New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-31
THE NAVY UNDER FIRE.
SENATORS ON THE GREELY RELIEF BILL.

OPPOSITION TO ASSIGNING NAVAL OFFICERS TO THE
DANGEROUS WORK OF REsCUE-THE OTHER VIEW
WASHINGTON. Jan. 30.-In the Senate to-day
Mr. Hale called up the report OF the Committee on Con-
ference Of both Houses relating to the Greedy relief exp
dton. The report recommends that the Senate recede
from its amendment requiring that only persons who vol
for the service shall detailed for the expedition
Mr. Sherman stated that II he had known that the bill
when presented authorized the Secretary Of the Navy TO
order any outside the line of his duty to take bis life
IN his hands, would be the in such an expedition
this he would not have voted for II. No doubt tina,
there many able and adventurous men who would De
willing to volunteer for the service The amendments Oh
the Senator from Delaware Mr. Salisbury had rehe'ed
him (Mr shernan) from embarrassment ana was
| proper provision.
Mr. Salisbury stated that he had not united with the
other nembers OF the Senate Conference Committee on
the subject He had done his duty In trying to secure
70 the officers and men of the Navy exemption from coh
pusory participation I'm service so extraordinary ana 30
out of the line OF their duty. He was opposed 10 giving
any man. whether Secretary of the Navy or the Pres
ident AZ thory TO order assign men arbitrarily for
VOYAGE so perlous while there Others who would
gladly volunteer for the purpose He did not know that
the Secretary the Navy would assign man to the
work who would not be perfectly willing to CO. but If
Secretary wanted 10 punish any officer such an assign
ment would afford the opportunity. Mr.. Salisbury
would alwaS be opposed to compulsory
assignments in matters of this outside
character lie remembered the fate of Lieutenant ier-
DON whose explorations Of tho Amazon reflected so much
credit his country and he remembered that that brave
officer was assigned to the charge OF vessel against
seaworthness he unavsilingly protested and In
consequence Of that assignment lost bis life.
THE EXPEDITION To BE ONE OF RESCUE.
Mr. Hale sent the desk and the clerk read dispatch
from the Secretary OF tie Navy 10 the chairman OF the
House Committee Appropriations. stating that it
seemed to him unwise to limit the President to yon-
teers; that the expedition not Of exploration,
but of the rescue deliberately sent out by the Gov
enment with promises Of if 1t became necessary
and who are now perhaps starving reozng that with
out the Limitation volunteers could be accepted but II
offered by the tune the ships ready to SAIL were
the ships not movel Or IL there naval officers
qualified go than those who might volunteer,
were the lives Of the explorers, old and new, TO
he trusted TO inferior mems Mr. Hale expressed his
entire dissent from the idea expressed by the Senator
from Delaware Cur salisbury If such rule were TO
be adopted and If officers even on service az @ pr
dent Secretary OF the Navy, he lAr Hale would give
little for the spirit of the Navy lie dd not deny that IL
was dangerous expedition.
RELIEF ExP CITED rs RIGHT.
Companions and friends of naval officers werc upin
the Arctic regions ana, aye were suffering and offering
up prayers for relief They had right TO expect relief
and only q naval expedition can relieve them. Any
officer VINO would decline to render this service for the
of his suffering companions was unfit TO remain IN
the Navy OF the Uaited States What was the Navy fort
Would there always be times when the dangers III
vOlved could be measured by the previous experience
Of naval officers II this spirit were encouraged OF per
hitting naval officers 70 avoid or withdraw nom aserylce
because OF q danger there never would be naval es-
tablishment which would reflect any honor on
the country. That not tho spirit that gave
the British Navy its Rodman and its Nelson It was not
the spirit that the American Navy It's Paul Jones' is
Decatur or It's Falr1gut. mr Hale had heard that well
known sndeed quite distinguished, officer Of the Navy
lad been written to. not by Secretary, that the COM
nand o this expedition might be given to hinand his
ply was l. ordered that service he would by every
so that be night remain hGmc Wise and skul officers
are the only kind tha should be tn expedition
Mr. Hale hoped spirit Of the Navy would be tested in
this matter and that the Senate would recede from its
amendment.
Mr. ingalls, hoped that the Senate would not recede. He
strcnujusy objected the unvaTyng course OF Commit
tees Conference the part Of the Senate In coming in
reporting that they had yielded to the Committee OF
the House OF Representatives. The Senate might well
abicae nct ions and let the ScnateCOumittces
Appropriations and Naval Affairs be considered an
nexes" of the House of Representatives. The uniform
of tue House In these matters afrOnt to
the Senate.
Mr. Hale think remarks of the Senator from
Kansas NIr, Ingalls, going 10 inlane the Senate
There had bcom and would be- conferences in which each
House would insist on its own OF thinking This was
not matter which there mad been any feeling, one
way the other between the Committee OF the House
and that OF the Senate
At o'clock the Chair Informed the Senate that the
hour had arrived Tor the Senators To attend the funeral
services OF tie late Representative Mackey The debate
thereupOn terminated.