The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1904-04-22
THE MAYFLoWER MATTER.
Secretary Moody Gives Facts Which
Set at Naught Some DEM
oeratic Charges.

Replying to a criticism OF the use of
| the naval yacht Maynowcr. filed In the
, house for reproduction in the Congress
sional Record by Representative VIII
!!ams. of Mississippi. In the form OF a
newspaper clipping. Representative
Foss. chairman ~ the naval affairs
committee. according to the Washing
ton star. has filed. alsp to be printed
IN the Record, a letter from Secretary
Moody giving "A detailed history of the
use OF the Maynowcr by the president.
lie says the Maylowcr Is not. as was
stated in the criticism dcnominated "a
"thc presidents yacht" Continuing,
the secretary says:
"Shc receives her orders from the de-
| partmcnt in the same manner ~ other
vessels. In accordance with a custom
OF long standing. however. u vessel of
the navy has been placed At the dispo-
sltinn of the president from time to
time a. he may direct. The Mayilowcr
has been the vessel selected for this
service. under directions from the pres
ident that at no time should she he
diverted from any naval duties for
! which she might he needed. II would
be an injustice to the officers and men
Of the Mayiluwor Ia suppose that her
sole or principal use wa that of n
! yacht"
Tho secretary details tho uac NJ the
Maynowcr during the Spanish war at
length:
The only use Of the vessel made by
the president. or by his direction. has
been since the beginning ~ her present
commission. June IS. 1909. During
these - months she has cruiacd - .0OO
miles. which a. considerably more than
the average of our vessels. The prcsi-
dent has spent aboard her at various
times a total of something less than ~
hours and has travelled In her ~ miles
lie has spent onc night aboard her. be-
inT detained there by bad weather on
his return from a review Of the nation
nj guard In the state OF New Jersey.
undertaken AT the invitation of the
! governor Of that state. or these 10
hours all. except un n occasion. were
| spent In the performance of official du-
ties.
THE total time spent on board the
vessel by members Of the presidents
family or guests has been unc week.
nnd the distance Travelled while they
have been aboard has been 40 miles.
AN expenditure of every nature oc-
ensioncd by the visit Of the president or
any Of his family ur guests have been
paid by him. The Maynowcr has never
been held for the presidents use nor
NJ any time has n money been cN-
pended on 'rofurnlghing the ship MS the
presidents private yacht nor for re
fitting and repairing for the presidents
personal use nor for Keeping the
Maynowor 81 the disposition Of the
president Since she last went into
commission there has been absolutely
M change In her Interior %fttlngs. cN-
ropt for the comfort ~ the crow. tho
Installation Of wireless toirgfnphic ap-
paratus for Increased signaling flclll-
tie. and for the increase az the battery
by the addition ~ two four inch
brccch-luading rifles. During her press
mi commission there has been oXpond-
- WI wv AN N'INAAAH hNN aNNl'l'WH
Tor tho purpose above named. $500
These expenditure are similar In char
arirr 10 those made upon other ships,
aud are not excessive.
- have the honor 10 say In closing
that, according 10 the best Of my
knowledge and belief. The Maynower
has not been diverted m hour from
any naval duty tor which she was need
cd nor has n dollar Of tho public
money been expended for the pleasure
or convenience Of the president or ans