The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-24
SAMPSON AND SCHLCY,
Their Promotion Discussed in SEN
" ate's Executive Session.
SENATORS GALL FOR THE RECORD

s"e ShOWH 1uHf lEboU I'VE
schley, While Others Declare Com
modore Watson Unfhiriy Treated.
Washington, JAN A-The executiv,
session of the senate yesterday was de
voted wholly to the discussion of tn
promotion of Admirals Sampson ant
Schley and other naval officers en-
gagged in the Santiago campaign ovel
the heads Of officers who were thei
superiors in rank. The controvers,
was then postponed for 20 days, aftel
vote had been taken to call for the
records of the navy department bear.
Ing upon the conduct of all affected by
the advancement.
The discussion arose over the resolu-
tion, of which Senator Butler was the
author, calling for these documents
AS originally Offered it asked for tho
seasons for the advancement, but the
resolution was modified so as to re-
quest the record only. The first vote
was on motion made by Senator Hale
to lay the resolution on the table. and
on this the yeas and nays were taken,
resulting in II yeas to 50 nays. The
resolution was then allowed to pass
without further division
For three hours previous to this, how
ever, the senate had been engaged in
q very animated verbal battle, which
involved many intricacies and was par
ticipated in by large number of sena-
tors. The main contests were first over
the general policy of promoting these
officers over others who were char
acterlzed as quite as deserving though
less fortunate, in that they were de-
prived of such active participation in
the war and second as to the relative
merits of Sampson and Schley.
| Senators German and Wellington Of
Maryland, one Il Republican and the
other a Democrat, united in norid
attack upon the navy department for
favoring Sampson over Schey. While
Senators Lindsay, Pettigrew, Perkins
and Money attacked the whole system
of promotion as "a species of favorit-
Ism which was not warranted by the
facts" The method of the administra-
tlon was defended by Messrs. Hale,
Chandler and Lodge. Senator Welling-
Ton was especially jealous in his ad-
yocacy of the claims of Admiral Schley,
ana IN MS presentation OF reasons why
adnlral sampson should not be pre-
iefred over MN, and both he ana his
Deinocratic colleague, Mr.. Gorman
made the statement that II the official
papers were ordered they would DEM
Dnstrate beyond possible question the
fact that Schley. and not Sampson,
Fought the battle Of Santiago. They
contended that with Sampson ten miles
away he could not be accredited con-
e;ructively with having command of
the fleet on the memorable day when
one Spanish vessels were sent to the
cotton. On the contrary they held that
&chley was on the ground; he was the
dsntor officer. and that he was en-
gagged actively and most effectively in
the conflict all the world knew, re-
gardleSs OF the favors of the govern
nent at Washington.
Senator Lindsay found much in the
promotion of both Schley and Sampson
: over Commodore Watson to condemn.
He took occasion to praise Watson as
man who would undoubtedly have
made fine record in the war if given
iEe opportunity he should have had as
senior officer, and said that to de-
tIive him of his rightful rank because
,thcr men We're pressed to the front
aud given the posts of honor was in
.Nery way unfair and unworthy of
g,eat country. Senator Perkins, Sem
''or Piatt, of Connecticut, and Senator
!'e;tierew also criticized the system as
Dre liable to result in unfairness.
n nd hnf
members of the naval committee, de-
# nded the action Of the navy depart
tent in giving preference to the men
y ho took upon themselves the brunt o:
y battle in Atlantic waters, and In
..".rerrng the man who was in COM
.,;.and of the fleet. They deprecated
NE opening up Of a controversy, which
GenRtor Chandler said might lead to a
condition which might prove as un-
11vory as that which the war investi-
eating commission has developed In
Connection with the army beef con-
tracts. Senator Lodge joined in de-
p orng this policy, and owing to the
fact that he had but recently, in the
.r.crcst OF private research, made an
,e haustiye investigation he was Ell
l5ed to throw much light upon the
: .rtroversy ON behalf of the conten-
.:.nn that the controversy should not be
stirred.
During the presentation of this side
7 ulh was said in uphoding the claims
!: Sampson in preference to those of
;.rley, and the friends of the latter
,y.cer were "warncd that IL they in
'!ted upon pressing the investigation
.r1 closely some facts would be de-