The times., 1898-09-19
MONDAY. SEPTEMBER ls, 1888.
SchIey md Samnsnn.

Schley and Sampson.
When the progress CT the Cuban and
Porto Rican Commissions toward the
final accomplishment of their work is
compared, il is quite impossible to avoid
the conclusion that popular opinion. in
regard to the two naval commanders,
each Of whom appears TO be the domi-
nant factor in the delegation to which
he belongs. has been all along about
correct.
The Porto Rico Commission of which
Admiral Schley is the moving spirit,
has practically finished its labors, and
the destroyer of Cervera s squadron
declares that. if transports for the con-
veyance Of the Spanish troops were
only available. the Commission might
easily be on its way home within a
week
There is nothing in this calculated to
create surprise. Admiral Schley is a
man Of action. When he is assigned to
task, whether Of war or peace. it is
rather apt to be attacked and put be-
hind him in the shortest time feasible
His bureaucratic enemies may sneer
and say that his success in arranging
all the preliminaries for the evacuation
Of Porto Rico in such a remarkably
short time IS not especially to his
credit as he has merely carried out
the plan provided in printed circular
instructions a month ago. Be that as
il may. he has done something, just as
he did On the third of July, when his
~.
age and generalship, enabled him to
give the coup de grace to the Spanish
navy.
But what of the other commission,
and the Administrators prize Samp-
son? 1t and he have hardly yet
warmed up TO their work Sampson,
too, is acting under plans and speci-
hcations published a month ago, but
what has he done? He has achieved
the great point of compelling the
restive Spaniards TO leisurely discus
sion Of old scores and their privilege
TO loot the island, wkiIe ali hands are
waiting complacently for them to work,
in strict accordance with bureau ideas
Of interminable epistolary correspond
ence. He has the genius to appreciate
the time that can be burned in this
way, and we are happy to observe that
there is every disposition to make 1t
good time for the Commission Samp-
son and his colleagues understand that
his provision in arranging a long nego-
tiation wiIl afford opportunities for a
whole Winter of luxurious outing, in
spite OF any demand for vulgar haste
that may come. and come too late,
from Washington.
Accordingly, it is a matter of ex-
tTeme satisfaction TO the American
people to learn that active operations
have been measurably suspended until
q couple of palaces in Havana can be
equipped with electric lights and fur
nished and supplied with commissary
stores for the comfort of the Commits
sioners.
II seems to be evident that, while
the object of the Schley Commission
has been TO get the Spaniards out of
Porto Rico as speedily as possible, that
of the Sampson outfit is TO keep them
in Cuba, and provide royalty gor-
geous and costly junket for the evacu-
ationists, until the next rainy season.
We fully expect to see the ''manana"
admiral officially supported in this
policy, and. equally, we apprehend that
severe discipline will be applied to Ad-
miral Schley for his selfish course in
rejecting by implication upon his late
commander-in-chief. by really per-
form. few more men like Schley
would result in absolute destruction I'd
the glorious traditions of the bureaus.
and would forever sink in ignominy
and Oblivion their time-honored
methods of delay and decay.
Under all the circumstances, we feel