The morning news., 1898-08-27
LEWIS TALKS OF SHIPS.
THE WASHINGTON REPRESENTA-
TIVE'S CAMPAIGN SPEECH.


Pointed Reference to "PubIic and
Private Thieves in Time of War"
Prices Paid for Transportation of
Soldiers ON Land and Sen-Mr.
Lewis Affecting PerOration.
From the Washington Post
Representative James Hamilton Lewis
of Washington state, has followed the ex-
ample of that distinguished OMAN. Gen.
Grosvenor, by extending his remarks in
the Congressional Record after adjourn
ment One of the late editions has
speech OF his br.stling with charges Of
acknowledgement of the war. 1t is headed
Trusts and Treason-The Twin Birth of
Republican Legislative Favors" The
speech purports to have been made when
the House was considering the sundry
civil appropriation bill. "Wheu this state
meut is presented" says Mr. Lewis,
Congress will have adjourned. The rea-
son Of the delay is that 1 am waiting for
the statement from the war and navy
departments of the ships and transports
purchased, the terms of the contracts and
the amounts paid"
The deliverance is admirably framed for
campaign purposes the language suggest
ing the heroic poses for which Represen-
tative Lewis is noted when addressing
the House. Il address myself" says he
"to the honorable President of the United
States and such other patriotic American
citizens as, like unto that President are
animated by the holiest desires for the
welfare of the people and the honor of
the nation" With some references 20 tAe
tendencies of people to forget that many
things labeled patriotism have but the
object of thievug ana corruption, and
that public and private thieves have
learned that in time when people are agi-
taied in war and animated With patriotism
they least criucise the conduct of public
men, and are seldom on euard against
their betrayers." Mr.. Lewis forcbly re-
views the civil service and currency, the
Dingley bill, Secretary John Addison Por-
ter's communication to the Hartford
Post. touching the character Of congress
men, ana divers other topics.
All this is Mr.. Lewis preface to dis
cussion about the purchase of ships for the
war when war was on says Mr. Lewis,
ships had to be obtained. vessels Of every
description. Here we have the first indi-
cation. When the ship tonnage-tax was
placed IN he war bill, this was Gus out in
The Senate by Senator Hanna, chairman
of the Republican campaign committee,
who had large interest upon this score. lie
officially stated to the Cleveland Leader
that that tax must have been uniutention-
al, as If affected directly the interests of
many friends. When ne returned to the
Senate It was stricken out and these ship
ping companies were exempted. Now this
distinguished senator echoes the Democrats
opposed furnishing revenue These shipping
concerns at once proceeded TO sell every
rotten old hulk, every dismantled and dis
carded ship 10 the government at most
fabulous prices. and committed indirectly
a crime. In the meanwhile they carried sup
plies to our Spanish enemies to fight US.
/ can but note a few instances in passing,
as l shall subsequently present Them TO the
country in a tabulated Est. Although this
information has been officially denied me-
ii shall be secured
There was the Morrim9c, that cost S102,-
O00 that was in such condition as TO be
of no use and a general failure, yet, as
stated by Two New York papers, and more
lately in a semi-ofIiciai report through the
Office of an administration senator, II was
sold to the government fer $4,000, and
then was so rotten and Of little consequence
that heroic Hobson had TO adopt the meth
Cd of sinking her 10 make an ordinary sea
obstruction.
AT this time a distinguished senator's
brother had a yacht. the COmanche, which
cost $4S 900. It had been in use for a long
time, yet, through friends from Ohio this
yacht, after being so used and being of
little consequence, was sold to the govern
meut for $l0200O Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt rebeled against this infamy. but
was hushed. II is publicly known that this
was one of the things which forced him
to leave the navy department
zone of the Havemeyers. who had re-
ceived such bounties from this govern
ment in sugar taxes was pqrFnitfed a
sell his pleasure yacht through the In
fuence of friends in the administration
at an outrageous advance. Vanderbilt
purchased yacht at a cost Of 10000 in
England-fl1C coo sterling and a little over
and through the influence of a former Sec
retary of the Navy, together with the
friendship of certain ones in power, made
a contract 70 dispose Of the same to the
United States government for $250,O00 So
Infamous was this last deal that the Van
derbjlts themselves, objecting to the large
profit 10 be made by those on the in
side" have rebelled and disclosed the
truth. In the patriotic offer of yachts
to the government by those who did not
dare to use them in cruising, for fear
of being seized on the seas through our
trouble with Spain, we discover that they
had first arranged with certain officials
of the administration for a most whole
some profit, and sold these yachts at mag
IlNctUL SUMS.
Among those whose patriotism was re-
warded with excellent premiums was c.
p Huntington. Illustrate his pressing
the favor upon US. Let me recall how a
certain fashionable dude IN New York
city had resurrected his yacht from the
bottom and secured certain administra-
ton senator from Northern state to-
gether with other influence, sold e to the
government for 5000 and in the cham
pagne orgy 81 the Arlington Hotel dis
closed the details. The latter instance is
publicly stated In the New York World
through such a reliable man as Alfred
Henry Lewis, and in nowise denied"
The voters OF Washington state viii
have further startling campaign reading
when Representative LewIs' speech
reaches them under government frank.
After sandWichlng into his speech some
alarming material about armor plate and
the steel trust Mr.. Lewis pays hs re-
sDccts 10 the railroads and their part IN
this war. THE men had 10 be transport
ed TO the different camping grounds"