The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-09
ROOT FILES ANSWER
REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS ON
TRANSPORT SERVICE ARE
SUBMITTED
PAPERS DENIED THE SENATE
House Committee, However, Gets All
Documents and Papers Bearing
on the Investigation in
ANY Way.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April s-Secre-
tary Root today sent answer to the house
resolution, adopted on March Is. calling
on him for all facts that have come to
his knowledge as to the conduct Of the
transport service between San Francisco
and the Philippine islands
The answer includes the reports OF In
spector General Chamberlain and Col
Maus. The reports of the various off,
GERS, enclosed by Secretary Root, covers
several hundred pages.
Withholding of these reports from the
senate military committee subjected the
secretary to criticism by the minority
| members at yesterdays meeting 1t APP
pears that the secretary held that ac-
cOrdtng to the exact language of the SEN
| ate resolution these reports were not call
ed for.
The senate committee asked for re-
ports from the officers named relative to
| the transport Of private goods between
San Francisco and the Philippines. There
was nothing in either of these reports re-
lating to that subject, and the secretary
consequently did not submit them with
| the other correspondence.
The house resolution was in general
terms, calling for "all facts that have come
to his knowledge as to the conduct Of
has included these two reports in the vast
mass of papers submitted to the house
today Secretary Root includes in mis-
letter a copy Of an instruction sent out
by Gen. Corbin, at mis- direction, to the
commanding geEe raj, department Of Call
fornia, ordering "a thorough investiga-
ton into all that relates to the transport
service on the Pacific coast, beginning
with it's organization to the present time
Maj Gen. G. B. NJ. Young, in transmit
ting the report Of Lieut.. Col. Chamber
lain, submits an analysis of the report
I-show1ng no adequate supervision to any
feature of the fitting out of transports
for long time after the service was in
augurated and later the efforts to re-
form the system. Gen. Young specifies
lack of securing competitive bids He
| says:
I'm the case of the Hancock, before
the board was organized, involving an
expenditure aapprcoo3Ximating, i not
| dicating needed repairs was put into the
hands of officials unknown to transport
| regulations under verbal orders and
plenary power given by the honorary
| secretary of war to insure more sanitary
arrangements on that transport"
Work Not satisfactory.
In other respects it is stated the re-
port shows that work was given out and
supplies for general use (such as the fit
| ting up of cabins) were purchased with
! out due regard habitually to the protec-
ton Of the governments interest
On that branch of the investigation
covering cost of articles, etc, Gen.
Young's summing up Of the Chamberlain
report says that in one case where the
bill was $105,316, the work is pronounced
| generally unsatisfactory, charges eX-
| cessive and material inferior
Prices paid for material were often
strikingly in excess of the then current
market price of the same articles of like
quality, and supplies were purchased in
open market without advertising. 1t is
further stated in Gen. YOung's summary
that preference seems to have been
shown special firms to the point OF or
dering from them articles out Of their
lines of business, these firms at the same
time charging eXorbitant prices to the
extent in a few instances of 100 per cent
in excess of ruling market rates.
Upon the facts developed by the in
vestigation, Gen. Young remarks that in
moving large bodies Of troops at short
notice, the lack of methods and forms
to safeguard the government occurred.
Charges Were Excessive.
Lieut. Col. Chamberlain specifies in de-
tail y the features summarized by Gen.
Young. He refers to the report Of the
Bates board, that much of the work
done IN the Logan was defective also
that the amount spent on the Hancock
$547, 016 was excessive, and there were
10 ILIluSS.
In his Conclusions, Col Chamberlain
says that most of the abuses were I'M
avoidable, and that there has been grad
Ual Improvement He says that there are
but three firms in San Francisco equip
ped for extensive repair work, and that
they had an understanding among them
selves by which there has been no real
competition. In interior fittings for trans
ports, he says, there has been at times
extravaganza, and in some cases great
negligence.
Col. Chamberlain says that one of the
most notable abuses has been the use
of great quantities of high-priced disin-
fectarts. The transport Thomas he says,
on five trips used 1926 worth. He says
there also has been an excessive use of
high priced patent cleaning and polish
ing material the Thomas using So. 243
worth in five trips. He adds that this
abuse has been remedied
The loss Of government property, such
as furniture, linen bedding, tablewear,
etc, by imperfect accounting Is also set
forth. He states that the transport
Meade was purchased when twenty-sev-
en- years old for $4000 900, and she has since
received $5S0,000 In repairs.
Due to Hasty Preparation.
In a report dated Aug. 90 1891, Col Os-
car F. Long, general superintendent of
army transport service at San Francisco,
replies to Col. Chamberlains inspection
| report. He points out the magnitude. Of
the service suddenly brought into exist
fast as it was possible.
He says the service has survived the
period when 1t was most subject to crit
icism and attack, and that mistrust has
given way to confidence it's methods and
means have acquired the sanction OF
success. The report says it is not admit
ted that preference was shown particular
firms; as to high prices paid for disin-
fectants, the prices are declared to have
been the same as those charged merchant
ships
Other alleged irregularities occurred
! during an emergency war period.
! The numerous other reports, enclosed
! from Coils. Maus and Sanger, and from
great number of subordinate officers
give the most minute details Of transport
! service, in some eases irregularities be-
/ ing shown and criticism expressed. All
Of the reports seem to agree that the
| abuses were the result Of lack Of method
on the part Of the subordinates. There
| is no charge affecting officials integrity.
CULLOM PLEADS FOR TREATY.
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