The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-06-26
R|VERMlL[HAS
BIG ARMY
WORK

(rrom wednesday Advertiser.l

I
partment quartormastor OF the Hawaii.
an Department OF the United States
Army, announced yesterday afternoon
that the contract for this construction
of the addition 70 the department hos
pitai at fort Shatter had been let to
the River Mill Company, Chinese con
Germ headed by Chang Chan. Satisfge-
tory bonds in the-sum Of fifty per cent
OF the contract price were furnished
The further stipulation was made that
work should be commenced on June 25
and must Do completed in 800 DAYS,
excluding Sundays and holidays. No
allowance is made for unfayorable
weather or other conditions. Colonel
Chcatham declares this time should be
more than ample and that such lengthy
period was allowed because Of Difficult.
ties which the Army has experienced In
the past Of securing plumbing fixtures
from the Coast.
Six Buildings.
The contract calls for the erection OF
six now buildings and the installation
Of all electric wiring and plumbing fix
lures, the buildings to be covered with
wood shingles. The bid OF the River
Mill Company, on which the contract
award was made, is $l14,0TS. The
next lowest bid was that of the Lord.
Young Engineering Company, which
bid SllS,lUl for the same work. Est.
mates were also asked for the covering
of the buildings with asbestos shingles.
With this added, the bid of the River
Mill Company was Sl1S.930 and that Of
the Lord Young Company $l22,046. On
considering the bids and the added cost
Colonel Chatham decided to eliminate
the asbestos shingles.
According to the terms Of the con-
tract the Chinese concern is held to pay
the penalty of all expenses incurred BY
the war department. in case the con
struetion work takes longer time than
800 days. jG
ONO Alternative.
'The question OF whether labot .ons
sonstruetiodr work for the federal gov.
eminent should be restricted to citizens
IL not a nHw one. II has been eonsid-
cred number of times heretofore, and
a specific rnling made thereon by the
Secretary Of War, in connection with a
ease arising in Honolulu, not long
since, " said Colonel b. Frank Cheat.
ham, chiefie quartermaster
for the Department of Hawaii, to an
Advertiser representative yesterday.
Tenders were abont to he called fos
certain construction work in Honolulu
and it was proposed to insert therein a
clause to the effect that only citizens,
or those who had applied for naturali.
zntiou, should be eligible to take or per.
form contract.
Ruling by Secretary Of War.
1T being questioned whether or not
the Quartermaster' Department had
the authority to insert such a clause in
the call for tenders, the question was re-
ferrcd to the secretary of war, who in
turn referred il to the Judge Advocate
General, who rendered q legal opinion
that, there Being no law authorizing
such a restriction, it would be Illegal to
insert il in the call for tenders. 1
Upon such opinion the Secretary Of
War ruled. aud instructed, the Quarter,
masters Department in Hawaii, that
there was no authority TO restrict con
tractors or laborers upon army work to
citizens. -, t.s ., ~. ,.s.a. -.
Exception Work On Fortifcations.
90 An exception ito this rule is that,
on grounds OF public policy, in certain
cases, the Secretary of War is permitted
to restrict contractors or labOrers to
citizens. In the exercise OF this dis
crction, the Secretary OF War has an
thorIzed the exclusion of aliens from
doing work on Notifications, and that
is done.
81 do not know of the restriction
having been extended TO any work un.
der the control of the army engineers or
Of the Navy. Both departments are en-,
tirely distinct from and independent Of
the Qnartermaster' 8 Department Of the
Army. 70.
- Under these circumstances | am
not permitted 10 receive or TO consider
any tender made by an alien.
Military Hospital Tenders.
"In the matter of the tenders for ad.
dltions to the Army Hospital at Fort
Shafter, now pending, an alien, China.
man, hes flcd a tender, which is the
lowest.
81 know him to be financially respon-
sihlc and able TO do the work satisfae-
tOrily.
AS rule, tonders are more or less
defective, SO that they can be ruled out
on the technitHlitg that they are not in
compliance with the cali for tenders. In
his case the tender is one of the most
perfect that ever saw. II complies In
every respect with all requirements.
There Is no technical or practical
reason why ! should not accept this ten.
der unless IL should be rejected for the
public noliey reason that the tendorer
is an alien. & - ,,.s
ON this PORT, the ruling above re-
fcrr"d 10 is conclusive upop me. have
no discretion il the matter, .".s.E ~
Question of Public Policy,
Upon the broad question of public
policy | have no fault to find with the
Question raised or the position taken by
The Advertisers but ! do not wish to
interfere in what is not my business.