New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-10
CRITICISM THAT WAS FALSE.
SECRETARY wHITNEY's FUTILE POLITICAL
EFFORTs-THE RECORDS DIsPRovE SOME
ST ATFNENTS AROT-r TIE TENNESSEE.

SECRETARY wHITNEY's FUTILE POLITICAL
EFFoRTs-THE RECORDS DIsPRovE SOME :
STATEMENTS ABOUT THE TENNESSEE
Washington Nov 0-secretary Whitney in his an.
nual report endeavOred to show corruption by Re
publican Administration in condemning the first ma
chinery Of the Tennessee and putting in new ma
chinery built by John Roach. In support OF his
position, 10 show the superiority Of the original ma
chnery, he gave alleged quotation from tho report
Of the chief engineer Of the ship after the trial OF the
machinery in January, 1867, follows:
Upon her trial trip, n January, 1867,
The chief en- glneer says If the strength and work
manshp Of the machinery cannot be depended upon
then reliance is TO be placed upon the performance
Of any steam machinery with which am acquainted"
senator Chandler, the Secretary OF tie Navy undsr
the Republican Administration alluded TO, at once
had the pass resolution that Secretary Whit
ney have compilation Of all Of the records concerning
the Tennessee formerly tho Madawaska sent 10 The
Senate. The report finished in August, but the
enterprisng head Of tle Government Printing once
held IT back until few days order that the
downright falsehood published IN the secretary's
nual report, and which had been used a campaign
document, might not be disproven before election.
The documents in answer TO the Chandler resolu-
ton absolutely disprOve the secretsry declaration
and show that Of the five trials at Of the Teu-
nessee's engines, which from Mr.. Roachs
des gns, four unsuccessful At the fourth trial
inc vessel maze an average speed OF lO)c
per hour The Board Of Engineers which conducted
the trial did agree In their report. The majority
reported that the trial was unsatisfactory and thas
the terms Of the contract were not fulfilled One
engineer Of the Board made minority report above
quoted
The Secretary also noted that the Tennessee at
tanned speed Of sixteen knots at Of the trials,
but upon careful examination Of the logs, giving the
speed at every hour, they do not show that such
speed attained, not even for single hour.
But the logs do show that during the trials tho
engines were stopped frequently to remedy defects.
The Board of Engineers not able TO report that
the machinery had worked satisfactorily, but did
express an opinion that, with certain exceptions it
capable of fulfilling the guarantee Of the contract
The facts that the contract was made toward
the close Of the Civil War when the Government WA
not position exact strict conditions from
tractors and consequently it found itself In 1867 with
the machinery of the Madawaska TENNESSEE nearly
paid for by instalmens, and with insufficient security
TO get its money back In Of rejection Of the
machinery. The only thing to do to accept the
lesser Of TWO evils. The machinery worked
satisfactorily I'm regular service. and Il sold for
SO0,UOO and new machinery put IN which gave no
speed with about third OF the consump tion
Of coal For al this Secretary Whitney condemned
former Administration and asks verdict Of ap-
prOval upon eX-parie evidence; The old machinery
OF only the purchaser. 10 be broken up
and sold used Old material The may DO
SAID of the last machinery Of the Tennessee when dis
posed OF by secretary Whitney year ago, which with
the copper fastened hull was sold for S34. 525, or
only tlfc than half OF what the first machinery
alone brought. And II was charged thai favorfttsm
was shown the latter purchaser because Of his
political preferences.