Daily Republican., 1885-07-29
The Objections 10 Roach.

The OBJ ectioBs 10 Roach.
The reason why so much has to be
said on the John Roach failure case, is
because 80 many misrepresentation
have been made of it, and because the
government by pushing him to the
wall, has made an active demonstration
against one of the great industries OF
the nation. The Democrats long before
the Preside ntial election, made the
charge that John Roach had been for
years subsisting upon government pa
tronage and favoritism, but the charge
had no foundation in fact, and was
great mi ustce to that great shipbuilder
The facts In the case Of Mr.. Roaoh's
transactions with the government ut
terly disprove these charges, and over
throw the assumptions OF those who
have bounded him into bankruptcy.
That he was a favorite Of the govern
ment was true, and most naturally so.
A man who builds ia iron steamships
iutwenty years, and built them we'll,
would be well thought of by any ma
ton or people that appreciated indus
try, pluck and vim. The greater num-
ber of these iron ships were launched
from the Chester ship yards, and they
represented value of little more
than $50, ,OOO, 900. That is q good round
sum, it is true, and il it all came from
the government, there might have pos
sibly been some grounds for the cry of
favoritism at least more than there now
are. But the fact is that but small
percentage of this amonnt came from
the government.
They consisted chiefly of steam ships
engaged in trade along the coast and
with South American countries. Mr..
Roach himself is author for the state
ment that ninety per cent. of the iron
vessels sailing under the American flag
were built by him, and also that ninety
per cent. of his ship-building has beer
for the merchant marine ser rvice. Com
pared with what he has done for tn,
merchant marine and carrying com
panies, his transactions with the gov
ernment have been comparativel,
meagre, amounting only to about s. i,
600, 900, exclusive of the new cruiser
under way. So much for the govern
ment patronage cry.
But 1t has been charged that he wa
preferred bidder by the government
This term, we believe, implies that L
matter what other bids may have bee
for the same work, John Roachs bi
was accepted, whether high or lov
Let us see how this charge Eolds ou
His first important transaction wit
the government was the building
the compound engine for the Trento
For that he bid s635, 900, and his
WAS SIS 600 lower than the next lo'
est. Did it look like favoritism for t
government to give this contract
John Roach? In 1873, out of Gig
new engines ordered by the Cover
mont, only one of them fell to 10
Roach, for which he received Sl20, o.
".ner s-ss sevsri. III 3eiadl 3al, f9r each of
Democrats charge, why did he 1
receive the whole eight engines
build?
In the same year he built two sloc
of war for the government, the contrs
being $3.50, 900 for the two. Why
he get the contract ? Simply becal
his bid was $50 900 lower than ar y otl
bid. What piece of favoritism t
was Let thu Democrats who ms
this charge Look at the figures and
their cheeks blanch with shame /
here is another bit of favorihsm
which the government was guilty, 9
Of which John Roach reaped the be
fit A sectional dock was needed
the Pennsylvania Navy Yard, and 2
posais were asked for building it. j,
II bach got the contract but how die
get 1t He got 1t because he bid 5.
600 lower than any other bidder.
j ohnRoach fattened off the governm
on such contract, how fat would
man have become who bid $50, 900 II
had he got the contract? When
fourteen iron turretted monitors '
ordered, in view of possible tro
with Spain, Roach received four
them, at price fixed by the gov
ment, on the same terms for all br
ers. Had these monitors been ri
out by contract to the lowest bidd
Roach might have got all of them,
In this case he took only wha. the
eminent gave him and took the g
price given to other builders. In
two other moaitors were given hin
build, out OF Ave, at stipulated pr
One of the Ave still lies unfinished
the Harlan & Hollingsworth shipy
In our city. Had John Roach
such pet of the government as
been represented, he would have
given the whole five 10 build. Th
believe, com pletes his work for the
ornment down to the contracts for
Dolphin and the three new cruiser
construction Of which have been
rupsed by Secretary Whitney's a
upon the validity OF the contracts
will be seen that upon the pre-
contracts above enumerated, on
he was the lowest bidder, Mr.. ]
saved to the government Sl35, 900.