Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-04-12
MOODY DEFENDS
THE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY RE-
PLIES TO CRITICISM.
WRITES ABOUT MAYFLoWER
She Is Not the 'sPresident's Yacht
Used But Very Little by Chief
Magistrate, Who Pays His
Own Expenses.

washington, April S.-Replylne 10
criticism of the use Of the naval steam
yacht Mayflower, filed in the house for
reproduction in the Congressional Rec
ord by Mr. Williams (Miss.), in the
torn of newspaper clipping, Mr. Foss,
chairman of the naval affairs committee,
on Friday filed, also to be printed in the
Record, letter from Secretary Moody,
giving detailed history of the use of
the Mayflower by the president.
Not "President's Yacht"
He says the Mayflower 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 custom of long standing, how
ever, vessel of the navy has been placed
at the disposal of the president from
time to time, as he may desire it. The
Mayfower 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. Itwould
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
Mayfower during the Spanish war at
length. He then adds: "The only use
Of the vessel made by the president, or
by his direction, has been since the be-
ginning of her present commission,
June %, 1902. During these 81 months
she has cruised $4,000 miles, which is
considerably more than the average Of
our naval vessels. The president has
spent aboard her at various times, total
Of something less than forty hours, and
has travelled in her "a miles. He has
spent one night aboard her, being de-
tanned there by bad weather on his re-
turn from review of the national guard
of the state of New Jersey, undertaken
at the invitation of the governor of that
state. OF these 40 hours, all except
on one occasion were spent in the per-
Torrance of official duties. The total
time spent on board the vessel by mem
! bers of the presidents family or guests,
has been one week, and the distance
travelled while they have been aboard
has been 410 miles.
Pays All Expenses.
All expenditures of every nature oc-
casioned by the visit of the president or
any of his family or guests have been
paid by him. The Mayfower has never
been held for the presidents use,' nor
at any time has any money been ex-
pended 'refurnishing the ship as the
presidents private yacht, nor for 'refit-
ting and repairing for the presi-
dents personal use,' nor for keep
Ing the Mayflower at the disposition Of
the president since she last went into
commission. There has been absolute
u no change in her interior fittings, ex-
cspt for the comfort of the crew, tie in
stallation of wireless telegraphic appa-
ratus for increased signaling facilities
and for increase of the battery by the ad.
1ttion of two four-inch breech-loadine
rifles During her present commission
there has been expended for repairs and
additions, for the purposes above named
$79,240. These expenditures are simila,
IN character to those made upon othe,
ships, and are not excessive
Il have the honor to say, in closing
that, according to the best of my knowl.
edge and belief, the Mayflower has no,
been diverted an hour from any nava
duty for which she was needed, nor ha.
a dollar of the public money been ex
pended for the pleasure or convenienc,
Of the president or any of his family o,
| guests"