Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-23
How the Nation and Its Representa-
tives Rewarded It.
THE ACTION OF fHE CONGRESS
Thanks, a Sword and the Grade of
Admiral Given Him.
INTE ESTING ISTORY

der sent to Commodore George Dewey in
command of the United States Asiatc
squadron one spring day in 1893, when the
war with Spain was fact and two great
nations We're alert for the coming struggle.
Il have executed my orders
That was the reply the great sea cap: ain
sent after he had completed the annihila-
ton of the squadron of the dons on that
memorable May day away out in the orient.
Surprise and wonder.
The country was plunged into a whirlpool
of enthusiasm and surprise. Ii was difficult
to believe such overwhelmingly good news
A Spanish squadron swept out of existence
in a single morning with appalling loss of
life and property, and everlasting loss of
prestige, and the zvictors virtually I'M
scatched was too much for finite reason to
comprehend But everybody knew it was
true because an American naval officer had
said so, and at once the people and their
national representatives raised their voices
in glad and thankful acclaim.
There was q scramble in Congress to see
who would be first to propose measure
recognizing the victory of May, l, 1898 The
next day, May >, joint resolutions We're in
troduced in the House of Representatives
within minute of each other by Represen-
tatives Livingston of Georgia and Circuit of
Vermont, rendering the thanks of Congress
to Commodore George Dewey for his VIC
tory over The Spanish fleet at Manila. Both
were referred to the committee on foreign
affairs, bu: action was taken on ether.
May 3, 1895, Mr. Grout introduced joint
resolution authorizing the promotion Of
Dewey to the rank of admiral. This was
referred to the committee on naval affairs.
1t was never reported.
Dewey Day in Congress.
May o. 1893, barely a week after the
commodore had established his right to a
place in the pages of history by the side of
Dewey day in the Congress Of the United
States. That day President Mckinley
transmitted to the Congress a message rec
ommending that the thanks of Congress be
given to Acting Rear Admiral George Dew
ey of the United States navy for highly dis
tinguishcd conduct in conflict with the en-
envy, and to the officers and men under his
command for their galiantry in the destruc-
ton of the enemy's fleet and the capture
OF the enemys Notifications In the Bay of
Manila. The message was read before the
Senate, and on the same day read in the
House of Representatives and referred to
the committee on naval affairs.
Identical Measures.
simultaneously on the same day in the
House and Senate Identical resolutions
were introduced by Representative BoutelIe
and Senator Hale, chairmen, respectively,
Of the naval committees of the two houses,
rendering the thanks of Congress to Com
modore George Dewey, United States navy,
and to the officers and men of the squad
ron under his command. Mr. Boutelle's
resolution was adopted in the House by a
rising vote. The resolution passed the
Senate the same day, and received the
Presidents approval on the following day,
May 10.
The Sword Resolution.
On that same eventfu May Senator
Lodge introduced in the Senate joint reso-
luton authorizing the Secretary of the
Navy to present a sword of honor to Com
modore George Dewey, and to cause to be
struck bronze medals commemorative the
battle of Manila bay, and to distribute such
medaiS to the officers and men of the ships
of the Asiatic squadron of the United
States. The resolution passed the Senate
ard was taken up in the House on the same
day, and referred to the committee on
naval affairs, from which it was reported
back, without amendment. by Mr.. Boutelle
y, receiving the Presidents approval June
j. The resolution carried an appropri alton
Of $4,000 to enable the Secretary of the
Navy to carry out its purpose.
1t was as follows:
Joint resolution authorizing the Secre-
tary OF the Navy to present a sword of
honor to Commodore George Dewey and to
cause to be struck bronze medals COM
memoratinS the battle of Manila bay and
to distribute such medals to the officers
and men of the ships of the Asatic squad
iNli VI lIe OHltcu states.
Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled, That the
secretary OF the Navy be. and he hereby is
authorized to present a sword of honor to
Commodore George Dewey, and to cause 10
be struck brenze medals concentrating
the battle OF Manila bay, and to d strbute
such medals tc the officers and men of tha
ships of the Asiatic squadron of the United
states under command of Commodore Geo
Dewey on May l. 1898, and that to ena2 lie
r.! re secretary to garry out this resolution
the sum Of $4,000, much thereof as
may DC necessary. Is hereby appropriated
out OF any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated"
The promotion of Dewey to a rear adj
niraiship made it necessary to create an
ADDITION II position of rear admiral and this
was accomplished by the passage, on May
>, OF the bill introduced by Representative
Boutelle for that purpose, under instruc-
tons from the naval committee.
me closing Dewey event of the famous
war session of the Fffty-fifth Congress was
the transmission to Congress, June / 1893
senolng the response Of Commodore Dewey.
expressing his appreciation of the thanks
rendered him by Congress
The Grade of Admiral.
The thanks of Congress. the sword that
will be presented to him on the occasion of
MS national reception here and all the hon
or that a grateful country could bestow
upon so valiant a servant were not to be
the final tributes to the hero of Manila,
however When the third session of the
F1fty-hfth Congress -reconvened last De-
cemoer resolutions were introduced in the
two houses providing for the revival of the
grades of admiral and vice admiral De-
cember 9 Senator Hale offered such a meas
ure in the Senate. This was referred to
the committee On naval affairs, but was not
reported back to the Senate.
In the House December 1 Representa-
tive Livingston of Georgia offered the fol-
lowing BILL which was referred to the COM
mittee on naval affairs:
bill to provide for the revival of the
grade of admiral In the United States
navy.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United States of
america In Congress assembled, That to
provide prompt and adequate reward to
Rear Admiral George Dewey. the grade
and rank of admiral in the United States
navy be, and it is hereby, revived with
the same, duties. pay and privileges APP
purtenant thereto that were by law given
to the former appointees to said rank the
said grade to exist only during the lifetime
of this officer"
This bill seemed to meet public approval,