Arizona republican., 1899-03-01

Washington, Feb. 28.-The astonlsh- ing discovery was made today that on account of peculiarity in the nomlna- tions sent by the President to the seD- ate on December last Rear-Admiral
 Schley's position in the naval service may be jeopardized if the senate should fail to agree to his promotion, while that of Rear-Admiral Sampson will be unaffected. The friends of Admiral Schley are greatly exercised over the discovery, and the distinction that has been made between his case and that of Admiral Sampson is declared to be altogether unexplainable.
 The actual promotions of the two officers, Admiral Sampson for eight numbers and Admiral Schley for SIX numbers. flor eminent and consp1cu- ous conduct in battle" arc not ques- ttoned, but it appears that the vacancy caused by Admiral Simpsons pro motion through some fortunate chain of circumstances, is not specifically filled by the nomination of any ether officer, while the vacancy due to Ad- miraI SchIeys advancement is new oc- cupied by Commodore Higginson.
 When the President sent to the sen ate on the second day of the present session nominations covering all the promotions in the navy on account ot heroism and brave conduct in the war, he communicated at the same time large number of oI dlnary promotions from the subordinate grades to fill the vacancies, nearly all of them resulting from the recognition of Admiral Samp- sons and Admiral Schley's cCpspicu- ous services. While these two nomina- t;cls are still unacted upon by the sen ate. most of the other nominations have been confirmed, including that of Captain Francis J. Higginson, to be a commodore in the navy, from the 10th day of August, 1898, vice C0mmo- dore Winfield s. Schley, advanced and promoted"
 By a peculiar coincidence, the naval precedent which gives rise to the fear that Admiral Schley would lose his commission if the senate fails to con- firm his promotion before adjourn ment is that of the Quackenbush case. Commander QUackenbush was sus- pended from duty under court martial proceedings, and his name was suhse- quentiy dropped from the naval list through clerical error; Commander Schley was nominated and confirmed to fill the vacancy, and it subsequently, took a special act of congress to re- store Commander Quackenbush to the navy, although the legality of his re- mcvaI from the service rested wholly on the action of the senate in filling the vacancy.
 Regardless of their views on the con- troversy between Admirals Sampson and Schley the officers of the navy agree that it would be manifestly un- just to force Admiral Schley out of the | navy, or even to permit his status to be made question of doubt or un- certainty. The friends Of Admiral | Schley will therefore make every effort | tu secure his confirmation as rear i admiral before the expiration of the ] present session of congress. They | point out that judging from results his | record during the Spanish war is highly creditable to him-frst, in hav- ing pocketed the Spanish fleet at San tiago, and having destroyed it when it made its bold attempt to escape on | that fateful July g. His friends say | that it would be unfair and unusual to | gauge his services in the light of pos abilities, foc, although Cervera's fleet ! might have escaped from Santiago be fore Schley reached there, it did net do so, and only met with complete dis aster when the attempt was afterward | made :n the temporary absence of Ad- miral Sampson, and while Schley, as the senior officer present, was in actual command of the United States fleet.