The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-07-28
THE ROACH FAILURE.
Measures to be Taken for a
Settlement.
TUESDAYS BUDGET OF NEWS.
Baseball Nctes-A Bad Look-Sin.
guiar Accideht-The Indians
The Grain in Sight.
The Roach Assignment.

WASHINGTON, July 27.-Secretary
Whitney has sent the following letter
to George w. Quintard and other gentle
men to whom John Roach made the
assignment: cat at interview IN New
York on Wednesday last, you requested
me to takeN into consideration each of
the contracts between the government
and Roach pending and incom plete, and
III view of his assignment make some
suggestion as TO the methods of dealing
with the whole subject. l gave you as
surances that would do so, and COM
municate after reaching Washington.
As L view the matter, the rules that
govern individuals in these business
transactions should govern the action
OF the department. At all events, if
there is different rule proper to be ap-
Piled, l am not aware of it. Ny duty
here has seemed very simple and plain.
1t has been to insist upon a strict
enforcement of the contract obliga-
tons, as is interpreted to nne, without
regard to the consequences. That is an
ordinary, plain business method, de-
parture from which in public officer
can have no Justification, and in a like
manner | know of no reason why the
ordinary principle which actuates mer-
chants in dealing with each other, and
in accordance with which generous con-
sideration is extended ordinarily to an
unfortunate business associate, should
not govern the action of the depart
ment under similar circumstances. The
business method of dealing with the
matter which would be pdrsued by
private parties would be first to become
satisfied the assignment was in good
faith, and then consider the best method,
from business standpoint, of bringing
about settlement of the current and
incomplete contracts upon fair and
just basis for both parties II l have
the power, therefore, l will enter into
consideration with you of the point to
which the contracts have been
performed, and will endeavor to
settle upon some just and fair basis for
the disposal of the matter. OF this | in
formed you at our meeting in New
York. This course, just and right un-
der all circumstances, is COM
pulsory upon the government
in the present case. The very liberal
treatment which the contractor has
heretofore received has left the govern.
ment without sufficient margin OF
1CSClbOO W IL W DIOtCCO
itself in the present situation. The
contract provided that 10 per cent.
should be retained from the bills as
they came due. and held as
security for the completion of
the work. At the present time
those reservations would have amounted
to $210,7 They had been surrendered
to the contractor, under circumstances
not Important consider ,withthe excep-
ton of $26,67O In addition to this small
sum of $26, go in our hands, there are
unpaid bills for extras claimed on ships
amounting to $26,6S9, and in disputes
on the Dolphin $29945. Alto
gether (mostly in disputel $83,304. AS
against this, four ships are in your
hands, upon which over $1,000 900 has
been paid, which must be completed to
be valuable, liable to greater deteriora-
ton by neglect than all the moneys I'M
paid and in dispute would repay. 1t Is
of the utmost consequence to the gov
eminent as it is to yourselves that
just settlement of the past transac-
tons should be had, and a new
departure made. l suggest, as prac
teal method of arriving at the solution
of the matter, meeting OF
yourselves and your counsel
and the Acknowledgement and
myself, at which some practical
method of dealing with the subject may
be arrived at which shall be within my
legal authority"