New-York tribune., 1890-03-30
PAYMENT FOR TIE DOLPHIN.
THE HOUSE CLAIMS COMMITTEE ON 1hE
BILL FOR RELIEF OF ROACH'S AsSIGNEES.
THE PAYMENT OF BALANOh
OF s5eo77 o7-sEvERE CRITICISM OF THE
ACTION OF THE LAST ADMIN ~
rnY IfIIGRAPu 10 THE Ik.BCNL.l

| ACTION OF THE LASI
,Br TELEGRAPH 10 THE TKiBuNEl
Washington, March 29.-The House Commi'cc
on Claims, to which was referred the Dill IN
| roduccd FOR the relief of the assiSnceS Oh Jon''
Roach, ty the payment Of S56,077 %, balance quo
on the United states dispatch boat DolpIhn' mas
drawn up a report which puts in strong hshe Ul'o
obligation OF the Government TO make eoou " '''o
dead shlpbuildcr's estate the wanton injuries uo'o
him by the Cleveland Administration. The report
says in part . ,,
The dolphin cost 900 less than the next lowest
bid 4 200 less than the estimated cOst W Nv, ,,o
Government. When the contract was dcceptcu ,I.
! koacn did not contemplate any Of the EiidShlps
that lie was subjected to, and the unciilcd i0r ueu,
the multiplicity Of the trial trips that were eAt
| before the vessel could be accepted In one ol tlc
| obliged him dock the vessel and put a large por
ton Of her bottom in anew, and caused grcat iV's s
and expense. Never before in the history Oi thc
Navy were many tests required on a vcssci; IN
March, l0s5, the vessel was substantially conpe'cu
but the encountered various obstacles 10
| tho acceptance of and payment for the vessel anu
although tho agreement specifically PROVIDED ioI tp
| work being done TO the satisfaction of the Naval
Advisory Board, the secretary of the Navy created
other boards ana other inspectors, whG uSaeatcd ,d
- The conclusions of that Board which had super
report, which SAYS The Board IS grathcd to state
that. except for this accident uhc breaking Of the
thrust length Of the shaft. the vessel would have
been recommended for acceptance"
| 1t IS a matter Of record that the steel shaft that
was broken recommended by the Nayy Depart
| mont and was I'm the specifications. and that Mr..
| Roach objected TO It's being put in the vessel At
that date there were no shafts Of steel made in tho
United states. and. further, the Navy Department paid
ADVISORY board found no fault With tho
vessel but the new made several criticisms the
| chief Of which was structural weakness. The per
formance Of the vessel since her acceptance by the
Government has dcmon,tratcd the wisdom Of The
Naval Advisory Board. and the unsoundness Of the
| theoretical conclusions Of the critics.
The board occupied in reviewing the conclusions OF
the Advisory Board pointed out some details which,
In its opinion, did not comply with the contract, and
suggested that. if the work replaced there would
neither required the contractor TO make the changes
nor Suseshd iic mahlnI 3l mem bY tis "pSerhIncnt
The i'elknap Boani completely reversed the findings
| Of the Advisory Board and decided that the con
vessel was worthless on account OF her structural
weakness. Int the fact that the findings and de
saI'ee a. founded In pre- luficc. inc9mpeiency and
hopeless incilccncy Is clearly Established by the
preston Of the Attorney General. on july
make assignment for the benefit Of
his creditors a step brought about by the Navy De
phln was accepted. however. by the proper officers
| Of the United states on November 10. 1--5. AZ that
| SO. 100 -. $4,000 of which portion II the
| appropriation made March H. l--j. for the care
| the assignee, II Nr. Roach. september 10. is-5.
The assignee, and John Roach. in consIderation Of
s.3iGo T. but " hen they aii"mpcd t. a',@2mpany @ te
amount In satisfaction o., the larger they were
met with the statement that nothing would be paid
unless the receipt In fli ab,olut" and uucGuvo'al
| 4 receipt I'm full has never been held as bar hy
| Congress. when the full amount va. not paid the
| creditor u the Government. receipt in mll
| Wa, given. and that. without explanation. might
lndlcai. payment In ful fpr all due, and demand.
but. matter Of fact. IL was given for what Wa,
| paid but not for that which vas never received.
rhc asssn.e,. pressed hv the creditors of Roach were
| compelled to cNccute the receipt In fun
That -73.iGD - wa justly du" and not disputed
and % seems 10 The COMMITTEES that. with ti, admi-
-ln the part of the executive officers TIE receipt
20 fn. under al the circIm. tlnc".. should b" III,
regarded. CarcfIl examination of 1 ~" papers falls
| 20 show that AT any time WAS TN, sum disputed or
| hat demand ever made on the contractor for a
| .urcIrc reduction - the whole ~sI.ifn -. The
,--i..urr. # john Roach lnnr. creditors ~ the
| l,0sernmeff Nr. Roach devoted hi- time. pad oti
| is money and fhr Navy Department wrecked MS
fortune n g. -ertio" iv arbitrary ani unjust a't-
.rd iI, widow and children ask fir prvl'e' ~
iaying their claim .d uGie it'd hy the CDnsrr, Of io
nlted -int"s. created expressly 10 shield the GOV
| -rnu,nt and protect citizen, from imposition ana
wrong.
The performance - ~" vceeel has established bi
incore-iallc proof that the claim /. au honest and
bona idr one and that ~ Is rooted IN truth sustained
! fy Justice. and ytINIed rs equity and honesty ~
! nnril-c. II the Government ~ The TINT q states
gcr. - pas the assignee ~ Nr. Roach -lVol"@. n
| would n1t compensate them for Tho lo--"- that the
state ha- sustained ly the acts u the Government
lne committee recommend, the payment Of @J1O'' %.
| and thai the Bill. reported. pass.