The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-07-28
JOHN R0ACH7S CASE.
on ths Interest Of I.hs aorsrpmlsntl IN ths.
Assigaasnti Of .hs Great ship.bpndsr.
K He Intimatss that Plain Basinsss
Methods viii FOLLOW Ia ihs' Case.
.srcRErAnYS ,wnrrNEY,s syIEwsI

\ / Z I'll y
WAsASoTos, D. O, July q. Secretary
Whitney has sent the following letter 10
Mr.. George Qpintard and the OIL sr gem
tlemen to whom MI. John Roach made an
assignment: d
.At our interview in New York on Wed.
Inesdag last you requested me to take into
consideration the condition Of each oitbe
contracts between the Government and
MI. John Roach pending and incomplete,
and in view Of his assignment make como
suggestions as to the method Of dealing
with the whole subject. / Iassured you
that i would do so and commuui.
cate after reaching Washington. As
i view the matter the rule which
governs individuals In these business
transactions should govern the action Of
the Department. AT oil events, Il there
Is Is different rule proper TO bs applied il
am not awareo OF il. My duty heretofore
has seemed 70 be very simple and 1plain.
1t has been to insist upon the strict en-
torcemeut OF contract obligations as inter-
preted 10 me without regatd 70 corge-
quenees; that 1t is the ordinary plain
business method, q departure from
which In public officer can have no fnstf-
tication, and in like manaersI know II
no reason why the Ordinary principle
which ae,pates merchants in dealing with
each! Other, and in accordance with which
generous consideration is extended oftli.
narily 10 an uniortuRate bnsinEss assoeiase
should not govern the action otthe De-
paftment under similar circumstances.
The business method OF dealing with
the matter which would persuade the ptis
vate pafties would dlbe tltst 70 become sat
istied that the assignment was In good
faith, and then consider the best method
from q business standpoint OF bringing
about settlement Of current and ineotn-
plete contracts upon q lair and just basis
Tor both parties. isel ~
FONTS OF SETTLEMENT, Il; 8 Z:
I I'll have the power, therefore, Twill
enter into the consideration with yon Of
the point to which the contracts have
been performed and endeayor to settle
upon some Just and fair basis for rthe dis
posal ofthe matters Of this, as T informed
you at our meeting. This coutse, Just and
right under all eonside ations, Is compul-
aofy upon the Government nthe present
Gaze. The very liberal treatment which the
contractor has heret tofere received has left
the government without sufficient margin
OF monies reserved 10 enabIeit TO protect
itself In the present situation. The con-
tract provided that 10 percent should be
retained IRON the bills as they came due
aud held as security for the completion Of
the work. AT the present the reservations
would have amounted to S2l0,7t0 They
have been surrendered 10 the con-
tractor under circumstances not i'm
pottant TO eonsider with the ex-
ception Of SIG, go In addition
% this small sum, OF $40 $40 In our hands
there are unpaid bills for extrasclaimed on
the ships amounting to S28,6sS 95, and
in dispute on the Dolphin SO 945 0S,
altogether mostly in dispute SIS, OF 0S.
AZ sgainst the fourships which.are in your
bands upon which over s, 200, 900 hasbeen
paid, which must be completed 10
be valuable, liable 10 greater deterioration
by neglect than all the moneys unpaid
and in dispute would repay. Il Is Of the
utmost consequence TO the Government,
asit Is to yourselves, that a Just settlement
OF the past transactions should be had and
new departure made.
z / suggest as practical method OF arriY-
ing at q solution, q meeting of yourselves
and your counsel with the Attorney Gem
etal and myself, at which some practical
method Of dealing with the subject may
be arrived at which shall be legal