Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-04-28
THE MAYFLOWER MATTER.
Secretary Moody Gives Facts Which
Set at Naught Some DEM
ocratic Charges.

Replying to a criticism of the use of
the naval yacht Mayfower, filed in the
house for reproduction in the Congress
sional Record by Representative Will
liams, Of Mississippi, in the form OF a
newspaper clipping, Representative
Foss, chairman of the naval affairs
committee, according to the Washing
ton Star, has filed, also to be printed
in the Record, letter from Secretary
Moody giving a detailed history of the
use of the Mayflower by the president.
: He says the Mayfower is not, as was
stated in the criticism, denominated as
1.-The presidents yacht" Continuing,
the secretary says:
"She receives her orders from the de-
partment in the same manner as other
vessels. In accordance with custom
of long standing, however, vessel of
the navy has been placed at the dispo-
sition of the president from time to
time as he may direct. The Mayfiower
has been the vessel selected for this
service, under directions from the pres
ident 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
Mayflower 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 OF her present
commission, June 2S, 1902. During
these 81 months she has cruised $4,000
miles, which is considerably more than
the average OF our vessels. The presi-
dent has spent aboard her at various
times a total of something less than 40
hours and has travelled in her "a miles
He has spent one night aboard her, be-
ing detained there by bad weather on
his return from a review of the nation
al guard in 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 performance of official du-
ties.
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 aboard has been 40 miles.
"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 Mayfiower has never
ibo1I 60 ho
at any time has any money been ex-
pended on 'refurnishing the ship as the
presidents private yacht nor for re
fitting and repairing for the presidents
personal use,' nor for keeping the
Mayflower at the disposition of the
president Since she last went into
commission there has been absolutely
no change in her interior fittings, ex-
| cept for the comfort of the crew, the
installation of wireless telegraphic ap-
! paratus for increased signaling facili-
ties, and for the increase of the battery
by the addition of two four-inch
breech-loading rifles. During her pres
ent commission there has been expend-
ed on her for repairs and additions
for the purposes above named. $79,2 9,240.
These expenditures are similar in char
acter to those made upon other ships,
and are not excessive.
81 have the honor to say In closing
that, according to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the Mayfower
has not been diverted an hour from
any naval duty for which she was need
ed, nor has dollar of the public
money been expended for the pleasure
or convenience of the president or any
of his family or guests"