Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-07-30
Chandler and Roach.

EX-oecfetary Chnnuler writes 10 tne |
New York San that he did not advise |
Mr.. Roach to make an assignment; that
Roach's financial condition was critical,
but that he believed he would pull |
through; that he could probably have
done 50 if the Dolphin alone were in
question, but to be informed that his con-
tracts for all the cruisers were void was
fatal blow to his credit that he did not
fail simply TO make things unpleasant
for Garland and Whitney; that,
nevertheless, he is victim
of the vengeance of these men,
his ''oppressors4n that, their deadly end
being reached" Garland and Whitney
will now back down from their position;
that, if it be adhered to, the government
has no lien for the payments made to the
contractor and they belong unincumbered
to Mr.. Roach and his creditors, of whom
the government is only one that if the
contracts are void the sureties for their
faithful performance are discharged and
are liable for nothing that the govern
ment will therefore have neither
moneys, ships nor sureties, only
n bad lawsuit against suspended
debtor; that it is true that Mr.. Chandler
was counsel for Roach from 1865 to 1879,
but that the service was slight after 1876,
and that the relation of counsel and client
has not existed since 1879; that Mr..
Chandler does not remember appearing or
acting MS counsel for Roach before Mr.
Robson or any other secretary of the
navy, or any bureau of the department
that Mr.. Roach, according to
his knowledge and belief, had moth
ingto do with Mr.. Chambers appoint
ment MS Secretary of the Navy; that
Roach received no treatment at Secretary
Chambers hand that would not have been
accorded to any contractor in like cases
and finally, that Mr.. Chandler will yindi
cate Secretary Chandlers administration
aud Mr.. Roach's transactions thercwitl
when they deserve it, without much re
serve and free of charge TO any one.
The Sun reminds Mr.. Chandler tha
there are several questions which thi
epistle, interesting ms it is, still leave
unanswered. We cannot do better thai
give these in the Suns own language 4
follows:
l.. How long has Mr.. Chandler known thu
Mr.. Roachs financial condition wilscritical
He says that he has known rilat fact ''fc
some time but has "helieyed he woul
pull through" This is Il very importal
evOwal. MIR. Roaeh's assignment great
surprised some of his closest friends here
Nobody in New York seems to hascrXpcctu
it. At Chester MIR. Rouchs solvcncy hl
never been questioned, MIR Roach himst'
insists, in a statement published in ii
Tribune of July 10th, and which Mr. Chan,
Ter perhaps had not seen when hrwrtte h
letter Of the Dist. that the nssignecs ougl
to be able to realize two dollars for evrl
dollar that he owes How and when iii
Mr. Chandler first learn that Mr.. Roach
business was in such a bad way that il WI
tight squeeze for him even had the
been no difficulty about the Dolphin at
the cruiser contracts2 Did MIR. Chnndl
make this discovery befCGe or after the II
of last March2
2. If MIR. Roach's affairs had been SCI
ously involved for some time to Mr.. Chan
ler's personal knowledge, why should NJ
Chandler now attribute the catastrophe
the deadly work of MIR. Whitney and NJ
Garland, who, as he charges, used II "a
honest and disgraceful pretcnce TO destr
Mr.. Roach?' The opinion of the Attornr
General III regard to the contracts was pa
lished only last week.
8. What motive IN Mr.. Chandl,4
s.,;1 InI IL, ntil Ia.
to conspire to work vengeance and lestrt
ton on Mr.. Roach? What does he th
lies behind the declared intention of thu
officers of the government to protect
interests OF the government Does he he
that personal hatred, or jealousy OF poll
cal bigotry, or pure malice influences tn
attitude toward his old client?
A. What motive hpelled Mr.. Chandler
put into the four contracts the provisi
which in the attOrney-geneHls upini
vitiates all of them, namely the clul
which relieved MIR. ltoach from respon
bility If the engines failed 10 develop
required horse power2
The last question is perhaps the most
portant of all. Our esteemed friend in
Hampshire ought to answer it. He
parently feels that his administration Of
navy department is on trial at the pres
time. Ii that Is Mr.. Chambers idea III
undoubtedly correct.
Henry Clews q Co.'S circular of Sat
day refers to the crop prospect us
proving, the silver question as SAT
beyond any danger of a crisis, the fore
and exchange markets, the coal trade {
railway situations as encouraging,
renews its former gratifying assure
that s'the present may be confidently