New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-08
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
TIE CRUISER CONTRACTS FORFEITED.

THE GOVERNMENT To COMPLETE THE CHICAGO,
BOSTON AND ATLANTA IN MR. RoACHs YARD.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-Secretary whitney
the following letter yesterday 10 John Roach ana
assgnees and the contract for the steer
cruiser Chicago:
BY the 9TH clause Of contract with the United
States dated July 20, 1888 for the CONSTRUCTION OF one
steel cruiser about 1900 tons displacement was
a-rce,i that the hull machinery and htings OF sucn
vessel should be completed and really for Inspection lot
the purpose OF delivery or before the expiration vi
eighteen months from the date OF the contract, i.
further provided In the eleventh clause that III case %
the failure omission Of the contractor at any stg9 Oh
the work prior TO na completion from any cause o'n
Navy. to go forward with the work and
snaSl be- opsoDaI with the seersarr to declare
tract forfeited More than six months have now ehPscu
upon The vessel has been stopped while mncn r1. ,h
to be done before she can finally be completed Az te
the vessel In question known as the Chicago to be- com
petcd with al practicable speed and t has Therefore
aud definite action looking 10 that end Under these
circumstances. and IN consequence ~ me failure OF lno
contr icors tn proceed with the work. nave to nioi
that the contract above referred to Is hereby de
cred TO be FORT tied on the part OF the contractors a
especially under the llth, 18th ami l3thci-n-es hceo,
are now operative You are further Informed tnaI II ~
the intention ot the Department after the inventory a
apraiscuct shall have been had TO take steps ior te
prosecution OF tho work and the com eilo o. ae -,
the and that In the mean line tle cneIN OF ~"
Bureaus OF steam Engineering and Construction and Re
par of this Department. will iaks Charge OF the vessel
machinery. materials and fittings.
Similar letters also u regard tn the Atlanta
and and order issued TO tho chiefs Of GER
tain bureaus take charge OF the WORK In issuing the
order Secretary Whitney says:
The order ssued toay with reference to the Boston.
Atlanta aud chicago Ia male III pursuance or my duties
the th clause OF the contract. Under tai section
there l. 10 inventory showing 10 what poiut OF
complexion tue vessels have come. aud what material Is
hand m the contractors yard which has been pro.
vdc Tor the ships and how Tar the work has progressed
10 he followed ny valu alton Of these things, Inrre II
wh.tncr To complete tue ships. As iAr matter now
stands there ." n" question OF my duty To Z" on 'nd 40
thi-. and II Incidental bene. OF ca rise. to thr
contractor ana To his erp "y yes me Government steps
n q Inc yard tiAes possession Of the sps the plant
cic ana pay for the co nplctOn. an Then ma an ac
counting with the contractor AT the end aud II thcre Il
Any pro- tn contractor nIs II. and II there Is ans loss
h. ais ~ the rcius having the supervision OF
The wprx 10 se tao colrAto force an his plant Tor
the purpose.
Secretary Whitney charactcrizes "a ridiculous the
statement male IN a special dispatch published In
Philadelphia paper to-day that rons icrlbl' dsa,'iac-
ton exists naval Olcers ~ the partisan ma mar
in which the Secretary administers the affairs OF the
Navy Department. special point wa' male IA the dis
patch tn4l tbs Do.rd which nd 10 the verse re?or'
UPON tue Dolphin was connDtei oil two y 'mOcratS
QIcrmau Water anl ClpLdu iInlkiaD aud an enemy oil
cx-ccre;ary Chandler Commander soblcy D. Eyaas and
wa, organized 10 condemn vessel brus secre AIRY
Chambers administration Into disr'put;. To "A STIR
reporter Secretary whitney si thai II aay orc coui
tell how OF th,t board voted. or II they
voted 10 All. he cou not Mr. Herman Winter. H. said.
s,cctc becau bee - the most eminent IN N In his
profession Ia civi he Ia ,hs country. lie
makes more money at his profession than any
other two men. II difficult
matter secure his services. which were gwen Tor "a
sake ~ ineisnp. Mr. Winter rcinirs 10 send IN bill
for ti-n. tn her iuChb-rS of the Board were 80
.cc ell brclu-" thcJ w.r tle very best qhiiH" naval
Officers VIII, ava liable. Politics had nDthng what
ever to dO With he niattrr.
vel Know II va on or IA speaking Of the article
-ad lhrrr s no sucu continent among naval officers
They have Ne politics. aud not one IA hundred N"tra
Tue e x.ii nation Ol lhr Doptin was purely busnrss
natter ~ secretary called upou to accept or Re-
under tho nirrrtOn 81 his pre- ecrSsor
Iir knew uothing about IT, naturally wanted 10 know
II she Was built according To contract aud II nO who
was 10 blame Inc examination alleged numerous de
frct. aul the rsId utly upou tue shoulders
IA crultut- tu-p csOrs. II tIr secretary WAS
I4-prrd los partisan motive. % wO1ld "" bfcn mos,
natural Tor him to accept recommendation OF Alt
uliil -iMpt ii president Of thr AIVlsOry Board,
VINO that article says. IS a ID 'mOcrat."