Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-27
J.G. Morgan, on Whose Figures
Supt. Forbes Contradicted
Contractor Lord. Admits a
FaIsehood and Resigns
DENIES PIER lMPERILLED
BY SINGH WALL BULGE
Movement Caused BY Pumping
of Soft Fill Before Braces
Placed in Front of Structure;
Board to Authproize Inyesti-
cation BY Impartial Experts

cation BY Impartial Expert:
The board Of harbor commissioners
this afternoon voted TO discharge dis
honorabIy J. c. Morgan, territorial In
spector, who confesses to making
false statements as TO pier construc
tion work. Members Of the board in.
dividusIIy expressed themselves as
emphatieaIIy against Morean's action
The board also decided to appoint
special investigation board Of three
experts, connected neither with the
contractor nor the territory, to 90 thor
ouqhIy into conditions on Piers 6,
ard 10. Commissioner Mcclellan ex-
pressed the opinion Of the harbor
board by declaring, I'VE want to 90
clear to the bottom Of things"
That now famous session Of the
harbor board on December 20. when
Superintendent Of Public Works
Forbes and Contractor Ed Lord freely
passed the "shoft and ugly word"-to-
wit, ''Iie"-had . sequel this after
noon.
The harbor board had before II .
signed statement from }. G. Morgan,
territorial Inspector, " which Morgan
admits that he told falsehood con-
cernin1 conditions on Piers 8, and
1o-the bone OF contention at the De-
cember 20 meeting.
And II Was on Morgsn's statement
concerning the condition Of wall Of
Pier 9 that Forbes has. taken his stand
IL dfr@~k r~.&~-Al~kf~. &a 4 49, 80 A.
Lord-young Engineering Company.
Lord maintained that the wall had
bulged out five inches. Forbes denied
IL. Later Forbes. Morgan and other
engineers of the 6spartmen. went 10
the pier under construction and inyes-
tlgated. 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 It has bulged.
Forbes left for Vie mainland yes
terday The Star-Bulletin learned
from members of the harbor board
this morning that he was informed of
Morgan's admission before sailing.
Morgan's statement is dated Decem-
Der "a. Members of the board hold
that Forbes. is not to blame for the
position in which his department has
been put. and that he is the victim OF
q lie told by an engineer he trusted.
Mcrgan's statement brings up a
new feature. IT is this:
The bulgipg in the wall was caused,
it is alleged. by the contractor put
ting In a soft hydraulic "fill" back OF
the wall before its front was properly
braced by cylinders and the r'deck
Who is to blame for allowing the con-
tractor to do this is a question still
to be discussed. though harber 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 G. Wood
ward. assistant. being given orally to
them last Sunday. Later Morgan
wrote out his statement and the COM
held an executive session last
night to consider it. 1t was decided
10 have il read in the public meeting
this afternoon. the session being call
ed for 1880 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;
"We 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"
The letter read this afternoon bears
out contentious OF Ed Lord and his
assistants for the past week to the
effect that the wall of Pier 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.
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 of Harbor Commissioners, Ter
ritory of Hawaii.
Gentlemen: | must confess to you
that | did not tell the truth when L
stated that the points on Pier bulk
head were all true to center. There
is no doubt but what the bulkhead