The evening world., 1919-02-20

! triuf
Undor Major Muirs direction a.
| investigation was begun to-day into
reports OF irregularities in the pir-
chase ana sale Of clothing and other
supplies in the Third Naval District.
Major Muir is also digging into al
legged labor graft. rms feature of
tho most thorough inquiry Of it, kind
tac United states Navy las known in
years has TO do with the alleged prac-
tico OF permitting employees to punch
time clock In the early morning and
sercnely 10 away for the day.
These employees were on tho pay
rolls Of contractors turning out cloth
ing and other navy supplies on the
"cost pIJs' plan. These contractors,
It Is charged. got back from the Gov
crnmcnt what they appeared to have
paid these employees, plus profit
The inside story OF the start OF
tho graft inquiry begins with call
for the assistance OF four Secret Ser
vice mon. When that call was made
an order was issued for tho transfer
ot four sailors from Boston to the
headquarters OF the Third Naval
District, No. ESQ Broadway.
The four Secret Service men met
the four sailors on the way from
Boston and proceeded TO take their
papers from them. These were the
Official" papers. giving the name and
the record OF the sailor and telling
all about thon.
Tho boys from Boston were given
substitutc orders diverting them
! from New York and sending them 10
navy yard in tho South. The Sec
ret Service mcn--drcsrcd ns sailors
came 60 New York and reported
ready on board. SIR ~ hes.da usr-
/ ters.
| The now arrivals apparently were
young men OF means utterly fed up
with navy hfe and anxious TO get
out. They made friends. they en-
tcrtained wisely. they talked of thear
desire to get out and they asked
questions. They were told. finally.
that it could be fixed IL thoy would
see the right party"
One or moro OF them proceeded 20
aee the right party" the result be.
ing Secretary Daniels's statement
that one officer is charged with ac.
ccpting $500. another $500 and still an
other $500
Navy officers OF the regular order
graduates OF Annapolis who we're in
before the war and who will remain in
inter the war-arc glad IL not sur
prlsed TO learn that none OF the men
under charges Is an Annapolis man.
The men undor detention are naval
militiamen commissioned after the
war began. other officers commits
stoned direct from civilian life or
petty officers and enlisted men who
entered tho navy in war time.
A new story expected to receive
immediate attention Is of a com
manding officer who came into the
service az an Assistant PaymasteI
and eighteen days later jumped tc
| Sho IHhh Ol l%ltuLcHsLnl lSHnfndnOcr
He Is stiL In charge OF naval base
at an American port, although forty
seven charges have been lodged
against him in fifty eight afiidavits.
He has never been troubled in Tho
least, tho story goes, despite the fac
his charge has been so mismanagod
II Is known as tho Mad House" In
the service. Among the accusation;
made against him are drunkenness or
duty, persecution. indecent exposure
conduct unbccomins an officer, at
tempted suicide while drunk ant
questionable financial dealings.
GREW RICH WITHIN THREE
WEEKS. 1T is SAID.
II is alleged that the day OF his ap-
pointmcnt he had to borrow carfar,
at tho Neptune Society here to IN,
site of his now Command. but thai
shortly afterward he paid cash fol
$4,000 worth OF First Liberty Loar
bonds and had in one bank new bal
ance OF more than $4,000.
He was said to be rarely sober an,
was abusive 20 those under him
drunk or sober. A boy who askct
leave 20 attend his mothers funcra
WAS refused and called unprintanl,
names lie went anyhow. and wher
he returned was again abused anC
sentenced TO thirty days in the br.