The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-21
ISLAND HOGS

The public recently has been treated to a spectacular con-
'roversy between Senator Nardaman and Rear-Admiral Bowles
over the manner in which money was spent in the construction
the Hog Island srpyards.
Senator Nardaman, with his usual directness of speech
cleared that the construction OF the Hog Island yards was
me Of the most infamous transactions that mar the pages Of
story" and that he agreed with Senator King, who had
clared there was a great deal OF vulgar robbery, stealing and
ievery by men engaged in the Hog Island enterprise"
Admiral Bowles' retort to this charge was a telegram to
'cnator Fletcher, chairman OF the senate committee on COM
Aerce, in which he said:
"You and your committee will appreciate that this state
I ent that the contract tor the construction of the Hog Island
%Srpyards and building of ships is an infamous transaction,
effects upon all parties to it, and therefore particularly upon
ADMIRAL Capps and myself. Senator Nardaman has every oppor-
unity to know the truth, and he knows that his statement is a
CELEBRATE lie. At a time when every effort is being made by
lyself and the administration OF the shipyard to organize to the
est advantage a large force of men for the construction Of YES
els, such statements are detrimental to the interests of the
nted States, and a gross injustice to every man connected
The foregoing statement from Admiral Bowles was inserted,
a. the lawyers say, to keep the record straight. Senator Varda-
man has denounced the enterprise as crooked and Admiral
Bowles has defended it as straight Senator Fletcher seemed to
be under the impression that it was his duty, being a good
Democrat, to take sides with the admiral. 1t is not out of place
state that if senator's were more prone to go into the facts,
stead Of defending the profiteers, a good deal OF the scandal
lat we have already heard something about, and a lot OF that
t to come, would never have happened.
On Friday the president instructed that the report of the
og Island affair, made by the department of justice, might be
ade public, 1t is of more interest to the public than the con
oversy between Senator Vardaman and Admiral Bowles,
In the first place the report reveals that the original esti-
nate of the cost was $2l,00yO0, The yard has actually cost
h3OO0m0, and only one ship has been delivered, and it was
very unsatisfactory, and a lot of additional werk was required
. make irseaworthy, although the ship itself cost in the neigh
lorhood of 81, 100000
The entire report is revolving in its narration of a financial
'rgy. Millions of the peoples money has been spent in
Excessive salaries and in a waste of material. Fifty ships now
il the ways will cost approximately $4,000 each more to
'uld than the building cost in other yards.
The concern in charge of the work operated on the nefarious
'ercentage basis. The more they spent the more they made.
he concern stood to make $l4,440ON by fulfilling its contract
tthin a given time.
In conclusion the report says: 1--WE are not able to find
lffirmatively that the agent has satisfactorily accounted in the
earrings before us for the expenditure OF so large a sum of
money m the construction of this plant" and then adds that
the main question being the reasonableness of the expenditures,
board Of experts would be a more suitable tribunal, we think,
than a court and jury"
The report suggests a recovery Of the stolen money, but it
seems to be the idea that the matter should be transacted as
between gentlemen. Perhaps the grafters will agree to return
hall the stolen money if no fuss is made over it, or to drop the
subject entirely. Meanwhile Senator Nardaman seems to have
disturbed the poise OF those WHO are entirely satisfied viii the
situation, especially Admiral Bowles, who seems to think too
much has already been said about it.