Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-17
The Question of the Dolphin.

The Dolphin literature grows. the most re-
cent additions to it being the report of the
Naval Advisory Board, which has been sen,
to Secretary Whitney, though it has not been
made public as yet and a review of the opin-
ion of Attornev-General Garland by ex-Sec-
retary of the Navy Chandler. The ex-secre
tary shows that the opinion Of the attorney
general that the contract with Mr.. Roach
was void and imperative from the beginning,
depends upon the propositions that It was an
essential and fundamental condition of the
act of Congress authorizing the Dolphin that
she should have sea speed of ID knots, and
that as the contract omitted to require the
contractor TO produce this speed, this omis-
sion was fatal defect. He then quotes the
provisions of the law of March 8, 1888, max
ing the appropriations for building the yes
sells. and the previous act OF Aug. 5, 1882,
creating the Naval Advisory Board and au-
thorizing certain ships to be built. The latest
act provided as follows Neither OF the ves-
sells hereby authorized to be built shall be
contracted for or commenced until full and
complete detail drawings and specifications
thereof in all its parts, including the hull.
engines and boilers. shall have been pro-
yided or adopted by the Navy Department.
and shall have been approved in writ
ing by said board, or by a majority of
the members thereof and by the secretary
of the navy" The former act contained the
following appropriations; For the construc-
ton of the steel cruiser of not less than 1900
tons displacement now specially authorized
BY law, two steel cruisers of not more than
1000 nor less than 25OO tons displacement
each, and one despatch boat, as recommend
ed by the Naval Advisory Board in its report
of December 20, 1882, $500, 600" The
language of the Naval Advisory Board rela-
tive to the despatch boat to which reference
is made was as follows: ''Also one despatch
vessel or clipper to have a sea speed of Is
knots to be built of iron and to be armed
with one sx-inch breech-loading rifle and
four revolving guns But the law Of March
3, on the provisions of which Secretary Gar
land bases his opinion, also provided that pro-
posals should be invited from ship builders,
and the construction let to the lowest and
best responsible bidders, subject to such pro-
visions for completion as the secretary
of the navy should provide. On these provi-
sions ex-Secretary Chandler may it seems to
us. safely appeal to an unprejudiced pub
lie for judgment concerning the attorney gen.
erals remarkable decision. Secretary Whit
ney will find his predecessors paper. to say
the Leaf. interesting reading The report of
the Naval Advisory Board, as we have said
has not yet been made public, but it is un-
derstood to approve the Dolphin, as good
ship, constructed according to contract. Sec
rotary Whitney has also an advisory board,
hut if it be true that some of its members
have personal srudge against The last ad-
ministration, that they have a desire to get
even with ex-Secretary Chandler for some
supposed INJURY, their opinions can hardly be
the most valuable possible. 1t is also init
mated that Secretary Whitney hesitates as to
what his action in the matter shall be. He
may well hesitate. He cannot afford to COM
NIT the administration to a policy of persecu-
ton for the sake of gaining mere partisan
advantage.