The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-04-18

WASHINGTON April s.-Tha Score
tary of War today transmitted to- the
House of Representatives number of
reports regarding the transport service
on the Pacific. These cover % series of
special investigations into the entire
service practically down to- date. They
reveal among other things, a state of
affairs which resulted n the transfer
of Major Oscar T.. Long general super
inteudgnt of the transport service, enc
forced the resignation of Captain lUm
BarnesOn. marine superintendent of the
transport service, and viii, no doubt,
lead To- a reorganization of the service.
While there is nothing i'm these reports
rejecting upon the integrity or ability
of Major Long, the correspondence
clearly shows that the Secretary of
War reached the conclusion that Major
Long could be of greater service ID the
department i'm auO-h ar field.
Regarding Captain John BarnesOn, it
is charged that he was a member of the
firm of Barneson & Chilcott of Seattle
after he assumed the office of marine
superintendent of the transport service,
and as a member of that firm chartered
two vessels, the Morgan city and Car-
tennial to the Government. The re-
ports show great extravaganza in the
conduct of the service durinG the early
period with a later Improvement. 1T
concludes by praising the general sup
erinteudents and assistants for the h-I
culean task performed.
Charges against Captain Barneson
are contained i'm a supplemental report
by Lieutenant Colonel John l.. Cham
berlain, nspectOr-General, dated san
Francisco, August -, 1901 In this he
states that the steamers Morgan city
IL. d lao
Government by Barneson q Chilcott
in January, 1899. The charter papers
were signed by John Barneson on ac-
count of the firm. The charter of the
Morgan City was renewed on July j.
1899 Barneson & ChilcOtt still acting as
agents for the owners From the date
of the charter until the sale of the Cen
tennial in July, 1899, and until the loss
of the Morgan city, September 2, 1899
most of the vouchers We're signed by
John Barneson for Barneson & Chill
colt. Most of the checks in payment
for the same were receipted for and re-
ceived by him.
The conclusions of the report are: In
the conduct of the affairs of the trans
port service at this port there has beer
a gradual and marked improvement In
the accomplishment of the great work
of transporting troops and supplies the
service has fully met every demand
upon it, showing marked ability anC
perseverance on the part of the genera
superintendent and those associated
with him. Repair work has been done
within the limitations of the letter anC
spirit of the law and the regulations
The recommendations of the report
are: That the transport service be
separated from the quartemsaters de-
partment; that contracts be made fol
six months for repairs, the Government
to pay for material and union rates OF
labor, with a fixed percentage or
amount as profit, a bond to be taken
The system followed by the Navy De
partment when il has work done by
private firms in repairs is recommend
ed. There should be ample storage
facilities provided, with responsible
officer in charge of the property. A de-
finite line or route should be taken 10y
transports in order that there might bt
mutual aid i'm case of disaster. Every
/ transport should be required TO follow
/ implicitly the route selected.