New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-29

Secretary Whitney has shown great dexterity
in covering the Administration retreat. His
letter to Mr.. Roach's assgnces is so adroit that
we cannot refrain from expressing admiration
of it. When a Cabinet officer finds himself
occupying an untenable position through the
stupidity of one of his colleagues and contr'ves
10 open bridge in the rear 10y which he may
retire without seeming TO have been completely
routed the tactics deserve high praise. This is
what Secretary Whitney has succeeded in
doing. He has virtually taken The TgIBUNE's
advice aud proposed basis for a compromise.
by which Mr.. Roach or the assignces will be
enabled to resume business and complete the
cruisers. This Will involve direct reversal of
the Administrations policy. The Government,
instead of rejecting the Dolphin and the
cruisers and suing the builder for S2.OOO,OOO.
will make arrangements for the completion OF
the vessels and their final acceptance. Ii Is
mamGuvre which IN military language would
be described rs a right-abOut face. But SO
skilfully is it Disguised and executed that the
Secretary does not appear u b. signalling Tor
a retreat and cOuntermandng the Attorney
Generals fantastic policy.
The President 10 exceedingly fortunate in
having among his political advisers so clever n
tactician. John Roach's failure had left the
Government in sorry plight. The builder
had been paid something over $1,000, 600 for
four ships three OF which were unfinished.
while the other was practically rejected The
Attorney General had decided that there WAS
no valid contract in the case of the Dolphin !;
and the application of the same principle 10 the
cruisers released both the builder and the
Ill l;,l..I e.. ,Lo
struction and completion of the -four ships.
The vessels after the assignment became the
common property of all the creditors. and the
Government having released the bondsmen
from their obligations had only a lawsuit
against an insolvent firm 10 compensate it for
the 81, 900 900 expendcd-a litigation III which
il would inevitably be defeated The Attorney
General, besides frittcring away the Govern
ment's secur ties against loss under the con-
tract had adopted most unpopular course in
driving the greatest ship-buildng firm out of
business in period of financial depression.
Secretary Whitney's ingenuity was heavily
taxed to rescue the Administration from its
untenable position. Nevertheless he has shown
remarkable skill in his statement of the case,
adroilly arguing hat the Government must fol.
low the principle which actuatcs merchants in
dealing generously with an unfortunate bust
ness associate and clevcrly insisting that the
liberality with which the contractor had been
treated had left the department unprotected and
consequently the ships must be completed.
These are brilliant pleadings. but we do not
need to read between the lines to be assured
that so astutc a lawyer as the Secretary is CON
WINGED that the Attorney General by a pre-
posterous legal opinion has rendered compro-
mise with Mr.. Roach compulsory.
1t is needless to add that we heartily approve
of Secretary Whitney's overturcs to the as
sgnees for a compromise whereby just settle
ment of past transactions can be reached and
Mr. Roach or the assignccs enabled To reopen
his shipyards and to finish the cruisers. This
is the only practical method of securing the
Governments interests under contracts which
the Attorney General has foOlishly pronounced
illegal. The country wants n Navy, and not
series of law suits against shpbuildcr who has
a valid defence under contracts made with the
preceding Administration. 1t il gratifying
to find that the Secretary has had sufficient
discernment to follow The TRIBUNE's counsel
instead of being beguled by the camors of the
Democratic press.