Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-14
DENOUNCED AS F ALSE
Gen. Ludington's Denial of John O.
Coles Charges.
DEFECTS LARGELY IMAGINARY
Due Precautions Taken to Guard
Public Interests.
SUPPLIES AND TROOPSHIPS

Quartermaster General Ludington has
made a detailed and comprehensive state
ment in refutation Of the published charges
against his administration preferred by
John o. Cole, a former clerk of the office,
which were made the subject of CORES
pondence between Senator Mason of Hill
nois and the War Department. Generally,
these charges alleged ignorance and care
.lessness on the part of officers of the quar-
termaster's department in keeping ac-
counts; that proper vouchers were not eX-
acted for accounts representing millions of
dollars, and that enormous frauds char
acterized the work of buying, renting and
fitting up vessels for transport duty. Mr..
Cole also alleged that money was shame
fully wasted and that transports were held
idle at great cost
Charges Against Cole.
In his statement. Gen. Ludington says in
regard to Cole who was appointed tenn
porary clerk in his office in 1898:
almost from the beginning his habits
were noticed to be Objectionable
His use of intoxicants frequently untitled
him for any public work whatever From
July %, 1898, to January Ii, 1900, he was
five separate occasions in three different
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, columbian UNIVERSE
ty and Emergency. He was treated for
alcoholism in at least two of these hos
pitals.''
February % last he was sent an official
letter in answer to one he wrote explaining
that he had been ill because of the use of
liquor, and notified that his absence would
be charged up against his annual leave.
He was also threatened with discharge IL
he absented himself because of the effects
of Intoxicating liquor. Again, 1t Is alleged,
he absented himself, when he received
final warning.
The QuartermaSter general says that his
work was so unsatisfactory that the inter-
ests Of the service required that his ser
vices should be dispensed with. He was
made aware that his resignation would be
acceptable and If not presented he would
be discharged. Hence his claim, the quar-
termaster general says, that he left the
office because he could not conscientiously
continue in the service where "such prac-
tees prevail is absolutely without founda-
ton in fact; the truth being that his
leaving the service was caused by his own
misdoings and inattention to his public
duties
Defects Largely Imaginary.
Regarding the letter which Senator Ma
son wrote to Secretary Root. the depart
ment says all the charges of q defective
system were investigated and found to be
to large extent imaginary upon the part
of Mr.. Cole. Referring to alleged careless
ness in purchasing supplies for fitting up
transports, mentioned by both Cole and
Senator Mason, the quartermaster general
says: For a short time during the early
creative period of the transport service it
appears that the supplies for victuaing
the vessels were paid for on service vouch-
ers and expended, but this was soon cor
rected the records show that these sup
plies both for the vessels and subsistence
and stores purchased in July, 1893, were
paid for on purchase vouchers and &C
counted for This action is not
only customary in this Office but entirely
proper"
Proper Vouchers Were Executed.
In the course of his statement Gen. Lud-
ingtOn says, in part:
The charge of Mr.. Cole that in accounts
representing in the aggregate millions of
dollars proper vouchers were not exacted is
absolutely without foundation, as the rec
ords of the department show that all vouch-
ers upon which payments of such accounts
have been made have invariably been certi-
fled in proper form and passed the scru-
tiny of the accounting officers of the treas
ury.
Mr.. Coles reiterated statement that the
principal clerk Of the water transportatio
branch made use Of the remark that in this
great emergency there are many things we
have to wink at is absolutely denied by the
principal clerk referred to. which denial is
supported by the testimony of six other
clerks who were on duty in the same room
whare Mr.. Cole was employed, no one Of
whom ever heard of the use of the words
alleged or words to their effect.
The Army Transport Service.
1.-THE charge that enormous frauds char
acterize the work Of buying, renting and
fitting up of the vessels for transport duty
is untrue in every particular. The vessels
which compose the army transport fleets
have been purchased with the utmost care
fulness and upon the judgment of the best
expert knowledge obtainable as to the ply
steal condition of the hulls and machinery
and actual market value of the ships pur-
chased. The great amount of work done
by these ships since they have come into
the service of the quartermaster's depart
ment is ample proof of their worth.
I'm selecting ships for charter inspections
as to seaworthiness, condition of machinery
and carrying capacity have been made by
the officers of the Quartermaster's depart
ment and the expert employees under them,
and the result submitted to this office. The
prices paid for charter have Invariably been
based upon expert evidence as to the condi-
ton of the ships and their value as car
rfers. Whenever the charter price OF a ves-
sci has exceeded the tonnage rate at which
freight could be transported the cheaper
method has been adopted.
In fitting up vessels for the transporta-
ton OF troops and animals great care has
been exercised to afford the greatest COM
ton is invited and contract entered into
with the lowest bidder, time and all other
things considered.
Every PrecautiOn Taken.
rhe official records of the department
shc W clearly that in the purchase, charter
and fitting up of ships for the army tran
sport service every precaution has been taken
to guard the interests Of the government
In the expenditure Of the public money,
that no commissions have been allowed or
paid to any person or agent for the sale
or charter of ships, and. furthermore that
in every transaction the prices paid have
been reasonable, and in many cases below
the commercial rates
THE charge that the records of the quar-
termaster generals office contain evidence
of shameful waste and misuse of public
funds during the Spanish war is untrue in
every particular The records Of this office
show that every dollar expended by the
quartermaster department during the war