New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-23
LUDNGTON.S STATEMENT.
HE DENIES CHARGES OF MIsMANAGE-
MENT RELATING TO THE TRANS
PORTING OF TROOPS FROM
PORTO RICO.
PORTO RICO.

PORTO RICO.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: An article in your issue Of August -,
headed Official Money Wasted-Apparent Lack
OF Business Principles in Quartermaster's De-
partnent' which telegraphed TO The
Tribune from Washington, IS so full Of errors,
misstatements and untruths that feel It my
duty TO write 70 you. setting forth the facts in
the case.
The complaint seems 70 be based upon the
shipment Of troops and horses from Porto Rico.
The author Of the article states that Troops I,
K. L, NJ and n, 5th Cavalry, with some three
hundred horses were loaded on one of the War
Departments transports and lay for three days
IN the harbor OF San Juan The troops and
horses were not shipped the same vessel
The horses were carried a steamer Of the
Hollander Line. while the troops were carried
on the sedgwick an Army transport, together
with four companies Of the 18th Infantry.
He also states that owing TO the bursting OF
a steampipe two score Of horses were scalded 10
death and that eighteen died o. the way UP
from seasickuess. The truth Is that not horse
transported was killed by the bursting OF
stearapipe nor did one die from seasickness on
the way up. The only horses lost OF the ship
were an old band horse. which died from ex-
-cessive heat after the ship had reached New
overheard at see to prevent contagion. It is
true that after the horses were landed and
placed In the hands OF the stock yard company
some OF them stampeded. caused by the careless
ness Of the attendants and nine killed.
for which the stock yard company Will be held
responsible by the Government
The writer also accuses the Quarterrnaster's
Department Of making roundabout journey IN
not taking these horses into Hampton Roads
and shipping them from there TO Washington
by rail The steamship company that carried
these horses has its home port IN New-York
and II we had instructed II 70 deliver the
horses at Hampton Roads it would have been
out Of its way and would have cost the Gov
eminent more money than TO have brought
them to the home port Of the company.
This is true also Of the troops, which he says
should have been landed at Hampton Roads
The transport sedgwick had on board the
troops OF the 18th Infantry bound for New
York. and also the troops Of the 18th Cavalry
bound for Fort Myer. # the Sedgwick had
been ordered into Hampton Roads to unload
the 9TH Cavalry II would have delayed her at
least two days longer in reaching New-York, at
a cost Of about 800 day for running the ship
and would have placed the troops Of the 9th
Cavalry at g point from which II would have
cost as much 10 place them at Fort Myer as #
would from New-York where there We're better
facilities. Not only this but Hampton Roads
is governed by the Southern Quarantine law
which requires that all vessels from West India
ports he held FIVE days before the troops are
unoaded This would have required each Of
these steamers TO lie in Hampton Roads at
least a day and a half before the troops and
animals could have been disembarked-
The writer also states that it is a waste Of
money for the QUartermsster's Department to
bring load Of horses out of Porto Rico when
We were buying horses there. The only horses
bought IN Porto Rico were the cheap Porto
Rican ponies purchased last winter and spring
for the Of the Porto Rican battalion, which
is COMPOSED Of natives.
The cost OF bringing the horses Of the 18th
Cavalry from Porto Rico was sos a head. There
was no use whatever for them in Porto Rico.
rs the troops TO which they belonged were being
brought OUT, and to have replaced them here
would have cost the Government at least S125
a head Bringing these horses out also saves
the expense Of Transporting to them from New
York nay and grain, which is required, as no
forage Of any kind for American horses can be
procured on the island of Porto Rico.
He also criticses the movement OF troops
when he states that a regiment from Pennsyl-
vania was taken across the continent 10 the
Philippines and a regiment from west Of the
Mississippi was sent to Cuba. This is a matter
ever to do. The movements Of regiments are
ordered in the interests OF the public service
and this Department transports them they
are ordered.
It is not my custom to notice criticisms OF the
Ouartermaster's Department in certain journals.
but when I see them in The New York Tribune.
q paper that I know desires 70 have nothing to
do with sensational matters. I feel II my duty
10 let you know the facts in the case they
really are.
The greatest care Is exercised by and the
officers under to guard the funds appro-
prtated by Congress for the purpose OF transact
ing the business Of the Quartermaster's Depart
ment with the greatest economy. The horses
in question were brought up at most reasona-
BILE price, and award made to the lowest bidder
This letter is written with view Of crit
icising your paper. but merely to let you know
that the writer Of the article In question had
no grounds upon which TO base his statements
and to request that through your columns you
may correct tbs false impression placed upon