Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-04-14

me MoKav BH Mos, S,,.,n.,,,..
UIlsn.

me MohaB BM Mosi Summarize, -.
M Upon.
"hhinton special: The pres;don,
, ,o,uAy sent to the house without his an.
,Foval bill for the relief Of Na,han; ~
" ~, executor Of Donald Mckay
ne president says in his mcssa,o
I'm, .n@' ~ u The purpose Of the bill 10 allow
',e nehehciaries to present 10 the com.
o. claims for determination certain do
inands made by them against The GO ~
erhment on account Of Construction q,
sm9 ifoh'eiad monitors-the squando
a sh Nanset-and side wheel steamor
~ otgiiueiter' The construction M the
Vessels began IN 1868, and II was aore saS
elat they should be completed w;tb;n
~ or eight months. IL was nroy;dad
.ilat the government should lave m
privilege OF making alterations and al
ullloiis 10 the plans and specifications AZ
any time during the progress ~ a. ~
work, and that il these aItera,; ons
s, noalu cost extra expense TO the con.
a. .ne government should pay for
t ~ .i haihe az a lar and reasonable rate
- mus appears that the time allowed
Iot lne completion Of these vessels WAS
win the assent Of the contractors. made
exceedingly short, and that, nothwith.
Standing this fact, they consented N
lefinit such alterations of the plans rs
must necessarily prolong the time for
such extension and fix their measure Of
compensation for such alterations nj n
favorable aud reasonable rate. The
president submits his objection IN tba
bill with the following veto:
IL seems, then, that the contractors
mentioned in this bill, after entering a
contract plainly indicating that change
OF the plans and consequent DELAY IN
thelr work were in condemnation
availed themselves Of the remedy which
they themselves had provided, and
therefore received about 30 per cent In
the case OF two of these vessels of the
contract price for extra work, giving the
government receipt in full. when soon
thereafter opportunity was offered them
70 make a further claim OF as broad a
nature as they could desire they failed
10 do 10, aud one Of them diselaimed
amy right 10 recover on account OF tbe
vessels honsh all are now included in
the present bill.
la 1861 the. claims were fully exam
lned under law Of congress and re.
lested IA the supreme court in an er-
acily similar case, which finds neither
laS nor equity supporting them. II il
he claimed that no compensation has
been yet allowed solely for the increase
m The price Of labor aud material caused
ny delay IN construction il is no hard
ship 10 say that as the contractors made
provisions for change Of plans and de.
lay they must have taken the risk Of
such rise IA price aud be satisfied with
the provision they have made against il
IA their bids Much Of the entire in.
crease Of price Of labor and material Is
included IN the extra cost which has
already been reimbursed 20 them, but
the hill does not provide that these con-
tractors shall be limited in the court Of
claims 30 a recovery solely for loss
t'ccAsioncd by increase OF the cost Of
labor and material during the delny
caused by the government
by the terms 81 the proposed act the
court il directed 10 ascertain the addi-
iional cost necessarily incurred in build
ing the vessels by reason Of any changes
- AAAAf AtAAtAAe ga AAAN l4AAAAh AAAA
tions and DELAYS in the prosecution Of
the work. This, il seems to me, would
enable these contractors 10 open the
whole question Of compensation for OK
ira work II hardly seems fair 10 the
government 20 permit these claims 20
he presented after lapse Of twenty.
three years Einee settlement in full
was made and receipts given, after the
opportunity which has been offered for
establishing further claims, il they eK-
isicd, aud when as q consequence OF the
cuntnciors' neglect the government
would labor under great disadvantages
ia its defense. am Of the opinion, in
view Of the history Of these claims and
the suspicion naturally excited as TO
their merit, that no injustice will be
done IL they are laid Al rest instead OF
being given new life and vigor in the
court Of claims
GROVER CLEVELAND.