Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-08-26
ROBBiNG UNCLE SAM.

Corroborative Details of the Recent Allie
cations of Questionable Practices of Ma
val Officers in Supplying United Statef
Vessels With Stores at Cape Town.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19.-There is more
trouble growing out of the official con-
duct of naval officers ut Cape Town, on
the southeast coast of Africa, based upon
the reports of Consul Siler to the State
Department, which reflected ON Pay
master Thompson of the United States
man.of-war Lancaster, and Captain Pot
ter, acting Admiral in command of the
South Atlantic squadron. Mr.. A. Z.
Stephens, who arrived here yesterday d.
rect from Cape Town, was before the
Navy Department, and corroborated the
statement of Consul Siler in his official
communication to the State Department
Mr.. Stephens, in his testimony, dis
closed the fact that a curious Gus
tom had long since prevailed at
Cape Town by the officers OF the Ameri-
can men, of-war, when they put in there
for supplies. The most serious charge,
however, is made against Paymaster
Thompson OF the Lancaster. Last
January supplies were purchased, and it
appears there has been great rivalry be-
tween the various ship chambers at Cape
Town to secure the trade of the ship sup
plies from that point. This became so
formidable that the officers of the vessels
were soon supposed to be implicated in
the purchases, and to be sharing a por-
ton OF the profits realized by the person
lucky enough to get the contracts. Mi.
Stephens statement is to the effect that
broker, Joseph Grady, who never
owned Il hundred dollars worth of goods
in his life, was always given the con-
tracts in preference to large firms who
had on hand the goods, and could furnish
them much cheaper than could Grady or
any other broker, who was compelled to
buy from the wholesale stores. Mr..
Stephens further states that there were
prices charged for articles three times
higher than they could be purchased for
from any of the wholesale stores. In
many cases there were deficiencies in
weight. One instance is cited when
1850 pounds of Rio coffee was
named on the voucher as being 1850.
The price paid for Rio was eight cents
per pound, when, he says, it could have
been bought for four, if not less. Another
instance is cited where 100 gallons of oil
was charged as 24O, making a difference
of $3.50 in favor of Grady. The state
ment contains hundred or more similar
instances which, on his estimation, made
the lot or supplies cost as much as S5,OOO
more than they would cost from any re-
sponsible dealer. In some cases, Grady,
according to Stephens statement,
charged as high as 500 per cent more
than the market value of the
articles. Mr.. Stephens says these things
have been going on for the past five or six
years by the officers of the Pensacola,
Brooklyn and Essex, Marine, Enterprise,
Juniata and Lancaster. The law pro-
vid.s that each vessel shall advertise for
bids before letting the contracts, but Mr..
Stephens SAYS this was never done. tits
claimed by the citizens of Cape Town
that the naval officers are robbing the
Government, and this, MIR. Siler thinks,
is also true, by Grady dividing his enor.
nous profits with him.