Evening star., 1939-01-05
Elliott Plans 10 Put
Case Against Roper
Before Congress
Letter Denies Charges
And Hopkins Comes
To His Defense

The Eala controversy continued to
boil today as former Secretary OF
Commerce Roper denounced charges
by Acting Controller General Elliott
that the Government vessel had
been used as pleasure craft and
Secretary of Commerce Hopkins
came to the defense of his prede-
cessor.
There also was prospect of further
light on the whole matter, as spe-
cial report to Congress is being pre-
pared by the Acting Controller Gen
sral. However, it is understood this
awaits further audit of the Eala
accounts.
Mr.. Elliott, in his annual report,
charged that over period of about
six months in 19345 officials of the
Commerce Department, their rela-
tives and friends used the Eala,
which was assigned to the Bureau
Of Marine Inspection and Naviga-
ton, for private parties and that
the unauthorized" use of the vessel
cost the Government $9,506.72. 1t
was alleged also that cigars, Gig
arettes and Poland water purchased
for parties had been vouchered as
paint and other supplies and paid
for out of the Eala appropriation
=. Roper Issues Statement.
Mr.. Roper took cognizance of the
charges in a statement issued
through the Commerce Department
lite yesterday in which he said Mr.
Elliott, Republican, was acting
olit of political spleen"
His version of the matter is
based on half truths and is, there
fore, in effect indistinguishable from
Hdeliberate lie," Mr.. Roper said.
HAD he disclosed the information
Ii the records here, and had he pc
rused them, he would have said:
THAT during the Republican ad-
ministration the boats were used
by Commerce Secretaries. Assistant
Secretaries and their friends and
guests with the utmost frequency,
THAT in so using the boats
they were diverted from their reg
ular duties and schedules and that
all the expenses of every nature
were charged to and paid for by the
United States Government
Mr. Roper asserted that when the
Democratic administration went into
ONCE, he, after using one Of the
boats, discovered that expenses pre-
Viously had been charged to the
Government. On August IL, 1888,
he said, he ordered that all guests
on boats would pay for their entire
keep, essentials and extras"
Hopkins Defends Roper.
II have nothing to apologize for, y
Mr.. Elliott retorted when advised of
the statement. The record of the
ship speaks for ITSELF
Secretary Hopkins statement said
Mr.. Roper should be commended
for cleaning up a bad situation
which existed under the previous
administration, and for removing
from the service the master of the
boat who manipulated his accounts
to accomplish payments by the Gov
ernment contrary to Mr.. Roper's
instructions"
The Secretary did not name the
master of the vessel, but in Phila-
delphia Capt. William T. Coad said
he had held the position, later being
appointed shipping commissioner
there and subsequently dismissed
last month.
Everything I did was under Or
ders," Capt. Coad said. Il think I
have been very unfairly treated"
Capt. Coad said he was transfer
red to the Eala in 1888 from the
Sequoia, a Government vessel then
used by the President. He was
master Of the Eala until appointed
shipping commissioner two years
ago. He was suspended on Decem-
ber IS, and removed eight days
later