The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-14
NAVAL BILL
Being Considered by the House
1t Involves the Nayy's
Personnel

Personnel.
Washington, Jan. i3-The house today
entered upon the consideration Of the ma
val personnel bill. It developed much
less opposition than was anticipated and
the indications arc that II viii have a
large majority when It Is placed upon
its passage tomorrow. The last vestige
of opposition 70 the measure from inc
line officers Of the navy was removed
today when an amendment was adopted
designed to prohibit stan officers, upon
whom the bin confers positive rank, from
exercising command save IN their own
corps The committee also asserted their
purpose TO offer an amendment tomor-
row 90 repeal the law giving prize money
to the navy, ana this announcement met
with warm approval. The speeches on
the bill today were filled with glowing
illusions to the glorles Of our naval vic
tories in the late war and Mr.. Berry. of
Kentucky, created a great deal OF enthu-
siasm by his eulogy OF schley as the
hero Of Santiago.
COULD NOT FIX a TIME
An attempts 20 fiX a time for the con-
clusion OF general debate failed and Mr.
Foss, Rep, Of Illinois, who was IN charge
or the pnn, took the moor WIN gencrpi
argument In support Of the measure.
Since 1852 he said, We had devoted our
selves to building "a new navy, but little
or no attention had been paid to tho
personnel OF the navy. Men were as i'm
portant as ships The basis OF the pres
ent bin was bin drafted by a board Of
NAVAL officers az the head OF which was
the then assistant secretary Of the navy
Theodore Roosevelt. and composed OF
officers Of tho line and staff This pro-
posed change in the personnel OF the navy
was revolutionary, he admitted, but Il
was necessary 20 keep pace with the
wonderful evolution In the construction
and nature OF the modern warships The
increase IN the number Of officers proyld-
ed by the bih was 99 We had acquired
lgS additional vessels during the war with
Spain. Besides 90 ships were now under
construction. These vessels must be ofd-
ceted Mr. Foss gave notice that he in
tended az the proper time to offer an
amendment 20 abolish "prige money lu
the navy The voluntary retirement fea-
ture was reinforced by the experience OF
GERS command rank at 45 Dewey WAS
90 at Manila but he had commanded rank
at "a and 81 was his 25 years experience
in command that made him brilliant VIC
tor at Manila. The same was true OF
Sampson, schley, Clark Evnns and the
other great sea captains OF the late war
SPECIALIZED SERVICE.
Mr. Low. Rep. OF New York, opposed
the amalagamation OF the line ana the
engineer corps. Their duties were widely
disslmilar, he said. and the efficiency OF
tho service would not be promoted by
their amalagamation Mr.. Low said he
believed IN specialized service. It's ad-
vantage had been demonstrated during
the late war. when the engineer OF the
Oregon had been able 10 force that ship
during the pursuit Qf ceryeras feet be-
yond her rating.
Mr. Dayton Rep Of West Virginia. fol-
lowed IN support OF the bill. lie said an
| amendment providing that stan officers
shah not be entitled % command except
IN their own corps would be offered
Mr.. Simpson, Pop, OF Kansas, said the
bill seemed 10 him a measure for giving
/ naval officers larger salarieg ana more
honorable station. He endorsed the fea-
| ture Of the bill which held out 10 en-
listed men the possibilities Of commits
sions I'm the service He would. he said
open the woor wide and make It possi
Bile for an enlisted man 20 rlse 20 tht
highest rank In the navy
MIR. BERRY's POSITION.
Mr. Berry. Dem. Of Kentucky. warmly
supported the bill In the course OF his
remarks. Mr.. Berry made the FIRST allus.
ion on the floor OF the house 10 the
/ mooted question as 10 who was respOnsi.
BILE for the victory over Cervera's neet
at Santiago.
Il believe the bill will remove conflict.
he said. "and II there is any country
where there IS a necessity for the reinov-
al of conflict IN the army or the navy, II
is the United States I think we have a
magnificent phase OF conflict In the army
service Of the United States, presented
IN the papers this morning, and whether
Il viii end Ia duel or not do not
know, but Il seems that there Is a very
considerable amount OF friction among
the army officers"
Mr. Berry read the following poem amid
whirlwind OF laughter and applause:
when the Spanish fleet with fun head.
way,
Dashed out Of santiagJ bay
Taking the chances OF dseth and wreck
Who stood on Yankee quartcIasch.
And marked the same with eagle eye.
Say, was It Simpson. or was It schiey
Q.aughter.)
| who was IL when ahot end acrearnino
she'll
Tlrned sabbath calm iuto echoins heIll
J Steamed into the thickest OF che fray.