The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-10-25
SCANDAL IN THE
TRANSPORT REPAIRS


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. I1.-An in
vestigation, conducted secretly by
agents of the United States government,
has brought to light condition of at,
fairs in the transport service which, it
is expected, viii lead to a general shak.
ing up in the locacl office. The most
startling feature of the inquiry was
the discovery that repairs to the amount
of 100000 had been made on the trans
port Logan by the Risdon iron works,
only to be torn out Immediately and a
awarded to the same company. The lie.
tails of this peculiar transaction have
been reported to Washington and John
Donnelly, chief engineer of the trans
port service, and the officers of the Ris-
don iron works will be called upon to
explain.
For some time rumors that all was
not right in the transport service have
been fiuttering around the national
capital. Not only was a general inves-
tigation ordered, but two secret serv'
ice agents were sent to the coast to
enlist in the army and prosecute their
inquiry from that point of vantage. 1t
is largely through the efforts of these
supposed privates that the Federal au-
thorities in Washington have come into
possession of the facts.
The case of the Logan is not the only
strange feature of the situation. The
transport Sherman has lain in the
stream six months awaiting repairs
which the navy yard at Mare Island
figured could be made for 100000, but
for which both the Risdon and the
Union iron worke bid in excess of $780,
900.
Defers to Donnelly.
The documents relating to the Logan
have gone to Washington and have
been referred to the War Department.
It appears that several months ago it
was found advisable to repair the decks
and boilers of the Logan and to install
an electrical plant. The contract was
awarded to the Risdon iron works. The
repairs were completed in May of this
year and on May 25 the government
paid the Risdon people the sum of $780,
900. Of this sum $4,000 was for the
electrical plant and 100000 for the re-
pairs.
This work was done at the instiga-
ton of John Donnelly, chief engineer
of the transport service. Colonel }. d.
BelIinger is at the head of the local
transport bureau, but he defers to Dom
knelly in all engineering matters.
Nothing further would have been
heard of the matter had the Logan at
once resumed her regular run. Instead,
however, the vessel remained at the Ris-
don iron works. A few weeks ago the
Risdon company was awarded new
contract for repairs on the Logan and
the installation of more electrical mach
inery. This contract calls for between
$3.50. 900 and 100000. BY ruling OF
the transport officials Captain Healey
and all other deck officers of the Logan
were detached from the vessel. 1t has
been the custom to keep the captain on
the ship in order that he might in a
measure superintendent the repairs.
Healey Appeals in Vain.
Cantain Healey was amazed at the
order relieving him. He IS a close
friend of Major General Leonard Wood
and has the confidence of the local army
officers. He appealed to Brigadier Cen
eraI James B. Aleshire, quartermaster
general, but Aleshire refused to resclnd
the order previously given.
big gang was again put to work
on the Logan and the repairs complet-
ed in May, as well as the electrical
machinery, were torn out. The vessel
was stripped down to its hull and In
that condition it remains at this time
at the Risdon iron works. No explana-
ton has been vouchsafed to make 1t
clear why work once done should i'm
mediately be done over again.
IT was not long before other iron
manufacturers learned of the unusual
transaction and protested to headquar-
+ers. Charles f. Herman. president
Of the Bav Shore machine and electrical
works at 40 Tehama street, called the
attention of Secretary Luke h. Wright
of the War Department to the situation,
and Wright ordered Colonel g. L.. An
derson. inspector general of the depart
ment of California, to investigate. Col
ona1 Anderson summoned a number OF
witnesses. but the government inaugu-
rated an Independent inquiry, which has
ticns.
Engineer Held Responsible.
Although Colonel Bellinger is at the
head of the local transport service he
exercises merely supervisory powers.
All contracts are approved or rejected
bv DonneIlv. and it is from Donnelly
that the government will ask an ex-
nlanation. At the same time 1t IS
known that the Washington authorizes
viii hold Bellinger responsible for the
actions of his subordinate.
A few months ago the Sherman was
laid up for repairs. The navy yard az
Mare Island figured on the job and
ae+;nated that it could do the work
for 5000. 900. Then Donnelly and Bel
Iinger called for bids from private
Yards. The Risdon and the Union iron
works made regular tenders, but the
bid of each was in excess of S3oo,ooo; |