New-York tribune., 1900-09-14
FRAUD CHARGES DENIED.
COLONEL BIRD REFUTEs ATTACK ON
QUARTERMAsTER's DEPARTMENT.
EsT TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIHuxr.I


washington. Sept. 13-Colonel Bird Ac,,,v
oua-termaster-General. has made an exhaustive
answer 70 the attacks made by a DISCHARGED
clerk through Senator Mason. which have been
rubllshed IN number OF papers antaeonfstic
- Ire ADMIN .straron Senator Mason trans
r-icte5 the criticisms 10 the Secretary Of War
last May, when they were promptly investf-
gated and completely met by General Iudinr
rer The auirnus of the criticisms, which re
la-ed chiefly 70 alleged looseness Of account
ability and responsibility. was clearly shown
au5 the charges were controverted TO the salts
faction of the Secretary OF War and Of sena-
Tor Mason.
II the course Of his reply TO the attacks re-
e=nlly published. eraanating from the same dis
credited source, Colonel Bird says:
II addition 70 the old criticisms heretofore
made by Nr- Cole, he charges that in accounts
representing in The aggregate millions Of dol
lars proper vouchers were not exacted. and re-
peats E.s former charges that when he called
the attention Of one Of The chiefs TO this fact.
tie OILY reply was. In this great emergency
trer= a-e many things ,-e have TO wink at"
1T. Gle alleges that enormous frauds charac-
ter-zec The work of buying, renting and fitting
- vessels for transport duty. He states:
The water transportation business. as con-
6-c-z1 = the Quarteruas1er-Ge Generals Office
contains The records Of the most shameful waste
e-c misuse OF puo-lc FUNDS during the spanish
L shows how Lne Government has been
robbed 2 different ways Of sums Of money as
compared with which The amounts, involved in
ne Cuban postal frauds are & mere bagate.le
ard brands with 6er--rahIe incompetenCy the
Army c-=7cers dire-tly connected with them
The charge q 1l~. Cole that n accounts
-=C-esz-l-lg II -Lz a-z-.-.-z millions OF dol
lars proper vouchers W=-= l5- exacJed IS absO-
Iut5-y without f -ldarlCn. a. the records Of the
Department show LlaL az vouchers upon which
payments Of such accounts nave been made
have Invariably been certified n proper form and
ne I~=asU-T
NJ Coles reiterated statement that the prin-
c.pal c-=-A o. tEe water transportation branch
za5s Use o. the remark that ''in this great
emergency there are many things We have 70
El1k al : absolutely denied by the principal
clz-E referred 10. which denial is supported by
-h= testimony Of six other clerks who were on
duty II the same room where Nj Cole was en-
PlCval. no one q whom ever heard OF the use
q the words alleged or words TO that effect
The charge that enormous funds character
tZe5 The work q buying. renting and fitting up
O. The vessels for transport duty is untrue in
every particular. The vessels which compose
with the utmost carefuIness and upon the JUdg-
r-er- - the best expert knowledge ObI6ina bic
es 70 ire physical condition OF hUIs and ma
rk.-erv and actual market value or the ships
----rnsszE The great amount q work done by
these SHIPS since they have come into the ser
vice q the QUa-terTnasIeTs Department IS
ample proof of their worth
i selecting ships for charter, inspections as
q s=zTorth5-ess. condition OF machinery and
carrying capacity have been made BY the ON
c--= = the QuarrerTlasters Department ana the
ex-=-- euployes under them. and the results
submitted TO this Office. The prices paid for
charter have Invariably been based upon expert
evidence 70 the condition Of the ships ana
-EeI- value carriers. whenever the charLeF
--sre y z vessel has exceeded the tonnage rate
= which ereight5 could be transported the
cheaper method has been adopted