Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-07-29
WHERE RESPONSIBILITY LIES

Sups rintendent Ct Public Works Caldwell
takes the position that he is not responsible fol
the armory construction until the building is
completed, when he must approve or reject it
He takes the position that inasmuch as the SUI
peryising architects are employed for fee to
oversee the construction, he has nothing to dc
with the progress of the work. aud no response
bility for it.
In this way Mr.. Caldwell answers queries
that have arisen since steel truss fell last week
and dashed Gus Anderson to death.
In this way Mr.. Caldwell answers queries as
to the safety of the structure, as to the wisdom
Of the method of construction used.
The Star Bulletin publishes today an opinion
written by former attorney general to a former
superintendent declaring that notwithstanding
the employment of a supervising architect, the
superintendent of public works is responsible for
such job as the armory both during its con.
struction and after its completion. Here is what
the opinion says:
ssYou are charged as a matter of law with the
general superintendent and management of all
internal improvements in the territory. Such
responsibility You cannot delegate, NOR can you
relieve yourself by the employment of an archi
tect or any other officer or agent, from this gen
efal duty to see to it that the internal improve
ments in the territory are made strictly in ac-
cordance with contracts executed for such pur,
poses, and for the general benefit of the terri.
tory.
ct therefore folIo,cs from these general con-
alterations, as iceH as romfhe fact that no mon
fg can be paid out upon this aeork ercept after
gour approval, that the siltimdfcsc of this
,cork rests irith you, together icith a duty on
Donr part to compel its faithful performance
Ultimately, therefore, the superintendent, the
representative of the territory-of the public
is responsible for the armory work.
What the Star Bulletin objects to in this ar
mory job is that the superintendent office did
not know of the discussion going on between
architects and contractors, involving the very
serious question of the safety of the construc-
ton
Furthermore, another thing that stands out
in significant prominence Is that the sub-con-
tractors who took the el-erection job were al
lowed to proceed in reckless manner That
their course is reckless is not only the opinion of
THIS paper, IL II tut OplulOn Vi rfOl d. M 1ouIS,
the steel expert to whom was originally referred
the question of construction methods. The Star
Bulletin publishes today a brief statement from
Mr. Young showing that the erection of the steel
was carried on recklessly and without sufficient
safeguards.
And here one gets back to the fundamental
facts that. under the law the superintendent of
public works is responsible for the construction
Of the armory and if the work is being done reck-
lessly, he should know it.
The point is deeper than the loss of a few
steel trusses or even the loss of mans life 1t
is the point that a change is needed in the sys-
icm
Gus Anderson very likely courted death in the
daredevil manner of many steel workers Very
possibly the fall of the truss had nothing to dc
with the strength of the steel. But the fall of
the truss and the death of Gus Anderson have
brought out facts behind the armory construc-
ton work that the territorial officials can hard
ly afford to overlook.
The public, the people Of the territory, must
have better protection SO long as the responsible
ity for the carrying out of internal improve
nents rests so clearly with the territory's repre-
sentative.
.ur .r,,