An Act Authorizing the Construction of a Fourteen-Hundred-Ton Marine Railway and Repair Shops on Engineer Island, and Authorizing the Expenditure of the Sum of One Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars, United States Currency, therefor

June 1, 1903

ACT NO. 788

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOURTEEN-HUNDRED-TON MARINE RAILWAY AND REPAIR SHOPS ON ENGINEER ISLAND, AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, UNITED STATES CURRENCY, THEREFOR

SECTION 1. The effective service of the Coast Guard boats requiring that some adequate place be prepared where they can be properly docked and repaired, the Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation is hereby authorized to have constructed, under his direction, a fourteen-hundred-ton marine railway, with the necessary machine or repair shops, for the use of the Coast Guard vessels and other vessels belonging to the Insular Government. Said marine railway shall be located on the small island known as Engineer Island, lying immediately south of the Pasig River between the canal leading from the Pasig River to what is known as the Inner Basin and the west breakwater in Manila Bay, in accordance with the plans to be furnished by the Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation and approved by the Secretary of Commerce and Police.

SECTION 2. Such part of Engineer Island as is necessary for the use of the Coast Guard fleet and for the construction of the marine railway and repair shops as authorized by this Act is hereby assigned, subject to regulations by the Secretary of Commerce and Police, to the Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation, together with all the wharfage front about the island and the anchorage space in what is known as the Inner Basin and inside of a line drawn from the southeast corner of Engineer Island to the end of the pier on which the breakwater light is now located, and also the canal leading to the proposed marine railway, with the necessary entrance thereto.

SECTION 3. The Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation in constructing said marine railway shall procure the building of same and of the repair shop as far as practicable by contract or contracts by private individuals or corporations. Advertisements for bids for doing such work shall be inserted for at least ten days in at least two newspapers of general circulation published in the city of Manila, one of which shall be published in the English language, and one in the Spanish language, and contracts for performing the work shall be awarded to the lowest bidder or bidders, except as hereinafter provided. At the time and place fixed in the advertisement all bids for doing the work or parts thereof shall be opened by the Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation, who shall award the contract for doing the same to the lowest responsible bidder, provided the Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation deems the bid reasonable. If he considers the lowest responsible bid to be excessive, he is hereby authorized to reject same and may again advertise one or more times for new bids and open the same and award the contract, as in the first instance, to the lowest responsible bidder, if in his judgment the same is reasonable, and if not, he shall reject same: Provided, however, That after one advertisement without obtaining a satisfactory bid the Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation, if he considers it more economical and advantageous to the public interest, shall report the fact to the Secretary of Commerce and Police, who shall, if he deems further advertising undesirable, order the work done directly by the Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation, under such rules as the Secretary of Commerce and Police may establish for the employment of labor, and other details: Provided further, That the amount contracted for or expended under this section shall not exceed one hundred and forty thousand dollars in money of the United States: And provided further, That no bid shall be accepted or contract concluded without the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Police.

The provisions of subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), (q), (r), and (s) of section five of Act Numbered Twenty-two, entitled "An Act appropriating one million dollars, in money of the United States, for improving the port of Manila," shall be observed by the Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation and shall be applicable to all bids and contracts hereunder. In all cases where the Chief of Coast Guard and Transportation shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, find it necessary or advantageous to purchase material or machinery, such purchase or purchases shall be made through the Insular Purchasing Agent unless otherwise directed by the Civil Governor.

SECTION 4. The public good requiring the speedy enactment of this bill, the passage of the same is hereby expedited in accordance with section two of "An Act prescribing the order of procedure by the Commission by the enactment of laws," passed September twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred. CAIHTE

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on its passage.

ENACTED, June 1, 1903.