The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-07-31
From our Regular Corrsspcndent.I
WASHINGTON LETTER.

" hAAN0 AON LEI EAss
WASHINGTON, d. G. July Goth, 1885.
1t Is not considered good form in slah
de dab Washington to talk about the
weather, but with the thermometer at 99
lin the shade what else is there TO talk
about, what other subject SO worthy OF
complaint and objurgation Fortu-
|nately for those engaged In government
work, the public Offices arc clean, well
and as cool as they can be
made. But in spite Of the diaphonouf
dresses Of the female employees and the
fact that the men discard all garments
not insisted upon by civil and socia
laws, they perspire like iron puddlers.
| The President has learned for the firsl
time what Washington could do IN tht
way Of hot weather and no doubt con
trasted last Sunday In the city with the
previous Sunday which he spent al
Wood Mont on the upper Potomac.
sec that some of the truly good Re.
publican newspapers are greatly hurt be.
lcause the President went TO WoodmonI
land spent the Sabbath, like bad boy
fishing. II will no doubt delight then
Ito learn that the President did nothing
|of the sort, but passed the day like q
|gentleman and christian and caught
his fish on Monday.
When I first came TO Washington
about thirteen years ago was one day
In the Office OF tho Chief of the Bureau
OF Navigation, and saw q stout looking
middle aged gentleman to whom | was
as Mr.. Roach. Neither the
name or the man impressed me as
noteworthy, but after he had taken his
leave, Commodore Ammen, the then
Chief of the Bureau, remarked, that was
Mr.. John Roach the great ship builder.
John Roach's failure is the most in.
teresting news Of the day. 1t IL not sur
prisiDg In any respect. He has lived on
Navy Department favoritism. u has
been bis entire stock In trade. When II
was withdrawn he had to fail. A prom
inent ship builder who knows Roach
well says that when Robson became
Secretary Of the Navy In SO Roach was
$500 600 in debt. By the constant
friendly aid Of Robson, who was by
many persons believed to be partner
lin Roach's establishment, Roach wat
|cared for and enabled to continue hi:
|ship building business during Robeson''
time he practically controlled the Navy
| Department, and was given enormous
In the purchase of old mate.
|rials and In making new contracts with
1.-THE Government.
When tho new cruisers we're ordered
lby Congress three years ago. he, rely.
ling as usual on official favoritism, rush.
cd in and contracted to build them |
quarter Of million less than what care
/ ful men thought would be their aetna
|cost. Such methods Of doing husines
|could only have one result. Had tn
failure occurred At some later period
might have been alleged to have beer
the result of political hostility. AS 1t ]
now, it Is the result simply Of natura
causes.
The Secretary Of the Navy Is in th
Ipresence offs great opportunity. It ha
been demonstrated that the Govcrnmen
can not build naval vessels by contract
Mr.. Whitney can show that the Govern
ment is not dependent on Contractors
by building war ships in the navy yard
OF the United States Of which there ar
nine.
OF course the old rotten system o
running the navy yards ss parts Of tn
political machine must be reformed
| The system Of having top-heavy or
lganization OF forcmen, and o few me
Ichanics who soldier over their work
and appeal to their congressman If they
are discharged for protection, must bt
reformed. The Bureaus in the Depart
Imcnt which have connived at the fun
gus growth of abuses that have made ev
Iery navy yard . leech on tho publi'
trcasury must be reformed. As soon a.
lnavy yard work is managed on business
principles the Navy department can bull.
ships aud engines and fabricate ordi
nance cheaper than 1t can get the sam
|articles by contract. II has plant Q
great value on which interest and pro
Ats need not be earned. 1t has q larg
number Of highly educated officers VIII
lean do work for which every privat
ship builder must pay. When politica
interference il stopped, II will enabl
the navy yards to get the best mcchan
lies. TO argue that the Government ca
mot build ships or guns Is TO plead tn
|baby act and TO admit there will DO n
honest attempt TO reform the abuse
which have destroyed the usefulness Q
1.-THE navy yards.
i He who is dishonest in one thing wi