The times., 1899-12-08
FRIDAY. DECEMBER s, 1888.
snmnson and the Lnm.

sampson and the Law.
The annual report Of the Secretary OF
the Navy. which is now before the
country, is an unusually interesting
document. il is so not only because 1t
presents certain well-k known needs and de
nciencies Of the service in a clear and force
ful manner and at 8 time when their early
consideration is demanded by the exigencies
OF the national situation. but because on
the other hand il discloses in a half-con-
fessed way. the 1legitimate determination
o. the department to rob meritorious officers
Of The laurels fairly and even gloriously
won by them in the Spanish war, and to in
duce Congress TO place them upon unworthy
heads through a system Of premeditated
Juggling and Misrepresentation such as
marked the successful Navigation Bu-
Tesu scheme in the Fifty-ffth Congress
10 prevent the regular advancement OF
Captains Picking. Rodgers. and Kempff.
While there is much in the rscommenda-
lions included in the report that should at
tract The favorable attention OF the two
houses. there is much more to warn them
THAI the first and highest necessity Of the
Navy is for thorough investigation of the
Navy Department, especially as regards the
evils Of faEoritism, injustice, and occa-
sional defiance Of law. To this last-named
shortcomiEg We shall call attention fur
ther on and specifically.
We agree with Mr. Long that the three
armored cruisers, three protected cruisers,
and twelve gunboats. asked for by
him amount to little enough in the
way OF naval increase, remembering
how far the United States is be-
hind some other first-class nations in
sea power. We think his recommendation
for The construction Of training barracks
for enlisted men is timely and should be
acted upon favorably. His views as to the
need OF mechanical engineers of high grade
10 supervise the construction OF machinery
have our endorsement. We are very sure
that a question Of price for the armor
needed 70 complete vessels ready for it
should not be longer allowed to interfere
with their being added TO the Navy.
Whether or not it would be a good idea
for the Government TO build plants and
make its own armor is an open question,
which Dir. Long wisely does not attempt 10
answer. We now come to the sections Of
the report which challenge the inyestiga-
tion so urgently needed and which it
may be said the country demands. We
quote:
s'Tae department therefore again urges that
legislatilu be enacted providing thai advancement
~ rank for services rendered during the
with Spain shall not interfere with the regular
promotion Of 0ffcers Otherwise entitled 70 pro-
mgtigu and that oficeTs advanced 70 higher
grade by reason Of service shall be carried
a1cltEenal 20 the numbers IN each grade TO
which they have been promoted The department
E1hInItted 10 Congress ~ its last session 6 bill
substantially 70 this effect, which Is printed
Senate bis No. 5006, and 70 which attention Is
invited %
The foregoing Is an innocent appearing
proposition and may even be so In fact
although we doubt It. There is an uncom-
Portable favor about Il OF the Crown
shield method Of administering advance
nent, as demonstrated in the HigginsoA
case Perhaps il may be well to revive the
memory of that painful episode.
In his annual report 10 the Secretary Of
the Navy afterward withdrawn and more
or less expurgated for Congressional peru
sal. CrOwninshield made an attack by
Implication Oh the United States Sen
ate FOR refusing TO commit the in
fanny Of confirming the promotion Of
Sampson over the head OF Rear Ad-
miral schley. He said that OF the squad
ron alleged to have have been commanded
hy Sampson. though we shall show that
IL never was and legally could not he,
only one officer had been promoted and
that through a ''misapprehension." j" Crown
iushield. Of course, referred to the case
OF Captain now Rear Admiral. Higginson.
hut did not explain that the "rnisappre-
hension" was one only as far as the Senate
was concerned. II was something else,
otherwise. as the truth Of the matter viii
show. Rear Admiral HiggiEson is a worthy
officer. IN no way blamable OF RESPONSE
ole Tor what happened in connection with
his promotion. We have not the slight
est desire to say anything indIvidIous with
regard 10 him. Il IS TO be regretted that
Justice requires the revival Of a scandal
with which his connection was unwilling
and innocent
AS Ear as We know, Il IS true, as Crown
inshield declares. that the only promotion
Oh account OF the naval battle OF Santa
20. was that OF Captain Higginson, who.
however. was not present at the affair
being al the time al Guantanamo coaling
ship Indeed, he had as little to do with
The victory over Cervera as Captain Samp-
son himself, which IS saying great deal
In due course % time. after the battle
the Navy Department recommended vari-
Gus officers in the North Atlantic Squad
ron for advancement in their grades. and
the President sent their names to the Sen
ate for confirmation as recommended. That
body. OF members Of lt not in tho secret.
should be advised that the Bureau OF Nayi-
Bation. without waiting for the Senate to