The Eight-Hour Law Scuttles a Navy Yard Bid
A Seattle contractor's low bid for the new Port Orchard dry dock is thrown out by federal officials because of changing labor regulations.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Secretary of the Navy Tracy and his department gave considerable time today to the Port Orchard, Washington, dry dock question. It was practically decided to readvertise for bids for the building of this dock. The new eight-hour law is the cause of all the trouble. Matthew Brannagan, of Seattle, and other bidders submitted prices based on the stipulation that they could work their men night and day. The department now finds it necessary to throw out all the old bids and advertise for new ones, delaying construction and causing dissatisfaction for the lowest bidder, who objected to having his price exposed in a way that allows competitors a chance to underbid him. The navy department officials profess to believe it is a lucky thing for Mr. Brannagan that he must readvertise, as they doubt he could have completed the work at his bid of $418,000 when the estimate was over $600,000.
“The department now finds it necessary to throw out all the old bids and advertise for new ones, delaying the construction of the dock.”
This reflects the ongoing friction between federal labor standards and local contracting practices, a tension still visible in modern infrastructure projects and public works procurement in the Puget Sound region.
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