Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-08
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
cENERAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Secretary whiisey Informs John Roach
That the Contract for Building the "chi-
cnso- Has Been Forfeited.


Secretary Whitney yesterday sent the
following letter to John Roach and his
assignees and sureties on the contract
for the Chicago
sBy the seventh clause Of your con-
tract with the United States, dated
July %, 1888, for the construction oil
one steel cruiser Of about 1880 tons
displacement, it was agreed that the
hull, machinery, and fittings OF such
vessel should be completed and ready
for inspection for the purpose OF deliver
ing on OF before the expiration OF eighteen
months from the date ofcontract. IL was
further provided in the eleventh clause
that in case Of failure OF omission OF the
contractor at any stage OF the work
prior to the final completion from any
cause other than the order Of the Sec
rotary Of the Navy to 60 forward with
the work and make satisfactory pro-
gress towards its completion, 1t should
be optional with the Secretary to de-
clare the contract forfeited. More than
six months have now elapsed since the
expiration Of the limit thus fixed,
and the work upon the vessel has been
stopped, while much remains to be
done before she can be finally
completed. At the same time it is evil
dent that the public interests require
the vessel in question, known as the
Chicago, to be completed with all
practicable speed, and it has therefore
become necessary for the Department to
take immediate and definite action look
ing to that end. Under these circum-
stances and in consequence of the fail
ure of the contractors to proceed with
the work, | have to inform you
that the contract above referred
to is hereby declared to be forfeited
on the part Of the contractors, and
that the right Of the United States
under the contract, and especially I'M
der the 18th, 18th, and 18th clauses
thereof, are now operative. You are
further informed that it is the intention
Of the Department, after an inventory
and appraisement shall have been had,
to take steps for the prosecution OF
the work and completion Of the said
vessel, in accordance with the condi-
tons expressed in the contract, and
that in the mean time the chiefs Of the
Bureau of Steam Engineering and Con-
struction and Repair Of this Department
will take charge Of the vessel, machin-
cry, materials, and fittings"
Similar letters also were sent in re-
gard to the Atlanta and Boston, and an
order was issued to the chiefs Of GER
tain bureaus to take charge Of the
work. In issuing the orders Secre-
tary Whitney says THE order issued
to-day with reference to the Boston,
Atlanta, and Chicago, is made in pur-
suance 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 completion vessels have come
and what material is on hand in the
contractors yard which has been pro-
vided for the ship, and how far the work
has progressed, to be followed by the
valuation Of these things. There is
then provision that the Department
shall decide whether to complete the
ships. As the matter now stands there
is no question of my duty. 1t works
sn incidental benefit, of course, to the
contractor and to his employees.
The Government steps into the
yard, takes possession Of the ships
plants, &C., pays for the completion
and then has an accounting with tn:
contractor at the end, and if there il
any profit the contractor has it, and i
there is any loss he pays it. Under
those circumstances it is entirely fl
for heads Of bureaus having supervi
sion Of the work to use the contractor!
force and his plant for the purpose.
SECRETARY ENDICOTT's ORDERS
RADICAL CHANGES.
Secretary Endicott has prepared {
surprise for army officers by amending
certain army regulations so as to MAKE
them read as follows: An officer shall
not fill any staff appointment or othe
situation the duties Of which will de
tach him from his company, regiment
or corps until he has served at leas
three years with his regiment or corps
nor shall any officer remain detached
longer than four years, unless assigned
to special duty by the War Depart
ment."
The Secretary promulgates thi
change with the following orders:
d" All officers below the grade Of fell
officer, who have been absent for pc
Rod of four years, or longer, from thei
regiment or corps. will be relieved from
their present duties as soon as practica
bic after receipt Of this order, and di
rected to report for duty with their re
spective regiments or corps. In tn
selection Of aides-de-camp to fill yacan
cies created by the operation Of the las
preceding paragraph, major and briga
dier-generals will confine their selection
TO officers Of regiments Of the line 0
the army not prohibited in the regula
tions, and preferably to subalterns.N
This action on the part Of Secretar.
EndicOtt is in pursuance of his policy L
provide fer the rotation of officers
Since he assumed the duties Of his ottic
he has frequently received letters from
officers on the frontier saying that. a
the new Administrative had taken con
troll Of the Government, they hope
consideration would be given to them
and that they would be allowed I
change positions with officers who ha
had enyiable places for number q
years.
As originally prepared the above OF
der was more sweeping. 1t provide
that no officer should remain detache
from his regiment longer than fou
years. This was modified to the ex
tent that it should affect no one DE-
tailed to special duty by the Wa
Department. All aides sppointe
simply by major or brigadiel
generals will be compelled to joi
their regiments. Two aides VIII
were appointed by generals and NJ
assigned to duty by the Departmer
have been away from their regiment
seventeen wears. Other officers hay