Daily Republican., 1885-08-14
7 HIR D EDITION,
whitney aad d Roach.

WAsulsuToN, Aug. l3 -Secretar,
Wnituss B, IA disappointed man. III
has been 80 9var since Attorney genera
Garland rnaderei his opinion in reg arc
to the steel cruisers What Whitney
wanted tho Attorney General to decide
wa9. whethes the contract with RuacL
was bad bar gain tor the government
or if Roach had not broken hi
contract. Instead of doing this, Mr.
Garland rendered an opinion, stating
shat the contracts were invalid, anc
that Roach had no contract with tht
government. This astounded Whitney
at first and he did not know what II
do. Then came the assignment o.
Roach, wbioh still further comp licated
IN alters. The opln ion of Garland and
che results were stab at American
shipbuilding interests, for no man hal
done more to maintain American ship
ping aud to build up the ship build
ing industry in this country than Johr
Roach.
All Whitney was after was to brini
reproach upon the former ADMINISTERS
ton OF the Navy Department and tt
bring Roach up with q round turn
whicn would reflect credit upon the
present economical and business-li like
manner in which the navy is run. Mr.
Whitney found himself In an uncom
Portable position. If Roach had n(
contract he colld not compel him u
finish the incomplete cruisers, and, a,
they were a q part of the assets OF tht
bankrupt ship builder, there would bt
some legal formalities to be observed IL
Obtaining them for the Government.
The Secretary of the Navy now re
eognizss the existence Of the contract,
with Roach by proposing to finish the
vessels in Il Jach's yard under the terms
OF the con tract and agreeing 10 pay any
profits to the representative of Mr.
Roach's assignee, Mr.. Weed. THIS &C
ton shows the insincerity Ut Mr.. Whit
ney's action all through this whole mat
ter. He is going 10 do with the cruiser,
exactly what Mr.. Roach would hav,
done rad ne not been Informed that hit
contracts were not valid. When this
whole N after is ventilated by Congress.
next winter, as il certainly will be. the
Secretary Of the Navy will not appeal
in q very pleasant light.
The Naval Board of Construction, pre-
sided over by Naval Constructor Rober
Steele, com menced operations yester
day at Roaoh's yard by starting an in
ventory Of the cruisers Chicago an,
Boston, to asc srtaiu lust what work ba
been done, and exactly what work re
mains yet TO bs done on them. Naya
Constructor Robert W. Steele, with As
sistant Constructors J I Hanscom, j
B. Hoover, h Gatewood and l.. Nix
on are max ing an examination of tn
work that has been done, while Chic
Engineers s l.. =. Aver and L Well
with Past Assistant Engineer George /
Tower, are taking an inventor
OF all the machiusry, fittings al
and material at C4ester and in Ne,
York.
The inventory viii probably engae
the board from ter days TO two week
after VIII h work on he cruisers wi
be at once started and pushed rapid
towards completion. O4e of the FIR
things to % done will be the driving
piles and ths extension of the ways
launch the Chicago, as it is feared,
reason OF her heavy weight, the wa,
may sink and seriously interfere wi
launching. The prospect of work beil
resumed at Roach's shlpyard has had
cheering effect on The large number
IDLE workmen about Chester. The Che
ter rolling mill is now at work on OF
side orders, as these will be very lit
iron to be made to finish the cruisers,