Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1885-08-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON July Goth, 1885.


1ah de dah" Washington to talk
about the weather, but with the
thermometer at 80 in the shade
what else is there to talk about,
what other subject SO worthy of com
plant and objurgation? Fortunate
ly for those engaged i'll govern
ment work, the public offices are
clean, well ventilated, and as cool as
they can he made. But in spite Of
the daphonous dresses of the female
EMPLOYEES and the fact that the men
discard all garments not insisted up
on by civil and social laws, they per
spire like iron puddlers.
The President has learned for the
first time whist Washington could do
in the way of hot weather and no
doubt contrasted last Sunday i'll the
city with the previous Sunday which
he spent at Woodmont on the up
per Potomac.
I see that some of the truly repub-
lican papers are greatly hurt because
the President went to Woodmont
and spent the Sabbath, like bad
boy, fishing. 1t will no doubt de-
light them to learn that the Presi-
dent 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 thirteen years ago l was one
day in the Office of the Chief Of the
Bureau of Navigation and saw stout
looking middle aged gentleman to
whom l was introduced as Mr..
Roach. Neither the name or the
man impressed Inc as noteworthy,
but after he had taken his leave
Commodore Ammen. the then Chief
of the Bureau, remarked: shat
was Mr. John Roach the great ship
builder"
John Roach's failure is the most
interesting news of the day. 1t is
not surprising in any respect. He
has lived on Navy Department favor
itism. 1t has been his entire Stock
in trade. When it was withdrawn he
had to fail. A prominent ship bull
der who knows roach we'll says that
when Robson became Secretary of
the Navy in SO Roach was 100000
in debt. BY the constant friendly
aid of Robson, who was by many
persons believed to be partner in
Roach's establishment, Roach was
cared for and enabled to continue
his ship building business. During
Robeson's time he practically con-
trolled the Navy Department, and
was given enormous advantages in
the purchase of old materials and in
making new contracts with the Gov
eminent.
When the new cruisers were or.
dered by Congress three years ago
he, relying as usual on official favor
itism, rushed in and contracted tc
build them quarter of million less
than what careful men thought would
he their actual cost. Such methods
of doing business could only have
one result. Had the failure occur
cd at some later period it might have
been alleged to have been the result
of political hostility. As it is nov
it is the result simply OF natural eau
SeS.
The Secretary of the Navy is in thu
presence of a great opportunity. L
has been demonstrated that the Gov
eminent can not build naval vessel
by contract. Mr.. Whitney can SHOW
that the Government is not Deepen
dent Oh Contractors, by building wa
ships in the navy yards of the Unite'
States of which there are nine.
Of course the old rotton system o
running the navy yards as parts O
the political machine must be re
formed. The system Of having
top-heavy organization OF foremer
and q few mechanics who Soldier
over their work, and appeal to thei
congressman if they are discharge,
for protection must be reformed
The Rureaus in the Department whic