Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-27
&c. Morgan, on Whose Figures
Supt. Forbes Contradicted
Contractor Lord, Admits a
FaIsehood and Resigns
DENIES PIER iMPERILLED
BY 5-IMCH WALL BULGE
Movement Caused BY Pumping
of Soft Fiji Before Braces
Placed in Front of Structure;
Board to Authoroize Investi-
cation BY Impartial Experts


That now famous session Of the
harbor board on December 20. when
superintendent Of Public Works
Forbes and Contractor Ed Lord freely
passed the "short and ugly word"-to-
wit, "iie"-has q sequel this after
noon.
The harhor board has before il a
signed statement from J. e. Morgan,
territorial inspector, Ir which Morgan
admits that he told a falsenood con-
Corning conditions on Piers 8, 9 and
1o--the bone Of contention at the De-
een,ber 20 meeting.
And II was on Morpsn's statement
concerning the condition OF vail Of
Pier that Forbes had taken his stand
IN direct contradiction TO Lord OF the
lord-Young Engineering Company.
Lord maintained that the wall had
bulged out five inches. Forbes denied
II. Later Forbes, Morgan and other
engineers of the eepartmer. went 10
the pier under construction and inves.
tigated FORBES reiterated his denial
Morgan now admits his own false
hood and tenders his resignation, but
declares his belief that the pier is
safe, although II has bulced.
Forbes left for Nhf mainland yes
terday. The Star-BuIletin learned
from members of the harbor board
this morning that he was informed of
A0tganis admissio.i before sailing.
Morgan's statement Is dated Deceni.
Der 2t Members OF the board hold
that Forbes Is not to blame for the
nosition in which his department has
been put, and that he is the victim OF
lie told by an engineer he trusted.
Morgan's statement brings up a.
new feature. II is this:
The bulging in the wall was caused.
IL is alleged. by the. contractor put
ting in soft hydraulic "fiil" back of
the wall before its front was properly
hraced by cylinders and the deck.
Who is to blame for allowing the con-
tractor to do this is question still
TO be discussed. though harbor board
members do not hold the superinten-
dent of works responsible.
Morgan's falsehood is thought to be
the result of making a blunder to
which he afterwards stuck, refusing
to admit a mistake. Just how he
made the original blunder is not
known.
Morgan's confession was made first
TO Charles r. Forbes. superintendent
OF public works. and Wilbur c.. Wood
ward assistant, being given orally to
them last Sunday. Later Morgan |
wrote out his statement and the cous
mission held an executive session last |
night to consider II. II was decided |
to have II read in the public meeting |
this afternoon, the session being call. |
ed for 1850 o'clock.
Three prominent engineers will be !
appointed now to Judge the wharf. in.
stead OF committee of two chosen
by the board and by the contractors. !
A member OF the harbor board said |
today:
I'VE do not believe the stability or
safety of the pier is menaced by this
bulge and We believe the movement |
has stopped. Nevertheless, the board |
is spending public funds and we pro-
pose to have an entirely impartial |
body of expert engineers pass on the /
subject. We shall get the three best
men available and let them make a
thorough. examination"
IL is doubtful II Morgan's resigna-
tion viii be aecepted-more likely
that he will be discharged outright
from the employ OF the territory. He
has been In service under the harbor
board for several years.
The letter read this afternoon bears i
out contentious CT Ed Lord and his
assistants for the past week to the
effect that the wall OF Pier 9 has
gone out in some places as much as
five inches Morgan stoutly denied
these contentious face to face with
Lords head carpenter last Saturday,
reading from his field book the fig.
ures which he now admits are untrue.
Engineer Morgan's statement. con.
tanning his resignation, is as follows:
Honolulu, December "a. 1916.
'Board )f Harbor Commissioners, Ter
ritory OF Hawaii
Gentlemen: | must confess to YOU
that | did not tell the truth when
stated that the points on Pier 8 bulk
head were all true to center. There
10 no doubt but what the buIkhead
worked sideways four or five inches.
Ny weak excuse for telling you
this untruth is the fact that Mr.. Lord
Informed the board that the bulkhead
was out four or five inches just re-
cently and only to discredit the de.
sign and in an entire spirit of animos-
ty towards all men connected with
fContinued ON mage threel