New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-29
THE APPRAISAL OF THE NEW CkUis 81. Uar
.rcorrARY WHITNEY AT PAINS 10 hAfi-N''
CONSIDERATIONS POSITION.

.nppA1sA,, OF THE NEW CRUISERS.
.n.arr.Ry WHITNEY AT PAINS TO EAfLAi" iA''
DEMONSTRATIONS POSITION.
.Omov Sent. 2S.-The following letter
-, INV the Secretary of the Navy ior INC IN
.ao s,,on and guidance OF the Naval BOAR" io.e
90 70 apprase the work ana ma'eri'i u 'A
completed cruisers: " .su,xorox Sent. &c.
80, r1Mnsp o. MATTHEWS U. 5. NJ, PTes'ae"'
BOARD e. apth s many unauthorized and erroneous
IN which have been made win and for
ontracs upon the Boston, Atlanta anu in the
the purpose % smber Of the Board as to what speec
province you are called fio upon " p0'-''
Sonrsct is your only reference Tor E T9e
authority and duty under ySp beeh So far as know
nerson assailed, and know OF no g;anent "a
Which they be- There y mo 10 be found in the es
i,inn authorizing them aud hence tns bT the At
which the does not exist these cases You are
70 assume therefore that the terms OF are are part OF
ana 'nu the record TO which you will make reei
epcs In the performance OF yonr autyi ,dey clrcu
the effect that the Department has qnesionea
the character of the work upon IN th regard No
the or intmaton OF this kind has ever maze
byhe Department. and you Wl or the ships
on 70 viii Of course deal fairly with both me We he
aud the contractor ana T. in the carrying
az, of any secret compromise or arr ,orsns
between sa not 'n advised or
stonped the has proceeded T and
70 take possess0n and TO have an IhNen.v!
nnr,isai made and hereafter will doubtless nnu " io
~ complete the vessels where they ne bu. a. an the
" carrying out the duty OF the government III vo
contingency WHICH has ai4s0A' 49,
'i9 duty which the contract imposes upon you
,nder your appointment is to examine the Wo Hi o
materials in the ships and ascertain anu onahe
III fair market value thereof, nciuulnB 70 ,ho
and customary margin Of profit upon so nuon u 'No
,vorS "a shall have been satisfactorily perIolue comm
n may simplify your preliminary denDeIa'IoIio the
nd enable YOU Co settle in your own minus IN. nv
nass unon which 1t is proper for you 10 oeteIno ,n,
na.tnn ~ market value IL state TO you WHIT aiI
some consideration, seems 10 me 70 "e .n9 oIna Of
ertiallv completed naval vessel, useless LOT e
31nrnoses would be almost nothing lts saieaoIe ;inE
inebt he said to be its value for the purpose VI as
rhs is not the Interpretation to put upon tne ~ ~
ned m the contract SO far as the govern meht 10
cerned YOU can treat the work performed anu % oan
ut hand as the parts OF completed snip ~ CT
dstermipe the value by proratng inc WoiA ,yort
SsscntnriIv completed with the enure WoiA
nired and ascertain thereby the pro srata ipropOI
I'm 81 the contract price that the work represents Oo
~ the ships is so completion that as 70 IL ' To- No
ing method OF determining tne quostIi IA Sh;n IN
adonted Accounting value OF the eompietea sup W
he The contract price, by asceraning the amount vi e
nenditure necessary for her competitor up " oino Of
nnnrements OF the contract, would eaVe tue aAuo
the performed and 1t is possoe tbn other
method might he readily ADOPT u III 'c o.t 80 rs
In AN these matters IL 10 entirely proper loI yVu -
ceiye suggestions from the other parties 70 'io hnd
tract and i'm making this suggestion as 10 your
80 rrscednre NAV state that have done 81 aiter cO
suItation with the counsel of the contractor anu wv
the assjgnees they concur with me IN t1ls
hut Won will understand that the method o. ue M
She yalue Ia for decide, ana these su9GesouS
An~No '4'f-' WILLIAM C. WHITNEY,
Secretary Of the Navy