed to 60 on.
Mr. MALLORY. l was going on to say, when my COL
league interrupted with his word" that these
contractors were paid under the last Administration BY
ruling of the Attorney General that, although the con-
find the Dock the United States to
find the water and the United States had not found
the water and the dock there the Department paid
the 1898 000 However erroneous that ruling may be-
such is the naked fact The contractors have the money
and the dock is moored at Pensacola If the dock
get into the basin it will be as useful every other
dock and they scattered the coast from Kttery
to New Orleans This dock is universally used through
the country 1t is very useful but needs the BASIN
Mr.. TOOMBS Does the gentleman say that the dock,
with the basin and railway was ever used BY any body
but this Government? e,.a .,..#
Mr. MALLORY The dock needs basin.
Mr.. TOOMBs. l wish to know whether any body but
the Government fool enough to this dock
with the basin and railway?
Mr.. MALLORY ! say this dock is being used all over
the United States and ships locked in it while
are talking about it. ...
Mr.. TooMBs. My question is, whether it has been
used in connection with the railway and basin by any body
in the world except this Government
Mr.. MALLORY. The railway, the gentleman must
know, has connection with the dock and basin. The
railway is simply convenience to enable you to repair
IL Al 49,, A.,oa haya
ship in the dock without railway you cannot repair
than that ut time but with railway you may
repair large number at once Now the question is not
whether the basin and railway are entirely superuous
but the question for the country to determine s whether
they will abandon this dock and basin, for which they
have paid ST Oo0O whether they will make it avail
able and useful by this further expenditure.
agree with my colleague and the Senator from Penn
syvania that there features about these dock
tracts which Of approves but the contractors
have got the money and venture the opinion that
suit be brought the bonds-and almost know that
the Secretary has determined to do tit will end in
thing but we shall still have the dock hands In
stead Of allowing it deterorate why not expend this
small Of money which will make it available and use
full? 1t will enable the dock to be got into the basn and
then you it. have great regard for the opinion
of my colleague this matter but have much greater
regard for my own because have inspected ships and
DOCKS and have many ship locked in precisely
such dock this and can see asst were, before me
now the identical difficulty which is in the way.
Mr.. BENJAMIN. wish to ask the Senator from Flo
rda will this appropriation complete the work only
begin it! Will this finish the dock so that it can be
used?
Mr. MALLORY hold that this appropriation will
enable us to dock afrigate immediately and think with
out it you will be able to dock ship there at all
That is my position.
Mr.. MORTON Mr.. President, it is very seldom that
occupy the attention of the Senate but this is local
matter in which feel responsibility to my constituents
in opposing item for my State beg leave to say
q few words further. .... ".M. &s..
49, 80 fro
Pennsylvania for the simple that this deep basin
perfectly unnecessary We have the evidence OF
potent naval officers that there is sufficient depth of wa
ter at Pensacola now without any such expenditure as
this opposed to the expenditure for raising the
walls Of the dock basn for the that the board Of
officers appointed to examine and inspect it reported that
there not sufficient water within the basin to float
the dock with frigae it, and the expenditure of this
money for raising the walls Of the basin will not give you
inch the fragment Of inch additional waer in
the basin. That board, composed Of navy and army Off
and engineers reported to the that
not sufficient depth Of water in the basin, and that
the contractors had complied with the contract Now
you add to the height of the wall of the basin, you will
not get additional inch of water in that BASIN How,
then my colleague say that by raising this wall
making this basin, when you have twentyfour feet
Of water by expanding money to give you thirty forty
feet it will enable you take the dock into the basin
which has only nine feet ten inches of water over its
Every body knows that water seeks its level You
may raise wall around il high you please and it
will not add fragment Of an inch to the depth Of the
water in the BASIN
My colleague spoke of the opinion Of the Attorney
General am no lawyer, but have hesitancy in |
saying that the opinion Of the Attorney General per-
fecty correct on the case presented to him. The simple
presented to him was should the contractors or
furnish the water outside the basin to bring
the dock to the gate of the BASIN The Attorney Gene
raj unhesitatngly decided that the Government was
bound to furnish the water, had fixed the site for
the basin The Department submitted that question to
the Attorney General but there evidence that
there was sufficient outside the basin float
statement Of the contractors themselves. On that hypo
thecal case submitted to the Attorney General he gave
his opinion Subsequently,, when the Government ap-
pointed board of officers and engineers to examine into
the whole matter they reported that there sufficient
water without the gate of this basin to float the dock to
the basin, but that there nonough water the
sill of the basin and in the basin itself to float the dock
with frgate on board
Mr.. GWIN Mr.. President as the Senator from Flori-
do Mr MoRroN wishes the motion to strike out to pre-
vail of shall not object The only effect is to
render it impossible for the Government ever to repair
ship at his navy yard, to this dock in any way
whatever That however, is local matter, for the
sideration of the honorable Senator and his State
Mr.. MORTON. You will never repair vessel with
the dock.
Mr.. GWIN That is the Senator's opinion. The Soma
has been led into in regard the insucency
Of the dock and the violation Of the contract by the
port Of the board Of officers to which he has often
ferred Now undertake to say that that report is as
completely cut to pieces by the Of the contractors
any document in the history Of this country
and ii the Senator from Florida and the Senator from
Pennsylvania will withdraw their objections to the publ
cation Of that document shall both sides without
having long speeches the subject. This morning
proposed to discharge the committee and have that do
published that might the other side Of the