The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1904-04-09
Chairman FosS of the Naval Com
mittee Punctured a DEM
ocratic Fake.
The Yacht Has Not Been Used Ex-
clusively by President
Roosevelt.
The True Situation Explained for
the Benefit of the
House.

Washington, April o.-Replying to a
criticism of the use OF the naval steam
yacht Mayfower, filed in the house for
reproduction in the congressional rec
ord by Representative Williams OF
Mississippi, in the form Of newspaper
clipping, Representative Foss, chair
man of the naval affairs committee,
filed, also to be printed in the record,
a letter from Secretary Moody, CIV
ing a detailed history of the use of the
Mayhower by the president.
He says the Mayfower is not as was
stated, in the criticism. 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
vessel Of the navy has been placed at
the disposition of the president from
time to time as he may desire it. The
Mayfiower has been the vessel selected
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 1t
would be an injustice to the officers
and men OF the Mayflower to suppose
that her sole or principal use was that
OF a yacht"
The secretary details the use of the
Mayhower during the Spanish war at
length He then adds, w. .. i !, sa-5s
THE only use of the vessel made by
the president or by his direction has
been since the beginning OF her pres
ent commission, June 28, 1902. During
these twenty-one moths she has cruis-
ed 22ooo miles, which is considerably
more than the average of our naval
vessels. The president has spent
aboard her at various times, total of
| 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 national guard OF the
state Of New Jersey, undertaken at the
invitation OF the governor of that state.
Of these forty hours, all except on
one occasion were spert in the per-
formance 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 dis
tance travelled while they were aboard
has been 40 miles.
"Afl expenditures OF every nature
occasioned by the visit of the presi-
dent or any OF his family or guests
have been paid by him. The May.
Hover has never been held for the
presidents use, nor at any time has
tany money been expended refurnishing
1.-THE ship as the presidents private
yacht, nor for refitting and repairing
for the presidents personal Use, or for
keeping the Mayfower at the disposi-
Ition Of the president since she last
went into commission there has been
absolutely no change in her interior
fittings except for the comfort OF the
Icrew, the installation Of wireless tele-
| lgraphic apparatus for increased signal
Hing facilities and for the increase Of
1.-THE battery by the addition of two A.
linch brecch-1oading rifles. During her
Ipresent commission there has been ex-
ipended on her for repairs and addi-
ltions, for the purposes above named,
| S7o,24o, these expenditures are similar
| lin character to those made on other
Iships and are not excessive.
| II have the honor to say in closing
that. according to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the Mayhower
has not been diverted an hour from
any naval duty for which she was
Ineeded, or has a dollar OF the public
money been expended for the pleas
I,frss re. ,f t,a ~