The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-07-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, July Goth, 1885.

WASHINGTON, July SUtn, 1850.
1t is not considered good form in "lah de dah'
Washington to talk about the weather. but with
the thermom eter at 80 in the shade what else is
there to talk about, what other subject so wor-
thy of complaint and objurgation2 Fortunately
for those engaged in government work, the pub
lie offices are clean, well ventilated, and as cool
as they can be made. But in spite of the diaph-
anous dresses of the female employees and the
fact that the men discard all garments not in
sisted upon by civil and social laws, they perspire
like iron puddlers
The President has learned for the first time
what Washington could do in the way of hot
weather. and no doubt contrasIed last Sunday in
the city with the previous Sunday which he spent
at Woodmont, on the upper Potomac
see that some of the truly good Republican
papers are greatly hurt because use the President
to learn that the President did nothing of the
sort. but passed the day like gentleman and
Christian, and caught his fish on Monday.
When first came to Washington, about thir-
teen years ago. was one day in the Office of the
Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, and saw a
stout-ooking, middle-aged gentleman, to whom
was introduced as Mr.. Roach. Neither the name
after he had taken his leave Commodore Ammen,
the then Chief of the Bureau. remarked: THAT
was Mr.. John Roach. the great ship builder"
news of the day. 1t is not surprising in any re-
spect. He has lived on Navy Department favor
ltism. 1t has been his entire stock in trade
When it was withdrawn he had to fail. prom
inent ship builder who knows Roach well says
that when Robson became Secretary of the
constant friendly aid of Robson, who was by
many persons believed to be partner in Roachs
establishment, Roach was cared for and enabled
to continue his ship building business. During
Robeson's time he practically controlled the
Navy Department, and was given enormous adj
vantages in the purchase of old materials and in
making new contacts with the Government.
When the new cruisers we're ordered by Con-
gress three years ago, he relying as usual on Off
cial favoritsm, rushed in and contracted to build
them quarter of million less than what care
fui men thought would be their actual COST
Itnl thnl ~ hntT hnta
one result. Had the failure occurred at some
later period it might have been alleged to have
been the result of political hostility. AS it is
now, it is the result simply of natural causes.
The Secretary of the Navy is in the presence of
great opportunity 1t has been demonstrated
that the Government can not build naval vessels
by contract Mr.. Whitney can show that the
Government is not dependent on contractors by
building ships in the navy yards of the
United States of which there are nine.
OF course the old rotten system of running the
navy yards as parts of the political machine must
be reformed. The system of having top-heayy
organization OF foremen, and a few mechanics
who "soldier" over their work, and appeal to
their congressman if they are discharged for pro-
lection, must be reformed. The Bureaus in the
growth of abuses that have made every navy
yard leech on the public treasury must be re-
formed. AS soon as navy yard work is managed
on business principles the Navy Department can
cheaper than it can get the same articles by con-
tract. 1t has plant of great value on which in
terests and profits need not be earned. 1t has
large number of highly educated officers who
must pay. When political interference is
stopped, it will enable the navy yards to get the
best mechanics. To argue that the Government
can not build ships or guns is to plead the baby
act and to admit there will be no honest attempt
to reform the abuses which have destroyed the
usefulness of the navy yards.