Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-09
ABUSES ARE ALLEGED
INSPECTION OF THE PACIFIC
TRANSPORT SERVICE.
Col. Chamberlain Says Charges Were
Excessive-Evils the Result
Of Lack of Method.

The answer of Secretary Root to the
House resolution calling for facts regarding
the transport service on the Pacific in
cludes the reports OF Inspector General
Chamberlain and Lieut.. Col. Maus. Tn.
reports of the several officers inclosed by
Secretary Root cover several hundred
pages.
Major General B. NJ Young in transmit.
ting the report If Lieut.. Col. Chamberlain
submits an analysis showing no adeaustc
supervision to any feature of the fitting
out of transports for a long time after the
service began ana later the efforts to re-
form the system.
Lack of Competition.
General Young specifies lack of competi,
tive bids. He says:
In the case OF the Hancock before the
board was orgauized). involving an expendl.
ture approximating. II not amounting to.
s5ooooo, the matter Of indicating needed
repairs was put into the hands OF officials
unknown to transport regulations. under
verbal orders and plenary power given by
the honorable Secretary OF War. to insure
more sanitary arrangements on that trans
port"
General Young also specifies the case of
IAN inexperienced man who knew nothinS
about paints being employed to supervise
painting in a business where the painting
bill of a single firm i'm two years and two
months amounted to S3S3 GA
In other respects, IL is stated, the report
shows that work was given out and sup
plies for general use (such as the fitting
up Of cabinsb were purchased without due
regard, habitually. TO the protection of the
governments interests.
Excessive Charges.
I'm has ro, 90
ering cost of articles. etc. General Youngs
summing up Of tie Chamberlain report
says that in one case where the bill was
slo'.Sls the work is pronounced generally
unsatisfactory. charges excessive and ma
terial inferior
Prices paid for material were often strik-
ingly in excess of the then current mar
ket prices for the same articles of like
quality, and supplies were purchased in
open market without advertising. IL .s
further stated I'm General Goung's summary
that preference seems to have been shown
special firms to he point of ordering from
them articles out of their line of business,
these firms at the same time charging ex-
orbitant prices. 10 the extent. in a few in
stances. of 100 per cent in excess of ruling
market rates D"
Upon the facts developed by the investi-
cation. General Young remarks that under
the pressure of necessity of moving large
bodies of troops at short notice lack Of
Int1nOuS ana forms to safeguard The
erEment occurred.
Most Abuses Unavoidable.
Lieut. Col Chamberlain specifies in de-
tail the features summarized by General
Young. He refers to the report of the
Bates board" that much of the work done
on the Logan WAS defective; also that the
amount spent on the Hancock. S541 .OI6. was
excessive and was for luxurious fittings.
/ .NNtp riaaff
ines, etc. of inferior quality placed on va
rfous transports
In his conclusions. Col. Chamberlain says
most of the abuses were unavoidable and
that there has been gradual Improvement.
He says that there are but three firms in
San Francisco equipped for extensive repair
work. and that they had an understanding
among themselves by which there has been
no real competition. In interior fittings for
transports he says there has been at times
extravaganza and in some cases great
negligence. In purchasing supplies prefer
ence has been shown in the distribution of
patronage and extensive purchases have
been made without competition.
Col. Chamberlain says one of the most
notable abuses has been the of great
quaptities Of high-priced dsinfectants. The
transport Thomas. he says. on five trips
used S9.295 worth. He says there has also
been an excessive use of high-priced patent
cleaning and polishing material. the
Thomas using S3.24S worth in i've trips. He
adds that this abuse has been remedied
The loss of government property. such as
furniture, linen, bedding, table ware. etc.
by imperfect accounting Is also set forth
He states that the transport Meade was
purchased when twenty-seveu years old
for sioa.ooo. and she has since received
S5s0.00o in repairs.
Denied by Col Long.
In report dated August -, 1901, Col.
Oscar F. Long, general superintendent of
army transport service at San Francisco.
replies to Col Chamberlain's inspection re-
port. He points out the magnitude OF the
service. suddenly brought into existence,
and the systamatizing OF affairs as fast
possible. He says the service has sur
vived the period when il was most subject
to criticism and attack. aud that mistrust
has given way to confidence since its
methods and means have acquired the
sanction of success. The report says ii is
not admitted that preference was shown
particular firms: as to high prices paid for
disinfectants the prices are declared TO
have been the same as those charged mer-
chant ships Other alleged Irregularities
occurred during an emergency war period.
The numerous other reports inciosed
from Coils. Maus and Sanger. and from a
great number of subordinate officers, give
the most minute details of transport ser
vice. in some cases irregularities being
shown and criticism expressed. All of the
reports seem to agree that the abuses were