Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-11-13
NJ 'ADOO' s NAME
MENTIONED IN
SHIP BOARD QUIZ
Political Activity Is
Again Touched On in
Graft Inquiry.
Southern Yards Biggest
Offenders; Crew Splits
$4,000, Is Jailed.

| New York. Nov. 12.-Alleged "po-
Itical activity" previously referred to in
testimony and reports before the Walsh
, commission investigating facilities of the
United States shipping board was again
touched on in testimony presented here
Friday.
Congressman Israel NJ. Foster. oues
tIoning John L. Meehan, deputy chief of
the boards bureau of investigation, ask
ed if there had been any loss to the
government through political influ-
ence"
McAdoo Criticized.
Asked if there had been any COM
plants of such Influence. the witness
said that he had heard some criticism
Of William G. MeAdoo after he had re-
signed the office of secretary of the
treasury. 1t was charged, or rather
complained of, the witness added, that
MIR, McAdoo had appeared before the
board on behalf Of the Morse inter-
ests'
81 do not want to be understood" the
witness continued. "as saying that it is
even inferred that Mr.. McAdoo has in
terfered with, or has been harmful to
the board in any way"
He explained he was testifying Only
as to criticisms he had heard.
dtatSfass tHfFSffHdteA.
Meehan also said that while most of
the investigations of his department has
been of the activities of minor employees
his department had not overlooked of
ficials." He added they had gone very
high in the boards personnel He re-
peated previous testimony that no irrcg
uiarities had been discovered among the
boards officers. References were made.
however, dislnissals had taken place at
his recommendation. One of these dis
missals was brought about, he said. by
what he termed undue and unnecessary
delay as we'll as cxorbitant expense in
repair bill on this ship, he said, amount
ed to fully 100000 and the ship could
not be sold today for $4,000.
Going into details Of alleged graft
among ships officers, he related details
Of a case on the steamship Dio On this
ship, he testified, three of its officers,
including the captain, had managed to
conceal the presence of 400 tons of fuel
oil when it arrived from Rotterdam.
Crew Splits $4,000.
At Norfolk, more oil was taken aboard
for voyage to Rio de Ianiero At this
port the officers paid for the delivery
of 900 tons of oil, the witness asserted
but through conniyance with an employe
of an oil delivery company, only 600 tons
were delivered The difference between
the value of 800 tons delivered and the
| 600 tons paid for-amounting to about
So, ,OOO-was split" between the parties
implicated in the transaction The Off
GERS of the ship, in addition to the !
split, also took the usual percentage"
for sale. The captain. the witness al |
eyed. also coDnived with a repair com |
Dany for certain alterations to the ship |
'or which the board was charged $11 600 |
The captain, the witness added, receiv |
al $500 from the contract as his bit" |
1t was afterwards ascertained that n |
price for the repairs would |
lave been about $1,000. Before sailing. |
he ship took aboard sufficient beef to
asst nine months. much of which was
ater thrown overheard, he said
Two Confess, Sentenced.
Meehan testified that the captain,
'hief engineer and another officer were
indicted The latter two confessed and
'eceiyed light sentences from the court.
rhe captain was released on bond and he
S due to appear here for trial Novem-
,er Is. The witness said he had been
informed, however, that the captain and
lis wife, and fourteen trunks" had
ailed from Key West for Buenos Aires.
The shipping board is now seeking him.
Details of alleged irregularities in
'vercharges to shipping board vessels,
of double fees and many other
ffenses have been run down, Meehan as
erted, and in some cases restitution
made and in others prosecutions insti-
uted