The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-09
'MAYFLOWER SAILS
TN NAVAL SERVICE
Moody Shows That Vessel Is Not
Used as President s Private
Yacht.

Washington, April g. Secretary
Moodys report as to the use Of the
Mayfower by the president, filed in
reply to criticisms put forward by
Representative Williams Of Mississippi
says the vessel Is not denominated
"the presidents yacht" Continuing,
| the secretary says:
'She receives her orders from the
| department in the same manner as
other vessels. In accordance with a
custom of long standing, however, a
vessel Of the navy has been placed at
the disposition of the president from
| time to time as he may desire it. The
! M 7yffower has been the vessel select
! ed for this service under directions
| from the president that at no time
| should she be diverted from any naval
duties for which she might be needed.
It would be an injustice to the Off
GERS and men of the Mayflower to sup
pose that her sole or principal use
was that Of yacht"
The secretary detailed the use Of
the May1ower during the Spanish war
at length. He then adds:
One Night Aboard.
1.-THE only use Of the vessel made
by the president or by his direction
| has been since the beginning of her
present commission, June %, 1902.
During. these twenty-one months she
has cruised $4,000 miles, which is con-
siderab1y more than the average Of
our naval vessels. The president has
spent aboard of her at various times
a total Of something less than forty
hours, and has travelled in her ninety
| four miles. He has spent one night
aboard her, being detained then by
| bad weather on his review of the ma
tional guard of the state Of New Jer-
,}n1, Of irxyi toti ~
! the governor Of that state.
| "Of these, forty hours, all except on
| one occasion were spent in the per-
! Torrance, of official duties. The total
| time spent on board the vessel by
members Of the presidents family or
| guests has been one week, and the
distance travelled while they have been
| on board has been 40 miles.
Expenditures Justified.
"All expenditures of every nature
occasioned by the visit Of the presi-
dent, of any. of his family or guests
have been paid by him. The May
! flower has never been held for the
| presidents. use, nor at any time has
| ing the ship as the presidents private
yacht, nor for refitting and repairing
| for the presidents personal use, or for
keeping the Mayfower at the DISPOSE
| ton Of the president Since she last
went into commission there has been
absolutely no change in the interior
fittings, except for the comfort of the
crew, the installation of wireless tele-
graphic apparatus for increased sig
mailing facilities, and for the increase
of the battery by the addition of two
four-inch breech-loading rifles Dur
ing her present commission there has
been expended on her for repairs and
additions. for the purposes above
named, $79,240. These expenditures
are similar in character to those made
| on other ships, and are not excessive.
II have the honor to say, in clos
| ing, that, according to the best Of
my knowledge and belief, the May
| flower has not been diverted one hour
from any naval duty for which she
was needed, or has a dollar of the
public money been expended for the
| pleasure or convenience of the presi-
dent o. any Of his family or guests"
|