Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-25

obliged them to change the whole
structure of the dock from the original
system to one of piiiag AMI concrete
MIR. Nardaman-This increase OF
cost, then. is not due to any default
On the part of the contractors?
j Mir. Lodge-None whatever. This
is the limit CT cost recommended by
the department as the closest estimate
CT cost they can make.
MIR Vardaman-l notice that in 1905
the limit was 100000, and it has
been Increased several times since
, that time.
Mr. Lodge think the limit Of cost
has been increased three or four times,
Mr.. Vardaman-In 1908 II was 81
100000; in 1910. S2.700,000; in 1912 II
was further increased to sass, 500;
/ and now it is sought to increase II to
1886 500 It seems that somebody
is doing some very inaccurate calcu-
lating on this work.
Mr.. Swanson-If the senator will
permit me, the trouble arose in this
way: The department ascertained
that there were some difficulties in
connection with the construction.
They had agreed with this construc'
ticn company to have the work done
according to certain plans and specifi
cations. When the difficulties arose
in connection with the foundations
and other matters the navy depart
ment sent it's best engineering expert,
Mr.. Harris, there to ascertain what
the trouble was with the dry dock, and
what should be done. After going
there he recommended these new
plans as the best and most available
that could be made for a dry dock
there. We are compelled to have one
there, as it is our Pacific outpost
Mr. Vardaman-I understand the
necessity for dry dock there; but 1t
has occurred to me that every time
we send a man there he changes the
plans.
Mr. Swanson-If the senator will
permit me, then the question was sub
mitted to the encouragement whether
the contract with the builders REQUIRED
that the dock should be such that it
would be available for the use desire1
by the navy After discussing and
looking into the contract that had
been made the encouragement said
that we could compel them to COM
plete the dry dock according to the
original plans and specifications, but
that there was no liability on their
part to see that the dock was capable
of use by the department as they de.
sired. After that. as / understand,
the contractors and the navy depart
ment decided that they would adopt
the plans recommended by Engineer
Harris, who is the finest expert that
the navy department has. Is u
All this amendment does is to au-
thorize the department to change the
plans. to compromise with the people
who were building the dock, according
to the other plans, which viii not be
CT much use to US, on account OF the
condition of the foundation and other
wise, and to complete it so that 1t will
be of use when completed.
Mr.. Vardaman-How much money
has been squandered On it?
Mr.. Swanson-None has been squan.
dered. AS our battleships increase ip
size, it necessttates an increase In
the size of the docks. . r
Mr.. Vardaman-But 1t seems to me
the navy department should have ia,
ken into consideration the probability
of enlarging the battleships, and
should not have constructed dock
that would be worthless before 1t was
finished.
Mr.. Swanson-The senator must rec
ollect that, while it is very difficult
to get dry dock there, it Is of the ut
nest importance that we should have
one
Mr.. Vardaman-I appreciate that
very fully.
Mr.. Swanson-As you do your work.
you are disappointed in the founda-
ton, you are disappointed in the ply.
steal conditions, and consequently you
have to change your plans and speci-
fications to some extent. > ..,....
Mr. Vardaman-But it seems that
every man we have sent there has
submitted a different plan. First 1t
was $2,O00,00O, then $2,700,000, then
three million and something. and now
it Is $4,900,000. 1t seems to me to III
dictate the most glazing incompetency
or carelessness.
Mr.. Swanson. If the senator will
read the hearings, in which the mat
ter was thoroughly investigated by the
House Committee on Naval Affairs,
and the correspondence between the
different officials, he will beconvinced
that the government has acted wisely
and economicaIly and that the diff