The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07
TRANSPORT
BERTHS FOR
CIVILIANS
Woman Exposes Cor
ruption in the
Service.
Army Officers Wife Says
Free Trips Are Given
Travellers.
Federal Ships Do Thriving Business
in Carrying Persons not in
Special Dispatch to tn. Cali.

CALL BUREAU, POST BUILDING, 4
WASHINGTON, May 6.-To-morrow'
issue of the Post will contain a letter
from the wife of an army officer in
the Philippines destined to create a
commotion in the army transport ser
vice. The Post introduces its COM
munication with the following re-
marks:
The pointed, serious and startling
charges that she makes against the
quartermaster's department of the
army are sufficient for the. Post to
waive its rule and, in accordance with
her wish, publish the letter without re-
vealing the identity of the writer
The letter is in about 1000 words, and
in its Introductory says:
The transport service, as It exists
to-day, is a living commentary on the
corruption and lack of proper system
in the quartermaster department of
the United States army. Two years
ago an order was published in Manila
stating that civilian Government em-'
ployes would henceforth travel on the
liners. as the transports could scarce
ly accommodate the army. Two months
later 1 crossed on a transport, which
carried about seyenty-five civilians,
half of whom were nor employees at ALL
POLITICAL .sPULL" Is USED.
Political influence is used mainly
In behalf of civilians, but occasionally
the army people benefit know women
who have taken with them to Manila
not only their relatives, but their
friends, while other army women have
had difficulty in securing transporta-
ton for a nurse for their small chill
dren
"One transport on which 1 crossed
carried among its first-class passen-
gers an American and his Filipino
wife, and, so far as any one could dis
cover. this man was in no sense Gov
ernment enlploye. He had rendered
some business service to high civil
authorities in Manila. As a matter of
fact, an officer in San Francisco fur
nished him funds for the trip. with the
arrangement that the money was to
be paid to the quartermaster before
the man landed at Manila. 1t was un-
derstood that he would win at cards
on the trip sufficient to pay the debt,
and he undoubtedly did so. This man
was notorious gambler.
CITES NUMEROUS CASES.
"One transport carried man trav-
cling for a liquor concern and carry
ing with him large cases of sample
goods. This was well known.
"On my last trip l crossed with a
family of means from Chicago, who
had no connection. whatever with the
army, the Government of the United
States or the Civil Government In the
islands. They were simply travelling
for pleasure around the world, and,
having political influence, used it to
save expenses.
"One of my fellow passengers was
lady whose openly expressed intention
1t was to get up a troupe Of vaudeville
In Manila. She was accompanied by
her husband and mother. I will not
dwell on the personal equations OF
these individuals-tne less said of that
the better. will say that it was we'll
known on board. and the story was
afterward corroborated in Manila and
by persons who had lived ir Honolulu,
that at one time this wonian's father
was a notorious character in Honolulu,
and a notable saloon row took place
there over this same woman, which re-
suited in some loss of valuable life.
The woman's father is now on the
Manila police force, hence the trans
portation furnished her and her fam
lily.
Many army women wishing TO join
their husbands are refused transporta-
tion, even when they ask for 1t three
months in advance, and yet each trans
port carries questionable characters. I
have only cited a few examples of
the abuses in the army transport ser
vice, but they are true, as well as IL
Illustrative, and suffice to make it plain
that reform is certainly in order"