Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1885-08-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.


,eral in the case of the Dolphin Ii
likely to be a surprise to the coun,
try, and will be little less than a
thunderbolt, not only to Mr.. Roach.
but to all government contractors.
We may eypect to see the opinion
vigorously combated and, until
Mr.. Roach has chance to reply
to General Garland with regard to
the legal aspects OF the case, it
may not be becoming IN laymen
tip prejudge the merits of the con-
trovelsy. 1t will occur to most
people, however. to ask what So
,earity contractor has under ex-
isting usages that his work will
finally be accepted by the Govern
ment. The opinion will certainly
make contractors more cauclouS III
the future, and will have tenden-
cy, as has already been illustrated
oil recent occasion, to keep them
from bidding for government work
III almost all large jobs the work is
passed upon by subordinate officer
or board, and partial payments
made to the contractor, if the work
is deemed satitfactory by the au-
thorized inspector a new and
perplexing element Is introduced,
il we are now to understand that
these nnder-oiiicers have no au-
thority to represent the govern
ment or construe an act Of Congress
and that the contractor at any
stage of the work is liable to have
his work rejected and to be sued
by the government for tho money
paid him in installnieuts by tae
treasury BY the authority of the
board of review.
OF course, il it can be shown
that there WAS a conspiracy To de-
fraud the government, to which
the contractor, the board OF reyiew,
and the Secretary of the Navy
were parties, then TIERS wonld be
no difiulty in bringing an action,
but IN the present case no such
charge is made, although it seems
to be part Of the creed of good
democrats that all the navy deal
ings with John Roach are STEPPED
in corruption. Possibly this con-
v1ctiou has had its influence in the
nrasent attitude of the adluinistral
ton. No doubt we shall ali be /
sufficiently enlightened on the law
and equity in the matter as the
opinion opens the wayto extended
and expensive litigation.
The rules in regard to annual
leaves Of absence in the Interior
de partlnent have not been changed
and the same rules are III force
that prevailed last j car. The Lirst
Assistant Secretary, Mr.. Muldrow,
said yesterday tint the subject OF
changes N the rules had not been
taken under consideration.
The com missioner of the general
land Office has affirmed the right
OF entry under rhe public land
laws and decisions of the Supreme
Court, of lands heretofore with
drawn by voluntary action of the
general land office, for railroad |
idemnity purposes, where no re-
quirements of Law existed for max
ing such Withdrawals. The effect
of this decision, if sustained by
the Secretary OF the Inferior will
be to restore to entry nnder the
homestead and other laws many
million acres of public land which
have been kept out of market for
many years because claimed by
railroad corporations,
The successor of Mr.. Foster as
minister to Spain has not yet been
decided upon. When Mr.. Foster
left hare for Spain TO negotiate q
second treaty, the appointment was
postponed until his return. The
report that he will shortly be here
has renewed the hopes of persons !
anxious TO secure a snug foreign |
berth. The Spanish mission is
one of tho most desira-
bic. al d there aranow mofs sap-
p'icatioas on file i the State de-