The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-07-28

WASHINGTON w,nsL,NGs.
wbitney'ssmeitsa Uat''in Hoache's
Failure ana Proposes "Iiusi-
meas NIethods.f,

Washington, July "a. 49, Secretary
Whitney has sent the following letter
TO Mr.. Geo. w. Quintard aud the 9TH
or gentleman to which Mr.. John
Roach made an assignment: AT our
interview in New YORK on Wednes-
day last, you requested me to take
into consideration the condition of
each of the contracts between the
government and Mr.. John Roach,
pending and incomplete, and in view
OF his assignment TO make suggestion
as to the method of dealing with the
whole subject. / gave you assurances
that would do so and communicate
with You after reaching Washing
ton"
As 4 view the matter, the rule
which governs individuals In these
business transactions should govern
the action of the department;
ut all events, even if there is differ
ent rule proper 10 be applied, am
not aware Off My duty, heretofore,
seems TO have been very simple and
plain. IL has been to Insist upon
strict enforcement of the contract OBJ
legations rs interpreted TO me, without
regard TO consequences. That is the
ordinary, plain, business method, a
departure from which, in n public
officer, cs'l have no jnst'ication; and
in like manner, know of no reason
why the ordinary principle which
actuatcs merchants in dealing with
each other aud in accordance with
which, n generous consideration is eN-
tended, ordinarily, TO an unfortunate
business associate, should not govern
the action OF the department under
similar circumstances.
The business method of deal
ing with the matter, which
would be pursued by private
parties, would be: first, to become
satisfied that the assignment was in
good faith, and then consider the best
method, from n business standpoint,
of bringing about n settlement of
current aud incomplete contracts
upon fair and just basis for both
parties. If l have the power, there
fore, ! viii enttr into the considera-
ton with you of the point to which
| the contracts have been per-
formed, and endeavor TO settle upon
some Just aud fair basis for the dis
posal of the matter. Of this | ill.,
formed you at our meeting in New
York. This course, Just and right
under all circumstances, is compul-
sorry upon the government in the
| present case.
The very liberal treatment which
the contractor has heretofore received
has left the government without suf-
iicient margin of moneys received TO
enable 1t to protect itself in
the present situation. The cabi-
net provided that 10 per cent
should be retained from the bills
as they came due, aud held as security,
for the completion of the work. At
the present time those reservations
would have amounted to S2l0,7l0
| They have been surrendered to the
contractor, under circumstances not
| important TO consider now, with the
exception of 81, 667. In addition to this
small sum in our hands there are I'M
paid bills for extras claimed on the
ships amounting to S26,6SS.y5 aud in
dispute ON the Dolphin S29.9i5.0S; al
together, mostly in dispute, SS3 ,30i .03
As against this, four ships are in
your hands, upon which over $1,000
900 have been paid, which must bC
. completed to be valuable, and which
are liable 10 greater deterioration by
neglect than all the monies UNPAID
aud in dispute.
ut il of the utmost consequence 10
the government, as IL is TO yourselves
that Just settlement of past transac
Q lions should be had aud a new de
D parture made. | suggest rs a practica
I method OF arriving at a solution o
the matter, meeting of yourscive
s and of your counsel with the attorne
e general and myself, at which som
a practical method of dealing with tn
c subject may be arrived at, which sha
: be within my legal authority.
d The WEEKS COINAGE
Washington, July 27.-The issue {
u standard silver dollars from the min
II during the week ending July 20, 1855
o was 1886, 99S, and for the correspon,
d ing period of 1884, $500, l9S.
VENEZUELA QUIET.
Washington, July 27.-The Yenez
:, elan minister has received u cablegra
,s from Caracas announcing thai Il
a revolutionary movement on the ea'
4" ern coast of Venezuela has been su
.; pressed, and that quiet has been !
: stored throughout the whole COUNT
AZ ADMIRAL JoUErr's RETURN.
ay Washington, July 27.-Admi
Is Jouett, who has been in command
Id the forces on and about the lsthm
&c of Panama, returned TO Washingt
nd to-day. lie reports everything qu
he an the lsthmus. The admiral will ],
his vessel, the Tennessee, at y