The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-02-13
CLOSELY AKIN
TO STEALING.
How the Government was
swlndled by Navy Depart
ment Bocdiers.

WashiDgtou, Feb ga sequel to
the naval ea7 scsnda! has just come to
public aosice through the submission to
coz eresa OF pumber of communica
sioos from Secretary Long, among
which is ono giving list of vessels
bought by the department vhen war
vas about to begin, the prices paid for
them, and the prices at which uunoef
of them have since been aold. When
they we're bought. as will readily be
remen bered. it vas asserted that enor-
mous prices we're paid for semi-vorth
less vessels that oaly those who stood
in With the contracting oacera hai a
chance 60 sell to the government /; aud
that shese received just about whatsver
price they had the nerve to ask. ln
one particular case it is admitted rhet
the owner asked $4,000 for bis yasht,
only to have it refused He then en
ployed lobbyist and sars hin TO the
department to make the sale. With the
results that the government paid $780,.
600 for what it had refused TO buy two
weeks before for $50 600. |: VAS oever
demonstrated jusa who got the extra
$50, 900. the lobbyist corfessiog to a
fee of only $1,000
OF course. no one insinuates IN the
uose remote degree that the pure and
scholarly Mr. Long knew Of these hap
peniOgs or vas in any sense morally
responsible for them, but it is pity
that somebody equally as honest did
nos occupy his piaoe-ope Vbo also
had the business ability to look OUT :or
and detect and punish the corruption
aud shievery which was the sais; of
city aod country.
Mr. Long vas too busy worrying for
fear Spain would be held responsible
FOR the disasser to sbe Maine too
apxious tia; Rear Admiral Sampson
sboold be rewarded for getting the tell
tale Merrlnao ous of the way by sink
ing her, 20 bother about the details of
contracts. This at least is the charisa
BILE view. as otherwise it would be
necessary 20 view uakiudly some of the
most glariog features of his adminissrs.
sien as secressry of the Davy
Whatever may be thought OF the
secretary personally, the nsvy depart
mens. under his leadership. could no,
DO calld 30 economically managed
ius,isuslou during the Spanish var.
This truth is exempli6ed 10 CON uunl
cation referred to above, which contslos
the Interesting information that from
she begiaoieg to the cod Of bost'll'Ies
the administration bought 1O2 vessels
of ell descriptions for the use of the
uavy TIE extravaganza of the depart
nens in buying bottoms. at the time ne
epeak of. at prices far beyond their
value. aud, as the public believes, geO-
erally for from 80 TO 60 per ceus more
money than ever found its way ioto tue
pockets CT the venders. is illustrated 10
the statement of facts regarding Eve
vessels. iuo!udad in the couuunication.
Thus the steamer Niagara was bought
for 100000, aud sold after the var for
S75 900 The Badger cost Uocle Sam
1855 O0e. and be les it go for eSl65,
600 The Rasoiusc cos: the taxpayers
$4,000. and was knocked down for
S26e,0Oo The Ynloan cost S350.000.
and sold for Sl74,250. Tae Hector
coat 5000. 600 aud vas disposed OF for
s65, 100. Sc, cn these Eve shipa alone
the loes 60 she government after abcus
one wears use aoonnted 90 $SS2.l00
Waea sas sset is recalled that these
6gures are for only I've out Of lO2
vessels. The ia sginasion is allowed con
siderable latitude ss to the money there
nuss bave been for somebody 10 the
complete bunoh Time vas vosn the
American people we're confident that
honesty aod economy had their prlccl
pal places Of residence 10 the navy
department Whether the popular
opinion has changed IS resuls Of these
extraordinary .'barga;ns" is another
n,.tec