The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-01
Another Unsuccessful Effort in Exec
utive Session to DISPOSE of the
Presidents Appointments.
CHARGES MADE BY MR.. BUTLER
THAT IMPORTANT DISPATCH FROM
SAMPSON WAS SUPPRESSED.
Schley Alleged to Be the Victim of His
temporary SuperiOr-Army ReOr-
ganizatiOn Bill to Be Accepted.

ceSs1ul efIOrt was made IN the executive SeS-
sion of the Senate to confirm the nominal
lions advancing Admirals Sampson and
Schley and other officers who participated
in the Santiago campaign. This result was
due to the objections of Senators Butler,
Pettigrew and Stewart, who talked through
the executive session, thus preventing the
taking of a vote.
Senator Butler made the principal speech
of the session. He based his objection to
the advancement of Mr.. Sampson on the
revelations of the published record of the
two officers. referring with especial en-
phasis to the fact that Admiral Sampson
had himself been responsible for Admiral
Schley's remaining at Cienfuegos. Mr..
Butler charged that the dispatch making
this order had been suppressed and he as
serted that it must have been concealed in
Mr.. SIMPSONS behalf. At any rate the con-
duct of Sampson in giving the order and
then holding Schley responsible for the de-
lay was conduct unworthy of any man and
unbecoming an officer, and Mr.. Butler said
he could never give his assent to the con-
frmation of the nomination of any man
guilty of such treatment of a subordinate.
The presentation of this point led to a
controversy as to whether Sampson had ever
issued the order. Senator Foraker appeared
anxious to secure confirmation or denial of
this accusation, indicating his opposition if
it was based upon correct Information. He
wanted to know why, If such an order had
been issued, it had not been included in
the record of the two officers sent to the
| Senate by the secretary of the navy.
To this friends of Admiral Sampson re-
piled that 1t was to be presumed that 1t
would nave been If such an order had ever
been issued. Especially must this be true
in view of the fact that Admiral Schley's
flag officer. Lieutenant Sears, had been a
member of the board which had compiled
the Information supplied to the Senate. 1t
was not to be presumed, they said, that any
information in the interest of his chief would
have been suppressed by Mr.. Sears.
graph of Admiral Schley's statement, and
said: mo one can get around that logic.
This matter is of record if the other is not
and enough is known TO show the unfairness
of Sampson without reg ID to the other
matter at ALL"
Senator German made an appeal for action
and i'm this was joined by Senator Yelling
ton. Both spoke as the friend of Mr.. Schley.
MIR. German said that he agreed with those
who claimed that there had been unfair dis
elimination against Mr.. Schley, but he said
that he wanted him confirmed and he saw
no means of protecting Schley without also
advancing Sampson.
Let US confirm Schley and leave Sampson
uHdcltu uDOus su5SNctNN PNh"N'A ~
grew.
THAT cannot be DONE" responded Mr..
Hale.
cit can be if we want to do it," said Mr..
Pettigrew. But the suggestion was not &C
cepted and the executive session closed WITH
out action.
Representative Hull, of Iowa. had a con-
ference with the President this afternoon
concerning the army reorganization bill. 1t
is understood that the President shares the
objections raised by Mr.. Hull to many fea-
lures of the Senate bill. AT the same time
there is a desire to avoid an extra session
and for this reason the indications are that
objections to the bill will be waived and the
measure accepted. Mr.. Hull said late In
the day that the tendency was toward an
acceptance of the bill, for unless accepted
he believed there was no avoidance OF an
extra session.
The general deficiency appropriation bill
was reported to the House to-day. 1t car
ries s21 ,OS9. SS4. Two of the most important
items were inserted this afternoon. One pro-
vides 81, 800 0 as an increase TO the appro-
priation for army transportation and is spe-
officially designed to pay the cost of trans
porting back TO Spain the Spanish prisoners
held in the Philippines by the insurgents.
and the other appropriates S~1,3lO,OOo 10 sat
isfy the balance due on judgment OF the
Court of Claims in favor of the Southern
Pacific Railroad. which has been held up
pending an adjustment between the govern
1lGIll dIU lHC AtAll1l Il 1SAAAS IN 49,
pieces of new legislation OF importance are
inserted in the BILL. One Is attached to the
appropriation for the southern Pacinc. II
authorizes the secretary OF the treasury 10
dispose of all securities of the Central Pa
ciic acquired in the governments settle
ment at not less than par with accrued In,
terest. The other continues in force all
temporary appointments in the departments
growing out of the wal without civil service
examination.
After many efforts the conferees of the
two houses on the general claims appro-
p~riation bill to-day reached an agreement.
The bill as agreed to appropriates s, 1853.
or about one-third Of the amount carried
by the omnibus claims bill which originally
passed the Senate. The conference bill IN
cludes all the claims allowed to date under
the Bowman and Tucker acts, the French
spoliation claims and also a number of mis-
cellaneous claims. All the state and school
and church claims were eliminated from the
bill. The bill as it passed the House carried
81, 10000. .
The Senate to-day confirmed the follow
ing nominations: VIM. r. Day, of Ohio,
United States circuit judge for the Sixth
judicial circuit; Christian e. Kohlsaat, of
Illinois. TO be United States district judge
for the Northern district of Illinois; James
S. Herman. of New York. general appraiser
of merchandise: A. c. McGillivray. register
Of the land office at Bismarck, n. D.: r. L.
Concord. superintendent of the mint at Car
son. New.
The President to-day nominated JOnn b.
Mcpherson, of Pennsylvania. to be United
States district judge for the Southern dis
trict of Pennsylvania. and William Warner
receiver OF public moneys at Rapid City,
S. ID.
Major General Wheeler has offered the
War Department a suggestion looking to the
utilization of the troops to be added to the
army under the terms of the pending re-
organization bill i'm the regular establish
ment. instead of In the volunteer branch.
The compromise measure permits the Presi-
volunteers TO be added to the regular army
i'm time Of emergency from the natives OF
the islands of Cuba. Porto Rico and the
Philippines as he may elect. General Wheel
err argues that these men can be brought 10
a. much higher state OF efficiency and be
tablishment if incorporated in the regular
army than If in the volunteer branch.
The status of General Wheeler himself is
said To be such that he must take some
action towards choosing again between the
army and Congress within a few days. 1t is
believed at the War Department that IL he
retains his army commission until after noon
on the 4th OF March. next Saturday. he Will
forfeit his seat in the House OF Representa-
tives for the ensuing two years, under the
rulings of the judiciary committee, TO the
effect that by holding such a commission an
officer ~surrenders his seat In Congress.
The following telegram has been received
at the Navy Department from Observer
Gray. of the Weather Bureau at Norfolk:
Torpedo ashore at high water mark two
and a half miles north of Coyner's Hill life
saving station. In good condition. weighing