The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-25
CAPT. LEYSGOSTLY YJAGDOCK MAY Be ENIONED
CONTRACTORS CLAIM BOYD rs
SUED CLOSE CONTRACT.
Injunction Likely 10 be Issued stopping
Cotton Brothers-No Bids We're Call
ed For.

There is a possibility, If not a prob
ability. that work on the new wharf
which is being built by Cotton Pros,
at the Eva end of the harbOr for the
accommodation of the big steamers
which, consigned to Hackfeld ana Com
pany, viii soon be coming to Honolulu;
will be interefered with by an iniunc-
ton brought at the instance Of certain
local contractors for government and
public works.
The matter is one that involves a
large amount of money, some Sl50.0O0 TO
5000 600, and consists of various kinds Of
work. dredging pile driving and the diff
ferent branches Of wharf building
The contractors who are murmuring
at the present status Of affairs are ag-
grieved because they claim not. to have
been allowed an opportunity Of bidding
on the whole or individual portions Of
the work.
1t is said among them that the Gov
ernment represented by the Superin-
teudent of of Public Works, has in ef-
feet given Cotton Brothers a contract to
build the wharf and has instructed
them to proceed with the work with
OUT opening the deal for bids according
to law 1t is claimed that Hackfeld and
Company are supplying the wherewith-
al for the labor and the lumber. the lat
ter being already stacked on the banks
Of the Nuuanu stream. Cotton Brothers
II Is stated. will get commission upon
the total cost for directing the work and
here IL is claimed that money is being
lost to the people of the Territory.
Large amounts of money have been
made on the coast by managing con-
tractors getting a percentage on the
pay roll, which is often artistically
treated to enlarge the said percentage.
The local contractors are practically
determined not to allow Cotton Bros.
to secure such juicy plum without the
others having their due opportunity to
try for It. In emergency cases, II ds
claimed. the Government may only give
out work without bids to the amount Of
$500. This matter. it is claimed is not
an emergency case as the new ships
will not be ready for docking in Homo
lulu for almost two years and Hack
field and Company have several years
yet to run on their lease Of the railroad
wharf. Neither of course, is the con-
tract anywhere near the limit of $500.
The contention Is that Cotton Bros.
have been allotted the direction Of the
bIildinR. and the profit therepu,-sQpt, of
favoritism and Illegally. The firm sup
plying the sinews Of money for the erec-
ton, are ii is supposed depending on
the next legislature to make an appro-
priation for the work, to get back the
money they are advancing. But by
that time the work will have been long
completed without it Is claimed the
legal bids having been called for.
Superintendent Boyd is at present
absent from the city" said a prominent
contractor this morning, but when he
comes back there will be several of us
asking for an explanation of this dis
posal of so great an amount Of the
public funds without giving the cit-
zens the rights of gaining money on the
lower sums always induced by public
bids The evasion of such a matter is
distinctly illegal"
The law, as enacted by the last legis-
latu@e, reads as follows. Act 4. Section
8. All and every expenditure for con-
structing or repairing public works
amounting to $500 and for furnishing
material, provisions and other supplies,
shall be awarded only upon public ad-
vertisement for tenders; and no public
work material or supplies shall be di-
Vded or parcelled out for the purpose
of evading the provisions of this sec
ton" This section as it stands does not
even except emergency cases and places
the limit for them under the five hun
dred dollar mark.