Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-08
FROM WASHINGTON.
BY the President-John
Roach's Contracts Forfeited - Army
Regulation Amended.
WASHINGTON, Aug. Z.

ments today:
To be Secretary of the Territory of New
Mexico-Geo- NJ. Lane of Buealo, n, Y.
To be Indian Agents-Joseph +. Emery of
Oregon. at Klamath Agencv. Oregon; Chss
h. Potter of Nebraska. at Omaha and Win
nebago Agency in Nebraska; VIM, H
Spauding of Nebraska, at Ssntee Agency in
tory at Union Agency in Indian Territory.
Col A. G. Sharpe, chief post officer inspec-
tory, has resigned his position to take effect
cepted. James Maynard, present chief clerk
of the division of inspectors will temporarily
take Col. Shsrpe's place.
Secretary Whitney, today, sent the follow
ing letter to John Roach and his assignees
and sureties on the contract for the Chicago:
by the seventh clause of your contract with
the United States, dated July Goth, 1888, for
the construction of one steel cruiser OF about
$500 tons displacement it was agreed that the
hull, fixtures and machinery of such vessel
should be completed aud ready for inspection
for the purpose of delivery Oh or before the
expiration of Is months from the date Of the
contract. 1t was further provided in the llth
clause that IN case of failure or commission of
the contractor at any stage of the work prior
to the final completion from any csase other
than the order of the secretary of the navy to
go forwa ard with the work and make salts
factory progress toward its completion, it
shall be optional with the secretary to de-
clare the contract forfeited More than six
months have now elapsed since the expira-
ton of the limit thus fixed and work upon
the vessel has been stopped, while much re-
mains to be done before she can be finally
completed. At the same time it is evident
al, Al
sci in question known as the Chicago be com
pleted with all pSactical speed, and it has
therefore become necessary for the depart
ment to take immediate and definite action
looking to that end. Under these circum-
stances and in consequence OF the failure oi
the contractors to proceed with the work |
have to inform you that the contract above
referred TO is hereby dec ared to be forfeited
on the part of the contractor and that the
rights of the United States under the con-
tract and especially under the eleventh,
twelfth and thirteenth clauses thereof, are
now operative. You are further informed
that il is the intention of the department after
an inventory and apprai-ement shall have
been had to take steps for the prosecution of
the work and the completion of said vessel
in accordance with the conditions expressed
in the contract. and that in the meantime the
chiefs of bureaus of steam engineering and
construction and repair OF this department
will take charge of the vessel, machinery,
materials and fittings
Similar letters also were sent in regard to
the Atlanta and the Boston. and an order was
issued to the chiefs of certain bureaus to take
char of the work In issuing the order
Secretary Whitney saws: ''The order issued
to-day, with reference to the Boston, Atlanta
and Chicago, is made in the pursuance OF
my duties under the eleventh clause of the
contract"
Under that section there is to follow an in.
ventory, showing to what point of compile
ton the vessels have come and what materi
al is on hand in the contractors yard, which
has been provided for the ships and how far
the work has progressed to be followed by
a valuation of these things. There is then
provision that the department shall decide
whether to complete the ships. As the mat
ter now stands there is no question but that
it is my duty to go on and do this and its
works in the creditors benefit. The govern.
ment steps into the yard, takes possession of
the ships, plant, etc, pays for the commits
sion and then has an accounting with the con-
tractor at the end and if there is any profit the
contractor gets it and if there is any loss he
pays it. Under these circumstances it is en-
IL
supervision of the work to keep the con-
tractors force and plant for the purpose"
The President accompanied by members of
his cabinet, except Secretary Manning, who
went yesterday, Justice Woods of the su
preme court. Col. Lamont and U. S. Marshal
McMichael LETT Washington for New York in
a special car at four o'clock this afternoon.
Secretary Whitney characterizes as ridcu-
49, L. Il t.l
published in a Philadelphia today that con-
siderable dissatisfaction exists among naval
officers at the partisan manner in which the
secretary administers the affairs of the navy
department. A special point was made in
the dispatch that the board which made ad-
verse reports upon the Dolphin was COM
posed of two democrats and an enemy to
ex-Secretary Chandler, and was organized to
condemn the vessel and bring Secretary
Chambers administration into disrepute. To
a reporter Secretary Whitney said: politics
had nothing whatever to do with the matter. J"
well-known naval officer in speaking of the
article said: "There is no such comment
among naval officers. They have no politics
and not one in hundred votes"
Secretary Endicott has prepared a surprise
for the army officers by amending certain
army regulations as to make them read a.
follows: "An officer shall not fiji any staff
appointment or other situation, the duties of
which will detach him from his company reg
iment or corps. until he has served three
years at least with his regiment or corps; I;
nor shall any officer remain detached longer
than four years, unless assigned to special
duty by the war department. The secretary
promulgates this change with the following
order: ''All officers below the grade Of field
officers, who have been absent for a period
of four years or longer from their regiment
or corps, will be relieved from their present
duties soon as practicable after the receipt
Of this order and a directed report for the
duty with their respective regiments or corps.
In the selection of aides -de-camp to fill va
cancies, created by the operation of the last
preceding paragraph, majors and brigadier
generals will confne their selection to Off
GERS OF the regiments of the line of the army
not prohibited in the regulations and prefer
ably to subalterns." This act on the part of
Secretary Endicott is in pursuance of his
policy to provide for the rotation officers.
Since he assumed the duties of his Office, he
has frequently received letters from officers
on the frontier, saying that as the new ad-
ministration had taken control Of the govern
ment, they hoped a consideration would be
given them, and that they would be allowed
to change positions with officers who had held
envisble places for q number of years. Ali
aides appointed simply by . major or briga-
der general or major will be compelled 70
ioin their regimenfs Two AIDES Who we're an