The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-14
he MAKES A SUGGESTION
Sampson Wants the Nominations
Renewed.
He WITHDRAWS HIS NAME
Does Not Wish to Keep the Deserving
Officers From the Reward They
Have Won-The Secretary
Does Not Approve.

Washington, March 13.-Secretary
the president through the secretary of
the navy from Rear Admiral Sampson.
in which he asks that the nominations
for promotion of naval officers not sub
ject to controversy in the senate be re-
newed. The letter follows:
The text of Rear Admiral Sampson's
letter is as follows.
UNITED States Flagship New York,
Havana, Cuba, March 9, 1S99-Sir: 1 re-
specially ask your attention to the
facts contained in this letter, and that
it may be officially filed as part os
my record in the United States navy.
When the late war was threatened I
was placed in command of the North
Atlantic fleet, and after declaration of
war was appointed by the president 4
rear admiral, and confirmed in my COM
mand.
This duty and responsibility came to
me entirely unsought, nor had l any
special wish for it, though recognizing
the great honor then conferred upon
me.
My sole aim was to achieve success,
.
fleet, and to maintain an efficient war
fleet
1T Is not necessary to dwell upon the
incidents of the war, which are all now
we'll known. Based upon these Incl
dents certain officers, distinguished for
faithful service were named by me, in
in the exercise of my natural duties as
COMMUNICATIVE chief, for promotion or
such other reward as you, sir, might
deem desirable. Those names you have
been pleased to nominate to the United
States senate for promotion, and you
have done me the honor to admit my
name to that list of officers.
1T now appears that the senate.
though well disposed to most Of the
names on the list, has, for reasons not
necessary to be here discussed, object
ed to my promotion, has similarly
failed to confirm the deserving officers
about whose merits there has been no
doubt or discussion. Hitherto, Mr.
President, undisturbed by any eager
desire for advancement or any other
form of reward for doing my duty,
have not specially concerned myself
with matters outside of that duty. /
have felt that l have done my duty in
the conduct of the West Indian naval
campaign to the utmost of my ability
as thoroughly as I was able, and if no
reward should come. / could be salts
fed with the consciousness of hav-
ing done my best. I do not, however,
anticipate that dissatisfaction that any
acts or acts of mine would cause the
senate to withhold from other officers
promotion which they have well de-
served, and which has been promptly
granted in similar circumstances to
others.
Il therefore respectfully suggest, Mr..
President, that your appointment of
these officers about whom there Is no
discussion, should at once be renewed,
in order that they may at once secure
their promotions under the personnel
bill to which they are entitled, and
without creating confusion. Very re-
spectfully, w. II. SAMPSON"
ITO the president of the United States,
through the secretary of the navy
Secretary Long will not accept the
suggestion made by RearA dmiral Samp-
son in his letter. and make recess ap-
pointments of officers who failed of
confirma ton at the last session of con-
gress. The matter will be allowed to
remain just as it stands until the next
congress meets. and then all of the
nominations will be sent in precisely as
they stood at the end of the last ses-
Il