The evening times., 1900-01-06
PORT WORKS AT MoNTEVIDEo.
Financial Commission Has Charge
of the Public ImproSement.

of the Public Improvement.
United States Minister Finch sends to
the State Department from Montevideo
copy of the bill for constructing port works
in that city, as passed by Congress and
approved by the President. The principal
changes are as follows:
The President is authorized to expend
up to s1e 500, 900 gold, taken from the
sources voted to that effect, in the eXecu-
tion of the works. The financial COM
mission in charge OF the work shall pas
the certificates issued by the technical ad
ministrative Office in gold, unless the con-
tractor accepts payment in port obliga-
tions. The commission is authorized to
negotiate the placing of the port obliga
tions within or without the country, un-
der the conditions indicated; also to pledge
up TO s.. .000, 900 of the obligations, II it is
found necessary to provide funds for the
payment of work certificates, or while
awaiting a favorable opportunity for the
placing of the bonds, or TO guarantee the
contract; all with the permission of the
Executive.
The technical administrative office may
issue provisional certificates. two thirds Of
the value OF which shall be paid by the fl
nancial commission. The provisional Ger
ttfeates shall represent the specified value
solely of the materials of certain import
ance accumulated in the country for the
port works. In this case the contractors
shall declare, on applying for the certificate,
that the materials may be acquired by the
state on the latter completing the payment.
The contractor who undertakes to carry
out the port works shall in no case have
right to he indemnified for losses or dam
ages to his installations and material, CT
whatever kind, or whatever the nature of
these losses or damages. or the causes OF
the same even in the case of their baing
produced by force majeure, or when they
do not arise from any want of foresight.
or from deficient means, or from misuse CT
those means.
Force majeure may he invoked only i'll
case of losses, damages, or pTcjudices
caused to works already executed or 10
material in stu. for extraordinary aCci-
dents the consequences of which it had not
been possible to fOrcsee and avoid. The
contractor must report these cases of force
majeure to the technical administrative Of
flee within ten days.
The assignments of revenue 10 the work
are made with the reserve that the cham
bers may authorize other financial opera
tions preferentially guaranteed by these
revenues and with exclusive application to
the port works already contracted In both
cases the product of the s. 050, 600 of port
obligations or of the loans that may be
authorized shall be entierly assigned to The
construction contract
An additional export duty of l per cent
is also imposed. to take effect November
g 1899 Minister Finch adds:
The law has defects that viii be noted
but intending bidders should not overlook
the authority given the President to modify
its provisions. The construction of a port
here is a large undertaking Probably $I5.-
0G0. coo will be expended in the accomplish
ment of the work But the Government OF
Uruguay is in earnest. and l believe the
port will be built; l also believe the con-
tractors Will be regularly and promptly
paid in accordance with the terms of their
contract
IF my information is correct. there will
be not less than 50 00O0C0 to the credit of
the port construction fund by the time the
contract is let. even should it be concluded
at tha earliest probable date after submit
ting proposals. say, four MONTHS
The department has also received a
translation of the new port law from Con-
sui SWAIN of Montevideo under date of
November H. 1899.