New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-23
WILL SCHLEY BE DROPPED q?
DOUBT AS TO HIS STATUS IF HE FAILS
OF CONFIRMATION.
HIS FORMER PLACE NOW HELD BY COM
MODORE HIGGINsON-A PRECEDENT
IN TIE OIrACKENBUSH CASE.
[RY rrLEGRApu ro rHE rRIBUNE.I

TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington. Feb. 22.-The astonishing dis
covery was mede to-day that on account OF
popularity in the nominations sent by the Presi-
dent to the Senate on December last Rear
Admiral Schleys position in the naval service
may be jeopardzed If the Senate should Ia"
to agree TO his promotion, while that Oh hea'
Admiral Sampson will ,be unaffected Inc
friends Of Admiral Schley are greatly exerclseu
over the discovery, and the distinction tha' mas
been made between his case and that or Aofi'' ai
sannson ia declared to be altogether unsX-
plainable The actual promotions OF the '"'
officers Admiral Sampson for eight nufnoeIs
and Admiral Schley for six numbers, Tor emil
nent and conspicuous conduct in battle are
not questioned but It appears that the vacancy
caused by Admiral Simpsons promo''o"'
through some fortunate chain OF circumstances
is not specifcnlly filed by the nomination OIL
anv other officer. while the vacancy due 10 Au-
niral Schleys advancement is now occupieu W
Commodore Higgnson.
POPULARITY IN THE NOMINATIONS
Whom the President sent to the Senate on the
second dav Of the present session nominations
covering all the promotions In the Navy on ac-
count Of heroism and brave conduct In the war;
he communicated at the same time large num-
her Of ordinary promotions from the suoordina'e
grades to fill the vacancies nearly all or theh
resulting from the recognition OF Admlral oaihp-
sons and Admiral Schley's conspicuous SER
vices While these two nominations are stlil
unacted upon by the Senate, most OF the other
nominations have been confirmed, including
that of Captain Francis J. Higginson to be
Commodore in the Navy, from the 10th day OF
August 1898. vice Commodore Wlnneld ..
Schley. advanced and promoted"
By a peculiar coincidence the naval precedent
which gives rise to the fear that Admiral Schley
would lose his commission If the Senate failed
70 confirm his promotion before adjournment Is
that Of the Quackenbush case. Commanaer
Quackenbush was suspended from duty unueI
court martial proceedings, ana MS name Was Was
subsequently dropped from the naval ist
through a clerical error; Commander Schley was
nominated and confirmed to fill the vacancy
and il subsequently took a special act ol Ooh-
gress to restore Commander Quackenbush TO the
NAVY although the legality Of his removal from
the service rested wholly on the action or the
Senate in filing the vacancy.
sCHLEY'S FRIENDS AROUSED.
Regardless Of their views on the controversy
between Admirals Sampson and schey, the Off
GERS Of the Navy agree that it would be mani
festly unjust to force Admiral Schley out of the
NAVY. or even to permit his status to be made
a question Of doubt or uncertainty The friends
of Admiral Schley will therefore make every
effort TO secure his confirmation as Rear-Ad-
mral before the expiration Of the present ses-
sion of Congress- They point out that Judging
from results his record during the, Spanish War
is highly credtable to him-frst in having
pocketed the Spanish feet at Santiago, and hav-
ing destroyed it when ii made its bold attempt
TO escape on that fateful July 3 His friends
say that IT would be unfair and unusual to
gauge his services in the light OF possibilities.
for. although Cervera's fleet might have escaped
from Santiago before Schley reached there, ii
did not do so, and only met with complete dis
aster when the attempt was afterward made in
the temporary absence Of Admiral Sampson, and
while Schley as the senior officer present, was
in actual command of the United States fleet