The evening times., 1900-09-14

plete ard in accordance with existing
law and regulations.
The report further says:
The charge CT Mr.. Cole that in ac-
counts representing in the aggregate mil
lions og dollars, proper vouchers were not
eXacted, is absolutely Without foundation
as the records of the department show
that all vouchers upon which payments CT
such accounts have teen made have inva-
viably been certified in proper form ant:
passed the scrutiny of the accounting Off
GERS of Ike Treasury,
Tho chal Sc that enormous frauds char
acterized The work Of buying, renting and
fitting up tie vessels for transport duty IS
untrue in every particular. The vessels
which compose the army transport fleets
have heen purchased with the utmost
oare4Ulacss ard urGn the judgment OF the
best eIi ert knowledge obtainabie as 10
the physiCEI condition OF hulls and ma
chiIery s,43 actual market value Of the
ships purchased. The great amount CT
work done by these ships since they have
come int the service Of the Quarteraas-
ter's Department is ample proof of their
worth.
In selecting shins for charter. inspec~
tions as 70 seGvGrtkiness, condition CT
machinery ana carrying capacity have
been made by the officers CT the Quartet
masters Department and the expert en-
ployes under them, and the results sub
mitted to this Gfice. The prices paid for
charter have Invariably been based upon
expert evidence as to the condition cf the
ships and their value as carriers When
ever the charter FTice OF vessel has eX-
ceeded the tonnage rate at which freights
could be transported the cheaper method
has been adopted.
The official records of the department
clearly show that in the purchase, charter.
ard fitting up of ships for the army trans
port service every precaution has been TAX
en- to guard the interests of the Govern
ment in the expenditure OF the public
money That no commissions have been
allowed or paid to any person as agents for
the sale or charter Of ships. and further
more, that in every transaction the prices
paid have been reasonable and in many
cases below the commercial rates.
Alleged Waste of Money.
The charge that the records of the
Quartermaster Generals Office contain evi-
dence Of shameful waste and misuse of
public funds during the Spanish war is IN
true in every particular The records of
by the Quartermaster's Department during
the war with Spain to meet the needs of
the Army was judiciously, economically,
and honestly disbursed
He further charges in the article above
mentioned that rented vessels have been
kept lying in San Francisco ready TO be
turned back TO their owners for weeks.
the Government in the meanwhile paying
frcm SEQ 10 81. eco per day for each of them.
In many cases the Government has paid in
rent d sum larger than the valuation of
the vessels. which, in many cases. was TOO
high Corporations were also allowed 10
speculate and make large profits on the
days wages Of their laboring men.
The SCueral superintendent of the Ar
my JraI pert service at San Francisco re-
ports tat all chartered vessels arriving
at tEat pert have been promptly dis
charged. Ec states that it is not true the
Government has paid in rent a larger sum
than Tie valuation CT the vessels, neither
has there been any speculation 50 far as
the Government is concerned whereby
large profits could possibly be made on
the wages of laboring men. These
charges. he states. are all absurd and
there is no foundation for them"
Evidence is also given 10 dispTOye the
charge that vessels lie long az anchor at
Manila with no effort TO unload them. On
the ether hand it is disclosed every eff
fort is made TO expedite the removal of