New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-12
Tile MOHL(4N MORAL.

Secretary Whitney is seeking to advertise hia
efficiency by a series of revelations respecting
the Mare Island Navy Yard. We have reason
to believe that this is an Esincerc attempt to
divert public attention from the destructive
criticism to which his dealings with john Roach
have Justly exposed the Administration. There
is an old time custom in the navy yards OF
charging the cost of maintaining various de-
partmcnts TO the account of the vessels under
construction or repair; and we suspect that the
expense of the Mohican has been Irtificially cX
handed owing to the fact that it was almost the
only vessel in this yard to which general
charges of maintenance could be assigned. But
for the sake of the argument, let this point be
waived Grant that these revelations prove
that an extravlgant outlay was involved IN the
rebuilding of the Mphicln under the Bureau of
Construction and Repair. What bearing does
this exposure. even if it be all that the D"nart-
ment now assumes, have upon Secretary Whit
ney's general policy and reputed "reform
administration
Why, it proves what every practical engineer
in the naval service already kuOw3-thlt YES
sells can be built more economically and cxpcIi-
tiouslv in private ship-yards than in the Gov
ernment yards. This fact has been completely
demonstrated in England, where new war YES
sells are now uniformly built under Govern
ment supervision in private yards The same
principle applies with even greater force to
naval construction in the United Stltcs. y"
practical man who has given attention to this
subject doubts for one moment that the navy
ward system is cXtravaglnt IN comparison with
the contract system. There is not an honest
engineer or naval constructor III the service
who will say that either the Dolphin or the
three cruisers could have been built mt any
navy yard for the contract price agreed upon
with John Roach. Navy yard methods are not
economical; plant and machinery for building
iron ships are lacking; the work is inevitably
allowed to drag and to involve increased ex-
pense; and political patronage invarab y
Swels the expenditures.
Now what is the outcome of Secretary Whit
news warfare upon tn" American ship-buldlng
industry He has driven out of the trade the
most cnterprising contractor, whose bids for
the DOLPHIN and tho three cruisers were
1915 900 below those of any competitor. lie
has treated him with such unfairncSs in reject
ing q vessel designed, built and accepted by
compctent naval board that no other ship
builder will care to do any more work for the
Government. The partiSanShip with which the
Department has been managed, the arbitrary
tests proposed. the arrlying of Jealous and con
tentious boards of naval experts against each
other and the official declaration that there were
no valid contracts and that the builder was liable
for every dollar he had received, have warned
American ship-buildcrs against undertaking
| Government work The consequence follows
that Secretary Whitney may be forced to huIld
his five new vessels at the navy yards at an
enormous increase of expense.
John Roach, the lowest bidder for the first
four ships, cannot compete for the five new
vessels because he has been driven into bank
rnptcy by the Administration. Not one OF his
former competitors will be anxious for the job,
since under the present management the De-
partmcnt expects contractors 10 guarantee the
results when they dc not model the ships or de-
sign the engines and deals with them As public
| pundcrcrs who are to be exposed. pcrsccutcd
| and ruined for the sake of advertising " re-
| form Administration. No. the new ships
must be built As the Mohcan Wa, at the navy
yards; and that implies intcrminablc delay and
| a frightful bill of cxpenditu res.