National Republican., 1884-04-10
Congress and the National Defense.

refuse to appropriate from an ample revenue
the money necessary to carry on the re-
construction of the navy are good deal
more in earnest about making campaign
capital than providing for the common de.
fense and the general welfare The need of
an efficient naval force is acknowledged by
everybody. The ridiculous feebleness of the
present establishment, whether considered
by itself or with reference 10 our extensive
seacoast and our unprotected cities is patent
not only to ourselves but to tho world. The
country wants stronger navy, and wants
it now. To refuse the means for its recon-
struction is TO sacrifice the national interest,
and possibly the national safety, for a small
party advantage.
1t Is n question, however, whether this line
of action will bring with it a party advantage.
A policy of false economy, by which essential
measures of national defense are put off, is
likely to be campaign gun whose recoil
does more damage than tho projectile. For
a refusal to accedo to popular demand and
to meet o pressing necessity some reason
must be given besides the mere exigencies of
the party during the coming struggle. Tho
contradictory pretexts upon which inaction
is defended will not bear examination, and
are unworthy Of party which claims to have
at heart the national welfare. When it is
said that tho money expended in the con-
struction of new vessels in the navy yards
will bo used for political purposes, and in the
same breath that the work will be done by
contract for the sole benefit of John Roach,
the objections negative each other.
The present administration of the navy
department has now been on trial for nearly
two years. Its views of naval policy have
been expressed with adistinctness that leaves
no room for doubt or uncertainty. Its acts
are not done in q corner, and its methods are
known to all men who choose to examine
them. Although its views touch questions
upon which there is room for difference of
opinion, it is safe to say that in general they
have received tho emphatic Endorsement of
able critics in the service and out of it..
About the integrity and businesslike char
acter of its acts and its methods no question
has been or can be raised. 1t cannot, there
fore, be said that a want of administrative
capacity or fidelity in the management of the
department is made the basis of cutting Off
the necnsaarv annronriatiopa
As to the construction of vessels in the
navy yards the department has taken a
decided stand. In his last annual report the
secretary made the statement that, supposing
1t to be desirable that the government should
possess shops fitted for making necessary
repairs, 'it is due to truth to declare that the
government repair shops under the present
system ought not to be intrusted with them
What is true of repairs is all the more
strongly true of new construction. All that
the yards could do in any case on the hulls oi
new vessels would be to put together the
steel plates that were contracted for outside
and even for this work the chief constructor
iCpplbo bhhp Iho pihhO tAuob pO ihSAShSSt
at considerable cost.
The use of the yards for political purpose
being out of the question, there remains tn,
| cry about John Roach. We call it cry ad
visedly, because it is nothing else. Not
single specific charge or allegation has beeI
made in reference to the action Of tho nav,
| 4 eli VI. nh
tanned his contract, and it is safe to say tina
none will be made. Tho whole transaction
is as clear and open as daylight can make il
Thirteen shipbuilding firms presented tn
dc partment with evidence of their ability t
do the work. When the proposals for build
ing the cruisers were opened, after every pro
vision of law had been complied with, it wa
found that eight Of these firms had mad
offers, and tho contract for eacl
vessel in accordance with the law
was awarded to the lowest bidder
The second lowest bidder was the firm O
William Cramp & Sons of Philadelphia
| the aggregate of whose bids on all tho vessel
was $3l5OOO more than those of Mr.. Roacl
The quality of steel to be used in the vessel
was prescribed by the law, and as no steel {
of this quality had ever been mado here i
large quantities there was an element {
uncertainty about its cost. 1t was in esti
mating the cost of this material at lowe
rate that Mr.. Roach underbid his seven CON
petitors, and the result shows that hi
| Judgment of the conditions of this ne'
manufacture was superior to theirs. No
that it has been discovered that tho stee
required can be manufactured at cents
pound instead Oft cents, as tho Cramps ant
other bidders supposed, they would doubles
be glad to mako offers at Mr.. Roach's figure
His success is wholly the result Of superio
knowledge of the business.
In view of these facts, which cannot b
controverted, the insinuatiOns and sneel
about Mr.. Roach's obtaining the contract
are evidently based upon nothing but a desiI
to throw dust in the eyes of the public an
make it believe that a reason exists at thi
time for sacrificing the interests of the nav
and of the country, which depends on tn
navy for its defense. The feeling Of jealous
abroad at the progress of the United State
of which we arc daily receiving new ey
dence is meantime being focused, while th
J house of representatives sits still and will
holds appropriations Some day, and tina