The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-24
TIiosEhAyYPROkOTIONS
PASSING OVER 0f WATSON CONDEMNED
{ Farther Discussjon Postponed Unit
Roth fioeses Act ON Naval AZ
Sairs Comsnittce's Hcpcrfs.

Warrington, January 23--The cntirc ex-
\ scutlye session OF the senate today was
devoted to the discussion Of the promotion
ii Admirals sampson and schley and other
naval officers engaged in the Santiago
eanspaign over tho heads Of officers who
were their superiors in rank. The contro-
versy was then postponed for twenty days
after vote had been taken to call for the
records OF the navy department bearing
upon tho conduct Of all affected BY the adj
vancemcnt.
The discussion arose over the resolution,
OF which Senator Butler was the author.
calling for these documents. As originally
offered 1t asked for the reasons for the
advancement. but the resolution was modi-
Ind 80 as to roquest the record only.
the first vote was on motion made BY
Senator Hale to lay the resolution on the
table and on this the ayes and noes was
taken, resulting--Ayes II. noes 15,
The resolution was then allowed to pass
without further division.
For three hours previous to this. how
ever. the senate had boon engaged in a
very animated verbal battle, which In
volyed many intricacies and was pnr-
ticipated In by large number OF senator's.
& The main contests We're first over the gem
eral policy OF promoting these officers over
others who were characterized as quite as
dcserNng. though less fortunate in that
they wers3 deprived OF such active par
ticipation In the war and, second, as 10 the
relative merits Of Sampson and Schiey.
Senators German and Wellington OF
Maryland, one a republican and the other
a democrat united In a fierce attack upon
the1navy department for fayoring Sampson
over Schley. while Senators Lindsay, Petit:
grew, Perkins and Money attacked he
whole system OF promotion as "a species
Of fayoritism which was not warranted by
the facts.
The method OF the administration was
defended by Hale, Chandler and Lodge.
Senator Wellington Was especially ZEAL
Gus in his advocacy OF the claims OF ADJ
y ypiral Schley and, In hit presentation OF
reasons why Admiral Sampson should not
be preferred over him, both he and his
democratic colleague. Mr.. German, made
the statement that II the official papers
were ordered they would demonstrate be-
yond a possible question the fact that
Schlcy and not Sampson fought the battle
ON Santiago.
Senator Lindsay found much in the pro-
motion OF both Schley and Sampson over
ycccasion to praise Watson as a man Who
Undoubtedly would have made fine record
in the war II given the opportunity he
should have had as q senior officer and
said that to deprive HIM OF his rghtrni
rank because other men were pressed to
I: the front and given the posts OF honor.
wac in every way unfair and unworthy OF
great country
Senators Perkins, Plat fConn) and Pet
tiGrew also criticised the system az one
liable to result In unfairnoss unless very
cautiously entered upon. agreeing that at
any ratio the senate should have tho record
before II that II might decide for itself as
10 the merits Of the men 80 signally fav-
& ored compared With those who had re-
ceiycd none OF the loayes and fishes.
Senators Hale and Chandler both mem
bers CT the naval committee, defended tho
action OF the navy department. in giving
preference to he men who took uppn
themselves the brnnt of the battle in At
lanic waters md in preferriny the uian
who WAS in command of the doet. They
deprecated the orening UP of n controversy
which Senator Chandler said might leal
10 condition which might prove as un-
savnry as that which the war investigating
commission had developed IN connection
With the army beef contracts.
Senator Lodge Joined in dcploring tho
policy, and, owing to the fact that he had
bit recently In the interest OF private re-
search, made an exhaustive Investigation,
he was enabled to throw much light upon
the controversy In behalf OF the contention
that the controversy should not BIO stirred
up. During tho presentation OF this side
much was said In upholdlng the clanls of
IS sampson IN preference to those OF Schloy,
and the friends Of the latter officer were
warned that II they insisted upon press
ING tho investigation too closely some facts
would be developed that would not be
agreeable to them"
A. - o.
Z voluntarily left Santiago after reaching tho
vicinity OF that port and after Cervera
had entered the harber and also tho
charge that when the Spanish feet had
sailed out through tho narrow mouth OF
the channel Admiral Schley had made a
reverse movement With the Brooklyn and
some In a direction opposite to that takon
by the Spanish squadron Instead Of boldly
attacking the enemy in tho beginning. II
MAS asserted that these facts we're among
those which the archives would reveal
q The friends Of Admiral Schley declared
r they had nothing to fear from having all
IL me facts known. Explaining his start to
leave Santiago and his refusal to obry
# department orders b6fore Sampson q .lr-
y. n val, ths,i said that Il was becalse he had
Reen unable 70 coal at sea. When they
IS N9yo asked how II had happened that thcy
/ IN hosn able to coal thirty-sIx hours al,
esyHAr1s they replied that this wns due TO
tns fscf thRt 4 storm had given place TO :
esnatou lindsay and Pcttarew. Who
3 Seys ~ standing for elthsr Sampson or
s IA ny, made the paint that these deyel-
y eop>nnta hed merely emphasized the red
3o49 why fhe senate should be put into
IiI m 1e>9lon ~ III the fRctn before voting.
';S 4. s'k An not the champion Of either OF
l441e Q{dcerAs said MIR Pettigrew. aud
4 166vtd 1 dlspSsiticp u DO 20 j want want q q
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