New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-15
4 NONP1RTISAy NAVY

The dispatch to the Navy Department from
Commodore Benbam respecting the Charleston
first trial trip contained the dismal word " fail
uren The maximum horsepower developed
was reported to be 1900 below the contract
requirements, and the starboard engines were
not working properly. II is interesting to notice
what Secretary Tracy has to say in explana-
ton Of the official dispatch Docs he magnify
the importance Of the unfsvorablc news and
deliberately diSparage the work done under his
predecessors management lie does nothing
OF the kind Ho remarks that the word fail
ure,n as used in the dispatch, needs qualfica-
ton, and does not imply that the vessel has
been shown 10 be unable TO fulfil the require
nents Of the contract. He makes light OF the
heating of the engine-slides as n defect that
can readily be rcmedied The machinery is
new, he explains, and the first trial trip Is
naturally attended with disappointment, owing
to conditions which can be easily altered an
other time.
The Secretary's conservative comments are
worthy of special mention, because his tone is
so markedly unlike that Of his predecessor In
dl paraging the mcrt' of the Roach vessels.
The Dolphins default in horsepower WAS only
so, while the Charleston's Is 1900 from the
lowest contract requirement and tho defects
Of tho machinery in her trial trips werc too
trivial 10 be seriously considered; yet tho vessel
wa condemned in the most partisan spirit a.
an Ldcsgned and miscalculaied failure Tho
Atlanta was dealt with equally unfairly and
the contractor, who had not designed either
ship but had faithfully built both under rigorous
~ tom tho nonn ~ men 4 4
own designs, was houndgd into bankruptcy and
the grave. Secretary Tracy does not intend to
initiate the blunders Of the Democratic Admin
istration. He finds the Charleston completed,
and il anxious TO have the best possible results
in horsepower and speed developed. The
fairest treatment which the circumstances
Justify him in according TO tho contractor Is to
DO allowed. There is no attempt to discredit
the Whitney cruisers. Partisanship in the con-
duct Of the Department Is scrupulously avoided.
What would our Democratic friends now say
IL the Union Iron Works OF San Francisco were
TO be subjected TO tho cruel persecution which
plunged John Roach into bankruptcy VIC
found il hard to convince them four years ago
that there was any injustice in tho Depart
ment's partisan action In discrediting the
Chandler vessels and bounding the contractor
TO his death. Let them now have the courage
to admit that Republican administration OF tho
Navy does not involve malevolent partisan as
sauIts upon shipbuiIders who undertake Gov
eminent work How mOnstrous would be the
injustice of saddling upon the California ship
ward tho entire responsibility for failure OF
Secretary Whitney's English designed ship to
fulfil expectations at the first moment! What
monumental folly it would be for the Depart
ment to obtain n hostile opinion from the At
torney-Genera and to do everything in itS
mower TO injure tho credit of enterprising ship
builders. whose co cooperation is needed In tho
construction OF the new navy Such things
were done under the last Administration and
there were scores Of Democratic journals that
STYLED such proceedings n triumph OF reform"