The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-24
SAMPSON VS.. SCHLEY
DISCUSSION OF THEIR PROPOSED
PROMOTION LEADS TO A DE-
LAY OF ACTION
SENATE WANTS THE FACTS
Senator Wellington ZealousIy Ad-
vocated the Cause of Admiral
Schley, and Denounced the Policy
of Favoritism IN the Navy De-
northumberland of Mr.. schIey
Undismayed by Threats.


Undismaye by Threats,
| WASHINGTON, jan 23.-The entire
executive session Of the senate today
| was devoted to the discussion of the
| promotion of AdmiraIs Sampson and
Schley and other naval officers en-
| gagged in the Santiago campaign, over
! the heads Of officers who were their
! superiors in rank. The controversy
was then postponed for twenty DAYS,
! after a vote had been taken, to call
for the records of the navy depart
ment bearing on the conduct of all
affected by the advance Little dis.
cussion arose over the resolution. Of
| which Senator Butler was the author,
calling for these documents AS orig
inally offered, it asked for the reasons
for the advancement, but the resolu-
ton was modified SO as to request the
record only
The first vote was on a motion made
by Senator Hale to lay the motion on
the table, and, on this the yeas and
nays were taken, resulting, yeas, 27;
nays, 35. The resolution was then al
lowed to pass without further division.
Previous to this, however the SEN
| ate had been engaged In an animated
discussion participated in by a large
number of senators. The main cues
ton was first over the general policy
Of promoting officers over others, and,
second, as to the relative merits of
Admirals Sampson and Schley.
Senators German and Wellington, Of
Maryland, one Republican and the
/ other Democrat united In a fierce
attack upon the navy department for
favoring Sampson over Schley, while
! Senators Lindsay, Pettigrew, Perkins
| and Money attacked the whole sys-
tenn Of promotion as a species of fa-
voritism which was not warranted by
the facts" The method Of the adm n
istation was defended by Messrs. Hale,
Chandler and Lodge.
FAVORITES EXCORIATED.
Senator Wellington was especially
jealous In his advocacy of the claims
C Admiral Schley, and in his presen-
ts ion of reasons why Admiral Samp-
son should not be preferred over him,
and both he and his Democratic col
league, Mr. German. made the state
ment that, if the official papers were
ordered, they would demonstrate, be-
yond a possible question, the fact that
Schley, and not Sampson, fought the
battle Of Santiago.
After the presentation of this side
much was said in upho8ding the claims
of Sampson in preference to those Of
Schley, and the friends of the latter
a. ~ ooi.
ed upon pressing the investigation too
closely some facts would be developed
that would not be agreeable to them.
The charge was made that Schley had
voluntarily left Santiago after reach
| ing the vicinity of that port and after
Cervera had entered the harbor, and
also that when the Spanish fleet had
sailed out through the narrow mouth
! of the channel Admiral (then Commo-
dore) Schley had made a reverse move
ment with the Brooklyn and gone in
a direction opposite to that taken by
| the Spanish squadron instead of boldly
attacking the enemy in the beginning.
| 1t was asserted that these facts were
among those which the archives would
| reveal.
The friends OF Admiral Schley de-
| clared they had nothing to fear from
| having all the facts known.
| Senator's Lindsay and Pettigrew, who
were not standing for either Sampson
or Schley. made the point that these
| Developments had merely emphasized
| the reasons why the senate should be
| put into possession' az all the facts.
After the decision to send for the
records was arrived at there was gen
eral understanding that the whole mat
| ter should be postponed long enough
to permit action by both houses upon
the naval committees bill providing
| that these promotions shall not inter-
| fere with the promotion of officers
| otherwise entitled to promotion
The subsequent effort of the senate
| in open session tospass this bill was
| the result of the agreement.