The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-02
THE DOLPHIN AGAIN.
Ex-secretary Chandler Gives His Views in
Regard to the Vessel.

Ex-Secretary Chandler Gives His Views in
Regard to the Vessel.
NEW YORK. June 25.-The Tribune pub
lished long letter from the Hon. William
z. Chandler, ex-Secretary of the Navy, re-
viewing the letter of Secretary of the Navy
Whitney to the Attorney General, asking
for an opinion in regard to the proper course
for him to pursue in the matter of access-
ance or rejection Of the dispatch boat Dol
phin. The latter charges that the present
Secretary of the Navy while closing the
mouths Of the Naval Advisory Board in
making the Dolphin matter a pretext to
cast slur upon the management OF the
Naval Department under his (ChandlersI
management for political purposes. He
alludes several times satiricaIly to Mr..
Wh;tney's supposed fear lest he be gov
erned by
spirit OF RESENTMENT"
i'm the case. He says: Mr.. Whitney has
already, in his acknowledged spirit of re-
sentiment prejudced somebody. The At
torncy General can only say which Is the
criminal, Mr.. Roach or the designers of the
/ Dolphin. One or the other, the Attorney
General must certainly join Mr.. Whitney il
consemning If he answers his letter. ME-
Chandler adds: at is as clear as the SUR
at MONDAY that Mr.. Roach is responsible
ony for good workmanship. The law Of
August ), 1882, authorizing certain ships
and creating the naval advisory board pro
vided that neither of the vessels should be
contracted for or commenced until fGl! and
complete detail drawings and specifications
therefor in all its parts, including the
hull, engines and boilers shalt have
been provided or adopted by tie Navy
IL. h., -.s.I
in writing by said board or by majority Of
the members thereof, and by the navy
This provision of law was complied with,
and Mr.. Roach bid upon the designs of the
Navy Department, and justly and properly
was compelled to guarantee only good work
manShip. He guaranteed neither speed,
horse power nor anything else, except that
the materials should be hrst-clasS and of
the very best quality, and well and faith
fully put together according to the plans and
specifications of the department, and under
the inspection ard supervision of the Naval
Advisory Board. There is no 'ioOsenesS Of
the contract nor absence of effectual stpu-
lation, as Mr.. Whitney asserts, but all the
provisions are TO be found necessary to
CARRY OUT THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEA
upon which the contract was based namely,
good work on Mr.. Roach's part applied to
the departments designs. If, therefore, the
contractor has built the ship according to
the specifications of the contract he has full
filled his engagements Further on, Mr..
Chandler says: IN other words Mr.. Whit
ney is hunting the Secretary of the Navy
and the advisory board who designed the
Dolphin and made the contract for her con-
structiOn. His persecution of Mr. Roach,
however deadly, Is merely Incidental. His
spirit of resentment is directed mainly
against his predecessor in office and the adj
visOry beard. The latter can not speak a
word of defense except to Mr.. Whitney,
nor make any utterance public without his
consent. The former, however, can" Mr..
Chandler proceeds by saying that while
OH her trial the Dolphin made fifteen knots
an hour that nor any other definite speed
was required in order for the vessel 70 fulfill
the specifications, and that the vibrations
We're TO be expected with the vessel going at
top speed. He refers to the high character
of the Naval Board as worth something in
considering the question and adds: The
course pursued by Nh. Whitney to demon
Strate his preconceiyed determination that
the Dolphin should prove a failure is wholly
without foundation in either law, contract
or common sense. 1t was never cOntcm-
plated by any human being that the Dol
phin Immediately on her completion should
be subjected to extreme speed tests of her
machinery. 1t is most onwise and injurious
10 press 10 the top of their speed at once
after their completion and The beginning of
the operation of new marine engines, which
will last If well used from thirty to fifty
years.