New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-03
THE ADTJSORY BOARDS REPORT.

TIE TRIBUNE's appeal to Secretary Whit
news sense of Justice has been needed. The re-
mort of the Advisory Board has been promptly
published. Justice to the designers of the
DOLPHIN as well as to Secretary Chandler and
the contractor required that the expert testi-
mony in favor of the vessel should not be with
held from the public. We are not well versed
in the etiquette of the department, but appar
emily there was no stronger reason for defer
ring its publication until the Examining Board
could reply to it than there WAS for withhold
ing the first report of the Examining Board
until the Advisory Board could make reply.
Secretary Whitney has perceived the injustice
and inexpediency of holding back the expert
| testimony in this important controversy. lie
| has justified our estimate OF him as fair
| minded man who would not finch from having
| all the facts brought out.
| The Advisory Board takes up in detail the
criticisms of the Examining Board respecting
the alleged structural weakness of the Dolphin,
the speed of the vessel as indicated by the trial
trips, and the general design of the machinery.
On all these points the Examining Board makes
detailed reply. We have no desire to discuss
these technical questions, but prefer to consider
the broad aspects of the subject These re-
| ports show that the naval experts who designed
the Dolphin and now admit that they are re-
sponsible for the vessel, are at variance with
the naval experts who have condemned 1t. a
bitter controversy has arisen in the Navy De-
partment and if the attempt be made to decide
the questions mt issue in the courts, there Will
be sharp lines of division in the opinions OF
naval experts respecting the designs, cOnstruc-
ton and speed of the Dolphin.
Now let Us consider the practical bearings Of
this wrangling of the experts upon the Govern
rnents position. The Attorney General has de-
clared that there ia no valid contract and that
the builder is liable for every dollar he has re-
ceved Under this opinion the bOndsmen are
released from their obligations and the Govern
ment Is forced to sue the contractor or his
assignees. What chance of winning its case will
the Administration have, when the naval experts
who designed the ship and supervised every stage
of its construction testify in advance that they
and not the builder are responsible for the
plans and that it is strong, stanch vessel,
having the requisite speed and fulfilling all the
requirements of the contract The builder, If
he were put upon his defence, would have
great body of expert testimony in the Navy
Department itself The Government by bring
ing such an action against Mr.. Roachs assignecs
would only succeed in promoting jealousy and
ill-feeling in the naval service. 1t would not
have the faintest prospect of getting back the
money paid for the Dolphin, and since it has
rejected the vessel and released builder and
bondsmen from their liabilities, this preposter-
Gus lawsuit is the only alternative.
This, then, is the outcome OF the Administra-
toms dealings with John Roach. Ii has driven
great ship-builder into bankruptcy, and
dealt a staggering blow to one of the most i'm
portant American Industries. 1t has given the
signal to a partisan press for most reckless
campaign of defamation against an enterprising
firm whose bids for Government work have
uniformly been from 10 to IL per cent below
those of competing houses. 1t finally energies
from the controversy with the best experts in