Evening star., 1898-12-07
Col. Hecker Testifss Before the Inc
vestigating Commission.
UNREASONABLE PRICES MOI PAID
His Action Was Indorsed by the
War Department
CON ACTS

Tho war investigation was continued this
morning by the commission at the Lem,,,
huilding. Colonel Denhy presided Pan
master General Stanton was the first Wit
ness. He was on the stand only a few
minutes and was questioned solely as 10 10
The delay in paying the troops in Cuba.
He said that those I'm command gave him
orders or requests, asking that the pay oI
the volunteers be deferred until they re-
turned 10 the United States. believing that
To be proper and advisanIe in view nr the
circumstances. He believed that Major
General Miles had ordered that the nav II,
Cuba be withheld. and as 10 Porto Rico by
several commanders. The witness coull
give no other reasons for the orders and
the commission will secure further details
by the officers in question.
Col. Hecker a witness
Col. HcckCr of the quartcrmaster gem
erals office, in charge of the Transportation
of troops. next testified He was examined
chiefly by Gen. Beaver lie said ha was
appointed a quartermaster Of volunteers
july last. As to water transport d tion be
stated that there were no facilities before
II" began work. On authority of The Sec
rFtary OF War between June ~. when ne
assumed charge, and July -, seventeen
vessels were purchased. He found ~ per
cent Of the tenders he examined early IN
his administration unsuted either hcraase
Of age, unseaworthiness or need Of i'm
mediate and exp ms Ve r,pGi-s or trnpras-
ticabiltN Cf ventilation.
Col. Hecker WAS mlnutcly questioned ne
TO the character of tha ships ana was
Obliged 10 refer to notes and records. fr,m
which he read in detail.
Did you deal dir,c ly wiki III uwue?S
OF The vessels or through Intermediary J.al.-
tics?' asked Gov. Beaver.
Either with the owners or those author
i've
wherever possible
In how many cases did you Geall with
others than owners Of the Nes~.ls?''
Col. HeclIer had TO consult his notes he
fore responding. Finally he mentioned sly
tfai refrigerator and freight ships. He said
he kn W of no Instance when more than the
actual price was paid for vessel. despite
the pressing necessity. He ALWAYS secured
a ship for less than the price asked. The
Atlantic Transportation Company had Of
fered its entire feet 10 the government.
Seven were purchased for an aggregate sum
of S4,Gon,Wa, saving of SSl,Em on the first
price asked. These were bought June ~
Did the urgency of the govornmrut's
tssed affect prlees?" asked GOV. Beaver.
No apparently not" replied III, Wit
Hess. The prices paid would have l.en
only fair valuations under ordinary condl-
lions. Plenty of ships were offered aud we
were not under compulsion to buy any ~
them
No Outside influence Exerted.
Cen Beaver asked if any outside iui7l-
ence, apart from the government or the
contracting parties. had been oxertrl and
tn" witness emPhatically Responded in The
negative.
Was there any possibility for a thll
party 10 be benefited by these purchases
asked Gov. Beaver.
in the cases of the Port Victor and the
Soandia there certainly was. To what ex-
tent l cannot tell
-f,,.rsa l..
Nequent use and service of the vessels pur-
chased justified the prices given. The pres
eht transport fleet Of the army Is equal
now 10 any emergency. Referring To the
prospect for landing troops at Havana he
said that contract has been let by the
government for building deep water pIcr
IN Havana bay, just outside the little VII
iAee Of Casa Blanca, and for stretch of
railroad running therefrom and connecting
with all the Havana railways. This l. to
he completed February 10 next
ON III" subject of railway TRANSPORTATION
contracts Col Hecker said that the rail
roads not himself controlled the rates. and
that they charged more tina they ought 10
have done As an instance he said that one
read had asked S13 per man TO haul frnous
from thlckamauga TO Newport News bat
10y letting the contract to another line AMI
IN this city rate Of IS was made The
first iire then offered to reduce its rate
hut the offer was declined.
This stutema mt brought up the question ~
the testimony of Col. Lee chief quarter
master at Chickamauga, who had alleged
Unwarranted Interference in his work of
letting contracts by the authorities at
Washington. Col Lee had named Col
ii -cker and Col. Bird I'm particular As 10
this Col Hecker testified and showed ny
documentary evidence that his acts were
Endorsed and approved by the War Depart
mcnt He said that reasons of economy
influenced intervention in the award Of
contracts from this city.
Col. Hecker said there was little delay IN
getting supplies To Montauk, but admitted
That there was some In getting them into
the warehouse there.
H also denied that there was any in
nucncC' eNerted and yielded to In ''rout-
ing the troops over the several lines En-
gently" session and recess interren-d Col.
Hecker WAS again on the stand In the after
noon.