Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-06-25
A DISPUTE.

Ex-Secretary of the Navy, William +.
Chandler, has written long letter to the
New York Tribune reviewing and
severely criticising the conduct OF Secre-
tary Whitney in regard to the Dolphin. "
The ex-Secretary says that all of Secre-
tary Whitney's actions have been with
view to making capital for political pur-
poses. and that he has closed the mouths
of the Advisory Board that he might use
the Dolphin" to cast slur upon his
administration of the Naval Department.
1t is impossible to say what Mr.. Whitney's
intentions in the matter are, but If he is
using the Dolphin" for casting slurs
upon the administration of Mr.. Chandler,
he is putting her to the only use for which
she seems to be fit, as she has never
come up to her requirements when put
upon trial Yes, there is one other use to
which she might very proftably be put
repairs. To repair the boats belonging to
the navy has taken the place OF boat
building. Mr.. Chandler says that the
Attorney General can only say which is
the criminal, Mr.. Roach or the designers
of the Dolphin" That may be, and
still the Government is not bound to ac-
cept her if she does not come up to the
| conditions OF the contract. Mr.. Chandler
say those conditions have been complied
with; Mr.. Whitney says they have not.
One thing is patent and that is that the
dolphin" is an unfit boat for the navy,
no matter on whom the blame should
Justly rest, whether upon Mr.. Roach,
those who drew up the contract and
made out the specifications, or MIR.
Chandler. The ex-Secretary says that
Mr.. Roach guaranteed neither speed,
horsepower or anything else except the
materials and the workmanship.
Whether the materials are first-class Mr..
Roach alone knows, as the boat is built
and the materials are hidden by paint
or iron. Her trials showed she
was not frst-class in workmanship. Mr..
| Chandler is far more solicitous about Mr..
Whitney's resentment to himself than
for Justice to Mr.. Roach or that the ''Dol-
phin" should prove first-class boat and
be credit to the navy and the Admins
tration under which she was built. His
letter is termed "caustic" which it may
be, but is chiefly defense of burning
shame. A very good reason for the
letter is the fact that the ex-Secretary
has recently been beaten in the Senator
ial contest in Maine, and it is but natural
he should somewhere seek vent for his
pent up wrath; it is necessary tC
health. Mr.. Blaine had to indulge in
letting off steam after the election
last November, and his notorious Augusts
speech was equally caustic. CaustiC
writing and speaking seem to be disease
in Maine as well as prohibition. Ther
again Mr.. Chandler feels the sting of de
feat in the campaign of last year and the
recent election for United States Senator
In his own State, and this spurs him on
1t is the same with him as with Judge!
who write dissenting decisions, there ii
usually far more vigor in them than the
official opinion, but much less weight anC
authority. In all the controversies con
corning the Dolphin" and her merits
and demirits, one thing is certain, she
will live in history if she will not in rough
weather.