The Washington herald., 1914-12-27

nual visits 10 the military prisons for the
purpose of examination and correction.
While the law is still on the statute
books, Il has been regarded as dead let
ter. IL being appreciated that these semi
annual inspection trips would be more
spectacular than useful, exhibiting the
head Of the War Department on jun
ket"-for such would be It's character
| accompanied by a lieutenant general, a
| major general and FIVE brigadier gen.
erals. Gen. Crowder carefully explained
| to the committee that the board had lit
| tie concern with the prisons and had no
direct contact with them He considered
that II the military prison was converted
into a disciplinary barracks, under a sys-
tenn which Is authorized by a clause
which will be Incorporated in the army
bill. there would be propriety In giving
| the Secretary of War control Of ii. with
such other officers as he may designate
for the problem of administering the
prisons
II was the desire OF Gen. Crowder to
relieve the Soldiers Home board OF any
responsibility for the conduct of the mill
itary prisons. II is not made known why
the committee failed to adopt the clause,
while interposing no objection to the
other departmental recommendations con-
cerning the administration Of military
prisons and the installation Of the dis
ciplinary system
The War Department does not have in
contemplation the purchase or construc-
ton Of additional transports during the
next. fiscal year. The transport Meade,
forty years old. and the transport Crook,
thirty-two years Old. are in such phys
ical condition at the present time that
they can no longer be economically oper-
ated as transports, and II is felt that
their continuance in service Is not justi-
fed by any service they can render. and
1t is recommended that authority be
granted to sell these two transports.
The Ancon and Cristobal, formerly the
Shawmut and fremont, were purchased
under authority of an act of Congress
approved May q. 1905, which provides
that when the ships are no longer re-
qulred for use In the transportation of
supplies. equipment, and material for the
construction Of the canal. they shall be
transferred TO the Secretary of the Navy
for use as colliers or other auxiliary ves-
sells belonging to the navy. The gross
tonnage Of each of these vessels Is Ssos
They were constructed in ls0e and are in
good physical condition with excep-
boilers OF the Ancon will render service
for only eight or nine months longer. anG
those Of the CTistobal should be renewed
within a year or two.
The Cristobal was converted into an
army transport under emergency condi-
tons for the purpose of returning refu-
gees from Europe to the United States.
the fittings placed In her being also
adapted for the use of enlisted men. Her
capacity as refitted is 2,I0O enlisted mer
and seventy-four officers. The expense
involved in her refitting was 1854. 169 %.
The expenditure of this money would BE-
a total loss IL she were now returned to
other service.
The estimated cost of converting the
Ancon and Cristobal into transports Is
100000 each. or a total OF tS00, coo. The
Cristobal could. however. be used indeh-
nitely as a transport without any great
additional expenditure. and the Ancon
could be received by the War Department
and refitted as soon as money is avail
able. To do this. however, would require
a change in the law. which will probably
be made by Congress at this session.