Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-25
WORKS.
BILL IN THEIR BEHALF IN GOOD
SHAPE FOR PASSAGE.
THE WILLIAM T. ANDERSON CASE.
appointment VIII lie Confirmed IL
There Il Another Executive Ses-
sion I'm Time-North Carolina
Judgcship Matter TO Go over.

WASHINGTON, D. c., February "a
(Special)-The friends of the Richmond
Locomotive and Machine Works have
their bill in good shape and they are
hopeful Of its passage before the closing
Of the present session. Representative
Elicit is actively and enthusiastically
pushing the measure, and has secured
from the Speaker such expressions favor
able TO the bill as to warrant the belief
that he VIII grant recognition for its
passage under a suspension Of the rules.
This would require only a single vote,
If no objection is made. and the bill would
be as good as passed.
Mr.. Elicit was so successful in get
ing through the claim of William 3.
Isaacs & Co. that the utmost confidence
is expressed in his ability to put the
also. The bill, as reported to the House
in Committee Of the Whole, and ordered
to be printed, provides that the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury shall pay 70 the
Richmond Locomotive and Machine
Works the sum Of s59.556.S9, out Of any
money in the Treasury not otherwise ap-
proDriated, in fun Of It's claim for dam
ages and losses incurred In the construc-
ton Of the armored battleshp Texas.
The bill passed the Senate June 6. 1896,
and its passage by the House at the
present time would be a great boon to
the mechanics Of Richmond, as it would
enable the company to engage in more
extensive enterprises. and. of course, Of
= no
following Is a brief synopsis Of the re-
port Of the committee:
COMMITTEE REPORT.
after full investigation, your COM
mittee find that the Richmond Locomo-
tive and Machine-Works. Of Richmond,
Va, by contract with the Government
of the United States, Of date May 30,
1882 became contractors for the con-
struction and delivery of the machinery
for tho United States armored battle
ship Texas which was to be built by the
government at the Norfolk navy-yard,
Va. The government, upon its part,
was TO construct the hull Of said vessel.
Under the terms Of tho contract, the
contractors were placed under heavy
bonds, in which forfeitures and penalties
were amply provided requiring them to
have completed said machinery and 10
commence the erection Of the same on
board the Texas on November so, 1891.
On account Of a very disastrous fire at
the works Of the contractors pending
the construction of said machinery. and
by which q large amount thereof was
destroyed, the time within which the
machinery was to be constructed and
erected was extended until July 30 1893.
The contractors claim that they per
"a n q
but that they were subjected to consi-
derable and unreasonable delay, and 10
additional expenses and damage in the
completion Of the machinery under their
contract, by reason Of the failure on the
part of the government TO complete the
hull of the Texas in time to allow the
machinery to be finished and tested as
required
"a statement in writing, setting forth
the claim Of the contractors. made by
Mr.. w. II. Trigg president Of said COM
pany, accompanies this report. This
fully presents the view Of the contractor.
The amended bill accompanying this re-
port was submitted TO the Honorable
Secretary of the Navy by the Committee
on Naval Affairs, with the request that
he would furnish such Information and
advice in the premises as might be
deemed proper. BY this, IT will be seen
that It Is admitted that the contractors
were subjected 10 delays and additional
expense in the construction Of the ma
chinery by reason Of the failure Of the
government TO complete the hull in time
to allow the machinery to be placed and
tested
"rsie Navy Department has audited
and adjusted the claim OF said locomo-
fireworks in conformity with House bin
No. $780, From this document, ii
appears that the chiefs Of the Bureaus
of Construction and Repair and Steam
Engineering report upon and allow the
claim Of the Richmond Locomotive and
nToohf,o NKrov1rc foIIou-c.