Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-08-15


opinion that the county had or
should have the right under the spe
cifications to accept any part of any
bid, so far as funds were available,
and reject the rest; that the con-
tracts made. for the entire works are
Illegal and therefore subsequent con
tracts made from time to time for
sections Hereunder are without prop.
err or legal authority.
Chairman All-Powerful.
A criticism that this committee
has to offer to the specifications is
n matter which the engineer proba-
bly, had no control over, namely, that
| the chairman of the board has been
given entirely too much discretionary
powers and single-handed authority
in all matters pertaining to the In
depreciation of specifications, inspec-
| tion and acceptance of the work, eX-
tension of time and, in short, gem
eral control Of the work and over
| the contractor. This is particularly
criticizable when the chairman allies
himself with the contractor and be-
comes financially interested with him
in the profit and success of his un-
dertaking.
! This is not intended in any way
as a reflection upon a the intentions
and honesty Of purpose of the pres 4
ent chairman, Mr.. James ID. Lewis,
| Ian g,,h he nj itl
is wrong and that this part of the
county's public affairs is conducted in
an unbusinesslike manner and IL not
I of sufficient and proper record; that
too many matters of Importance and
public concern depend on the judg
ment, memory and private memoran.
da of one individual.
The Board OF Supervisors has from
time to time extended the authority
of the chairman with reference to
the HOnolii road work, and 1t ap-
pears to this committee that MIR.
Lewis has exercised discretionary
powers beyond those given him by
either the specifications, the board
,
by number of county officials who
are carrying more or less RESPONSE.
bility in the matter, but the ener-
getic aggressiveness of the man, Jim
Lewis, while perhaps well intended,
Is such that no one around the coun.
, ty Offices seems anxious to tread on
his toes by interposing any check
or formal protest.
The inspector on the Honolii work
is appointed by and apparently an
swerable only to the chairman. lie
is paid by the county at the rate OF
, sos per month. Upon being ques.
, toned and cross. examined by mem
Der of this committee he stated that
J he knew the work TO be honestly and
!, properly done upon the whole, and
) although he knew of some Irregular
tiles and deyiations, the most he
could do was to point them out to
, the chairman, whose decision was to
be final; that he had done this In
( the case of certain work now in
progress, but was unable to say
whether or not changes and correc-
, tions would be made.
/ In summing up, It seems to this
committee that the time for practi-
, cable objections to or criticisms of
| any public work is past when the
/ work is done, as in the case of work
I where specifications are drawn, ad-
5 yertisement made and contracts let /;
} that the only practicable way for
, your board to have definite knowl-
? edge of soundness, integrity and
2 economy OF such public works and to
0 exercise any control over them Is to
l carefully scrutinize the project and
the plans and specifications before
they are put to bid and to point out
Q objections there, II any are found;
l then to consider the value of bids
e and If they are well balanced, max
ing recommendation accordingly,
= and, finally, to make careful in
! spection of the work while 1t Is in
3 progress, pointing out any irregular
2 tiles or deyiatiOns from the plans
and specifications as they occur ana
( protest against them-in short. to
. perform or cause To he performed
= many of the functions of an engin
D eering organization,