The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-06
HIGR-PRICED TRANSPORTS
Repairs Of the Fitzpatrick Exceed
Her Purchase Price.
The Scandal in Connection With the
MerrInac RecalIed-MRny Vessels,
LuxuriousIy Appointed, TO BE Csed
I'm Bringing Troops From Ma
niIa-A Standing Army OF 100000.

Much comment adverse to the admins
tration Of the War Department has been
induced by the contract which the depart
ment entered into yesterday with Brook
lyn firm for repairs to the steamship All
patrick. a vessel that has been used IN
the Transport Service between the United
States and Porto Rico for several months.
The contract calls for the expenditure
of s4OS, 600 for repairs, altho lgh the vessel
was purchased by the Government for
$3.50. 600. The fact that the cost OF the
repairs is so much greater than the price
paid for the vessel has revived recollee-
tions of similar transactions in connection
with the Transport Service.
II is a well-knowp fact that the Mer-
rimac, the sinking OF which ship in the
Santiago channel gave to Lieutenant Hob
son such Of his fame as preceded his os-
eulatory exploits, was q dismantled hulk
when she was purcnaseG by the parties
who sold her TO the Goyernment5 The
vessel had been burned to the waters
edge in Norfolk haTb Dor, and the wreck
was sold to a New York firm for about
$50 900. The wreck Nas patched up and
was then sold to the War Department for
1886, 900.
The understanding is that the Kilpat
rick will be used in the transportation Of
American troops from the Philippines
Several other ships now engaged in the
| service have been equipped at an expense
exceeding their original cost and at least
two are as deliberately fitted out as many
OF the best ocean going passenger ships
The Fitzpatrick, when ready. is TO have
accommodations for a full regiment Of
troops with their complement Of officers
! The ship will be delivered to the de-
partment by next October and soon after
will proceed to Manila with several other
| transports now on the Pacific side to as
! sist in the transfer Of troops home.
No Government has had its trcopships 80
| elaboretely equipped as this. and while
| Great Britain impressed several fEe ira s
| Atlantic liners TO move troops TO Cape
| Town. the quarters provided the enlisted
men and the eonveniences allowed fall far
| short of those given the soldiers on several
| transports sailing out of San Francisco.
:. the Department carries out its pr sent
programme Of bringing home every volun-
| teer regiment and maintaining only regu-
| lars in the Philippines after next winter, "a
the extent Of 10000, as is now estimated -
! General CoTbin will be required. stations
both here and in Cuba will be practically
depleted pending the passage of some re-
organization measure through viii tbs
! Army will be considerably increased II
30 600 troops are needed for the Philippine:
and 5000 in Cuba and 1000 in Porto Rico
il will probably require a standing army
of at least =, 900 to provide these troop.
and properly garrison home stations.
| General Miles estimate Of a soldier L
every thousand inhabitants would Sc n
then almost inadequate to meet existing
conditions. and it is predicted by the Wa
Department officials that when the Army il
recognized the standing forces viii be in
creased to at least 100000. or approx
mately what il is now with the volunteer
included. Under the law all volunteer
must be mustered out al their homes b!
July 1 next, but II is assumed with III,
standing army Increased hundreds OF mel
now in the volunteer. ranks would enlist il
the regular Army and the demand frcn
volunteer officers for Places in the regu' 2
establishment would more than meet tn
required quota
Hundreds of officers are now expecting
to be retained, and as West Point Nnde
the present law restricting cadet appoint
meuts is unable 10 meet the demand, com
missions must go TO volunteers as perma
nent officers. Many Of the most prominen
officers now in the Army were retained a
lower ranks In the regular service 500
after the civil war. and with he regular
increased from 25.000 10 $4,000 there vii
be a great deal of Army patronage at III
= Presidents disposal and another rush {
secure places from the volunteers Tn
task of transporting over 80 900 troops
: | Manila, begun soon after Secretary ROc
: came into Office. taxed the Transport Sery
ice to its fullest capacity, and the with
dTawal of an equal number is expected {
again necessitate the employment Of
| large fleet Of ships in addition to the regU
lar transports. many OF which are kept a.
lively employed carrying supplies out al
bringing home discharged and sick troop
I Of the latter class there has been an &
5 crease with the wet season, and every shi
returning from Manila during the Ter
four months viii probably include in h
passenger list number Of men invalide
, home from the ranks.