New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-08
JUSTICE or THE ROACH CLAIMS.
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE IoRNE0
DEPUTY SECOND CONTROLLER.

AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE FORMER
| DEPUTY SECOND CONTROLLER
Washington, Jan. (specaD.-The assignees Of the
John Roach trying to obtain, through congress
some thousands Of dollars due the estate on unse'eo
| claims for work done for the Government Inc JUS
tlce Of the claims is not disputed by the committee Of
either branch Of Congress to which the subject was
referred the last session, and IL has been ADMITTED
by the accounting officers OF the Treasury Department
1t Is generally admitted that John Roach, VINO was
prosperous shipbuilder, driven Into bankruptcy,
lot into his grave by the harsh and unjushabc acts
of officers Of the Government and IL would seem 10 be
no more than Justice demands that his estate should
| receive the money due from the Government
In relation to the justice Of the pending claims
| letter from Il. D. Mcmahon, late Deputy second Con-
troer OF the Treasury Department, Is OF interest,"
The letter bears date of January 3 1o9l and Is adj
dressed to the asslgnees Of Mr.. Roach. 1T reads "a
| follows:
In reply TO your request that express my judgment
OF the claims OF the late John Roach for payment que on
the monitors Puritan Roanoke snd Dolphin say to you
very frankly that have never had but one opinion % u'
claims and that was expressed to Mr. Bunn OF North Caro-
| lima a member OF the House Committee on Claims
| The fact that the Puritan and Roanoke claims wets
pronounced just by both the Senate and House Committees
on Claims during the last session. II evidence enough 70
,emovc any doubt might have Of their justice II had
any. When Ike Senator Faulkner passes favor
ably upon measure, know It must have merit ana !u-
tee upon It's face.
/
Office while [ was Deputy Controller. They had ALREADY
been examined and scruunized in every particular ound
to be reasonable and just and recommended for payment
y board OF naval officers appointed by the secretary Of
the Navy.
The Controller held that there was no available ap
preparation to pay them, Mr.. Roach should make appia
ton TO Congress- there being other way Of securing pay
mcnt The merits Of the claim, however. were not dis
puted questioned As Dolphin, she had b-cn Pc.
nounc .structurally weaN' by the Beknap Board, a
houg built under the dierctIon OF the Naval ed''ciy
Board which had been created by act OF Congress- Fe'ea
with the pcntitudc OF power to reject or approve the WORK
Che only competent and legal authority 70 pass oh 'AS
vessel when completed
The Beknap Board pronounced the Dolphin "struetu''
ally weak" thereby cOntridictng and eondemnhg me
Naval Advisory Board. As result OF the pronounce
mont OF the Belknap Board Tor Boad No. p the sum Of
s2S 100 rs Of the s73 100 IS then due owing and unpaid
to exanguished and he vas offered $4,000 ov
way OK compromise. In that condition the claim came to
the Second Controller, who did not change te action OF
the Navy Department.
Tn. record since made bv the Dolphin has proved be-
yond cayil II there any structural weakness
H. was In the Beknap Board. whose verdict was premature
,wi., ana unjust Secretary Tracy in h> inst annual
pOr, say, the Of this Vessel "i' oaGly without
psallel n the history OF naval vessels and bears con-
elusive testimony the high skill OF American artisans
and the excellence Of their work.
In view Of these facts no honest or fairmnded man
can question the justice the case have heard
fair man OF either patty DO Certainly do not ~.
cause cannot.
Whether Republican Congress Will do justice shall
not undertake TO say in the XLIXth and Lth Congresses.
the Republicans individually and collectively. talked about
the done the greatest American shpbuilder, ana
u,dged themselves to yndcate him believed then, as
said during the late campaign and as really believe
now that such hollow and in,ncere-downrisht
political bunc0mbe.
MIR Mcmahon Is undoubtedly in error in the opinion
with The expression OF which his letter concludes.
There l. no req doubt the sincerity OF the Re
addcd flat fail.minded men who have carefully in
vtsaed tie claims cone EIDE that they are honest and
lust aud ought to be pad.