The Washington times., 1914-04-26
PADGETT ANSWERS
NAVY GRAFT CHARGE
Repudiates lnsinuations Against
Men Who Protect Flag in
Debate on Building Program.

With general debate on the naval ap-
preparation bill concluded in the House
the verbal war, under the ''five-minute
rule of discussion. continues unabated
between the small navy" and the big
navy contingents.
Congressman -Padgett, chairman OF
the Naval Affairs Committee, pre-
cipitated a spirited wrangle yesterday
afternoon when he arose to defend
the personnel of the navy and to deny
the charges of the small navy" men,
that the pending measure was filled
with graft
Referring to the officers who are nov
at the front in Mexican waters, Mr..
Padgett exclaimed:
Yet when it comes to how many
ships we are to have, the naval in
crease, the honor of these men is at
tackled, their motives questioned, and
they are branded as moved, by an un-
holy purpose because they favor an ad-
equate navy. 1 repudiate the insinua-
ton and bear my testimony to the men
who protect the flag.
Congressman Witherspoon, Henrley,
and Galloway, small navy" Demo-
Gratis. assailed the 'Armor Plate trust, .
and criticised the Secretary of the
Navy for urging the building of more
ships until there snail have been con-
structed Government armor pate rae
Tory. That the trust is demanding
and getting $40 a ton for steel plate
which costs only Sl.S ton to manufac-
uure, was asserted by Mr.. Wltherspoon'
who added:
''Wnen the Secretary of the Navy was
7 Gl- -sah
did not think we had better hold OH
bulldIng Says untl. we get our own
factory. he said he thought we pet
ter go ahead. He was willing to sur
render to this trust. which Is guilty OIL
oppression, rascality, ana roppery-
Sees Surrender to Trust"
The word graft is a mild term to
apply to this bill. l tell you when you
vote for two battleships, to be con-
structed at this exorbitant price. you
are surrendering TO the trust ana Young
Ior just that much graft.
Why should the Navy Department
submit to such e&tortlon when IL h.is
the figures showing this armor pate
may be made Tor SIG a ton! Spenoihs
coo for useless ships unGer SuCh
circumstances is worse tnan SIdE W.
also proposed to buy s4,5O5,vS worth
of powder, which We do not need Ihls
s a waste OF the pubic funds tor no
other purpose than to fill the coHers
of the powder trust
Mr. Witherspoon again denounced
the big navy propaganda, Which ne
said was encouraged not only by naval
officers, but by the trusts. Mr.. Hensley
declared that retired naval officers
are going about the country making
speeches urging the waste of the pub
lie money and hacking up tn: campaign
OF the Navy League for a biz navy.
Mr. Galloway. a Texas Democrat, VINO
sympathized with the graft charges. OBJ
when Mexico refused to salute the
rag We sent our ships down there,
backed with the resources of the coun-
Try, TO make them come to terms. Yet
We surrender and crawl on our bellies
before the Armor Plate trust"
Mr.. Greene, Massachusetts Repub-
lican, demanded to know why the uem-
ocratic Administration has not prose
Cuted the "Armor Plate trust" if
charges are true that the naval bill
is filed with graft Tor that octopus.
He old not receive a satisfactory re-
ply.
Asserts Germany Is Stronger.
Mr.. Padgett, answering claims of
Email navy men that the Oregon can
Dest SIX German dreadnoughts and that
the United States outranks Germany,
said:
is il not a little singular that all
naval authorities in the world, l care
not who they are, or where they come
from, agree with the Navy Department
of this country and place the same esti-
mate Of the relative value and standing
OF the German navy and the American
navy? Only these gentlemen disagree
who have signed the minority report,
and they argue by the hour in an ef-
fort 10 overturn the unanimous opin on
OF all the naval experts. In order 10
DO that they impugn and impeach the
motives and the purposes of our own
authorities Suppose i were to concede
there was improper purpose on the part
N our own officers to belittIe our navy
and its standing? Where is the purpose
or the motive Of the authorities of Eng
land, France, Germany. to do the same
tnins? Is IL not a little singular that
all the naval authorities of the ent re
world should be false and that among
them all there could not be found one
honest man? ] bitterly resent these in
sinuations of graft and deception