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

CUISeu Inem 10 CnanSe the Nn0le
structure Of the dock from the original
system to one OF pi!ing ami concrete,
! MIR. Nardaman-This increase q
cost. then. is not due to any default
On the part of the contractors?
Mir. Iodge-None whatever. This
is the limit CT cost recommended by
the department as the closest estimate
CT cost they can make
Mr.. Vardaman-I notice that in 1908
the limit was $2.OO0.OOO. and it has
been increased several times since
that time
/ Mr.. Ledge think the limit of cost
has been increased three or four times.
/ Mr. Vardaman-In 1908 it was s.
zoo, 900; in 1910, $2.700,000; in 1912 it
was further increased to $3.4S6. 500;
! and now it is sought to increase it to
81 1886. 500. 1t 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 its best engineering expert,
Mr.. Harris, there to ascertain what
the trouble was with the dfy 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 it
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 SUBJ
mitted to the attorney-general whether
the contract with the builders required
that the dock should be such that it
would be available fer the use desired
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 l 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.
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 will not be
CT much use to US, on account OF the
condition of the foundation and other
wise. and to complete it so that it 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 in
the size of the docks. Il
MI 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 it was
finished.
Mr.. Swanson-The senator must rec.
ollect that, while it is very difficult
to get a 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 it
was 100000, then $2,700,000, then
three million and something. and now
it is $4,900,000 1t seems to me to in
dictate the most glaring incompetency
or carelessness.
Mr.. swanson. II In6 senator VIII
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 economically, aud that the diff
culties surrounding them have been
very we'll met, and as economically as
it could have been. They had to stop
very frequently en- account CT difficult
ties that were encountered. Every
body knows that Hawaii is the most
important place of all in the Pacific
for dock. 1t is Our outpost in the Pa
cifiC
Mr.. Vardaman. appreciate that;
but it seems that every expert, every
man We have sent there, has changed
the plans and has increased the fig
ures-first $2,OOO.0O0. and then on w
to nearly $5,0OO,00O.
Mr.. Lodge. Mr.. President, if the
senator will allow me, there has been
or lost thorn