The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-14
Admiral schIey EuIOgized in Prose
and Verse as the Hero of Santiago
by Representative Berry.
ANOTHER WAR INVESTIGATION
PROPOSED BY SENATOR ALLEN, THE
NEBRASKA POPULIST.
Medal and Thanks Urged for Helen
Miller GOuId-SenatOr McLaurin
Opposed to Expansion.

day entered on consideration of the naval
personnel bill. 1t developed much less OPP
position than was anticipated, and the indi-
cations are that it will have a large major
ity when it is placed on its passage to-
morrow The last vestige of opposition to
the measure from the line officers of the
navy was removed to-day when an amend
ment was adopted designed to prohibit staff
officers upon whom the bill confers positive
rank from exercising command save in their
own corps. The committee also asserted
their purpose to offer an amendment to-
morrow to repeal the law giving prize money
to the navy, and this announcement met
with warm approval The speeches on the
bill to-day were filled with glowing illusions
to the glores of our naval victories in the
late war, and Mr.. Berry, of Kentucky,
created a great deal of enthusiasm by his
eulogy of Schley as the hero of Santiago.
The bill was supported by Messrs. Foss
(Rep., I'D, Dayton CRep., W. Va.), Berry
(Dem., Ky), briggs (Dem N. ", and OPP
posed by Messrs. Lowe (Rep., N. " and
Simpson (Pop., Kan)
Mr.. Foss, who was in charge of the bill,
made an argument in support of the meas
ure. Since 1882, he said, we had devoted
ourselves to building new navy, but little
or no attention had been paid to the per-
sonnet of the navy. Men were as inn
portant as ships. The basis of the present
bill was Il bill drafted by board of naval
officers, at the head of which was the then
assistant secretary of the navy, Theodore
Roosevelt, and composed of officers of the
line and staff This proposed change in the
personnel of the navy was revolutionary,
no admitted, but it was necessary to keep
pace with the wonderful evolution in the
construction and nature of our modern war
ships. The increase in the number of ofIi-
GERS provided by the bill was ninety-nine.
We had acquired 1913 additional vessels dur
ing the war with Spain. Besides fifty-five
ships were now under construction. These
vessels must be differed. The voluntary
retirement feature was reinforced by the
give officers command rank at forty-five
Dewey was sixty at Manila, but he had
command rank at thirty-four, and it was
his twenty-five years experience in COM
mand that made him the brilliant victor at
Manila. The same was true OF Sampson,
Schley, Clark, Evans and the other great
sea captains of the late war.
Mr.. Berry warmly supported the bill In
the course of his remarks Mr.. Berry made
the first alluSion on the floor of the House
to the mooted question as to who was re-
SpOnSible for the victory over CerVera' S
fleet at Santiago. Il believe the bill will
remove conflict" he said, and if there is
the removal of conflict in the army or the
navy 1t is the United States. Laughter
l think we had a magnificent phase of a
CONNECT IN the army service OF the united
States presented in the papers this morning,
and whether it will end in a duel or not
do not know, but it shows there is a very
great amount of friction in the army of
the United States. There was some con-
f1ict among the officers of the navy over
the greatest battle of the war, the greatest
battle of modern times because it demon
strated the character of the men and the
vessels that were engaged in it, but there
is no doubt in the mind of the American
people who is entitled to the credit of that
victory. But there are people present who
are trying to steal away from Schley the
the Sd day of July, 1885,
In this connection Mr.. Berry read the fol-
lowing poem amid a WhirlWind of laughter
and applause:
when the Spanish fleet, with full head
way,
Dashed out of Santiago bay.
Taking the chances of death and wreck,
Who stood on Yankee quarter deck
And marked the game with eagle eye?
Say, was it Sampson, or was 1t Schley?
Who was it, with shot and screaming shell,
Turned Sabbath calm into echoing hell?
Steamed into the thickest of the fray,
His good ship leading all the way,
While the roar of his guns shook earth and
sky?
Say, was it Sampson, or was it schley?
In American hearts who holds first place
OF those who claim part in that glorious
Whose name stood out on that proud day
AS the hero of Santiago bay?
In letters of gold write that name on high;
schley?
II say it should be written Schley,' con-
tnued Mr.. Berry, and then l say that
there should be a proyiso Of law that.
whether it goes TO Schley or Sampson, no
prize money should be paid to the men who
have won that glorious achievement, but
that the prize money ought to be wiped out
OF the statute books. l say that the men
who made that magnificent charge at San
Juan hill. in all aspects of this case, are as
much entitled to take Santiago as a reward
for their services as the men who sunk Ger
Vera's ships" [Renewed applause.l
In response to a direct question, Mr..
Meyer (Dem., Lao said that the committee
would offer an amendment to repeal the law
giving prize money to the navy. This
statement was generally applauded.
Later Mr. Berry alluded to the situation
in the Philippines. He had not decided, he
said how he would stand on the proposition
to annex these islands. but he wanted it dis
tinctly understood that the backing Aguin-
aldo was supposed to be receiving from
Germany would have no weight in affecting
his opinion. We have yet to whip Ger
many as we did Spain," said he, amid great
applause.
After some further remarks the general
debate was closed and the bill was read for
amendment under the five-minute rule. Mr..
FOss offered the following amendment to
the section giving staff officers positive
IL
But officers whose rank is so defined
shall not be entitled, in virtue of the rank,
to command in the line or in other staff
corps. Neither shall this act be construed
as changing the titles of officers in the staff
corps of the navy"
Mr.. Bailey Dem, Tex.) objected to the
abolition of the rank of commodore. Our
greatest sea captains, he said, had held
that rank in the hour of their victories.
Perry Jones, Farragut Schley and Dewey
American traditions chung about the title
of commodore, and he was opposed to its
abolition to meet the social distinctions of
freign powers and foreign courts. 1t might
be only a sentiment, but he preferred an
American sentiment to the etiquette of
foreign court. lApplause.l
Mr.. Dayton explained that the title of
commodore was unknown abroad, and that
on state occasions they did not know where
20 place a commodore
They may not know where to place an
American commodore at the dance" inter-
posed Mr.. Bailey but they know where to
place him in the battle" applause
Without completing consideration of the
bill the committee rose, and at p m. the
House adjourned
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
IcLaurin Against ExpansiOn-War In