Navy

At the Senates behest Secretary Wilbur dove into the Navy Department's records, discovered:

A Yacht. One Albert C. Burrage leased his steam yacht, Aztec, to the Government during the War. He later claimed $325,000 for repairs, $60,000 for the loss of the use of the yacht. His attorney succeeded in getting $300,000, said attorney being the Hon. William Gibbs McAdoo.

Munitions. Under contract No. 2,010 the Navy Department ordered some 3-inch projectiles from the Edward Valve and Manufacturing Co., Chicago, and partially cancelled this order when the Armistice was signed. The munitions makers claimed $2,259,783.27. Their attorney succeeded in getting $574,291.42, said attorney being the Hon. James Hamilton Lewis, onetime Senator (Democrat, Ill.)

Some Sugar. The Federal Sugar Refining Co., delivered 420,000 pounds of granulated sugar under Navy Order 6,273, and received payment, at the rate of 14-c- per pound which was slightly higher than the price fixed by the Paymaster General of the Navy for such sugar. Nevertheless, the sugar corporation claimed 25-c- per pound, making a balance due them of $37,350 plus interest. Their attorney has taken this claim to the Court of Claims, said attorney being the Hon. Hoke Smith, onetime Senator (Democrat, Ga.)

Secretary Wilbur transmitted news of these discoveries to the Senate by letter in response to the first of seven resolutions introduced in the Senate by Nebraskan Norris demanding that seven departments report whether former Cabinet officers or Senators have acted as attorneys in claim cases within two years after they had quit office. Such action is declared by opponents of Nebraskan Norris to be undesirable and contra bonos mores.