The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-03
REWARDS FOR NAVAL OFFICERS.
President to Call the Attention Of
Congress to the Question.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The President
has taken up the question of rewarding the
naval officers who participated in the de-
struction of Cervera's fleet off Santiago,
and his final conclusions will be embodied
shortly in recommendations to Congress-,
either in the form of a renewal of the adj
vancement Of Rear Admiral Sampson and
the officers under him by numbers, with
perhaps some modifications-the scheme
which the Senate refused TO ratify last
springer according to some other method.
The secretary of the navy. in his report,
recommended as an alternative proposition
legislation on the line of the bill introduced
last spring Senate bill No. 5GO5), w...ch pro-
vides for three classes of medals-one for
conspicuous conduct in war, one for ex-
traordinary heroism and one for general
meritorious service-the first to carry with
1t a percentage of increase of pay based on
the rank Of the recipient and calculated to
take the place of the increase which would
be the result OF promotion were that the
form of. reward given. Either method
would contemplate. in addition to the
thanks of Congress to the ommander-in
chief of the North atlantic squadron and
the officers and men under his
as they were given to the commander-in-
chief of the Asiatic squadron and the Off
GERS and men under his There
also has been a suggestion for the creation
OF vice admiral for the benefit of Rear Ad-
mirals Sampson and Schley. As a result of
the Sampson-Schley controversy the reward
OF all the subordinate officers in the North
Atlantic squadron has been blocked up to
this time, and 1t is the urgent desire of both
the PRESIDENT and Secretary Long that jus
tice be done to them and that they obtain
the rewards which they have earned.
Preliminary TO a decision on his course of
action the President and Secretary Long to-
day had a computation with eight of the
santiago captains at the White House. The
naval officers present were Chadwick. of
the New York; Cook, of the Brooklyn:
Clark. of the Oregon; Phillip (now rear adj
miraD, of the Texas; Evans, of the Iowa;
Higginson (now rear admiraD, of the Mas
sachusetts; Folger, of the New Orleans. and
Lieutenant Commander of the
Gloucester. Rear Admiral Sampson was not
present. These commanding officers were
especially invited by the President, who de-
sired 10 near from their own lips the story
of the battle of Santiago. the general move
ments and difficulties of the campaign, in
Guiding the cruise of the flying squadron in
search or Cervera's fleet and their own
ideas as to the method of comforting the re-
wards. For almost two hours the captains
talked with the President. who manifested
keen interest in their personal accounts of
tHc StIIillS tNcutS OIL the south coast or
Cuba. Some of the controversial questions
were gone into at length.
The concensus of opinion Of the naval
officers, as developed at the conference,
seemed to favor the method of reward rec
commended by Secretary Long-the confer
ring of medals which would carry with
them a percentage of increase of pay in
lieu of advancement by numbers. This
would compensate for actual promotion
both by giving increased pay and by giving
to the recipients distinction which would
mark them for future service. AT the same
time ii would work hardship. as, for in
stance in the case of Captain Clark. De-
spite the heroic service I'm bring the Oregon
around the Horn in such marvellous style
and the gallant service of the Oregon in
the Santiago fight. Captain Clark to-day is
two numbers below his position at the open
ing of the war. This is due 70 the advance
ment of the Manila captains whose promo
tions were confirmed by the Senate. Cap
tain Clark, at the conference to-day, how
ever. was willing that Secretary Longs
plan should be adopted. in order that JUS
tice might be done to the others.
The President. shortly after the %reconven-
ing of Congress tomorrow, will transmit
his recommendations. 1t is not improbable
that in doing so he will them
by a special message calling attention to
the grave injustice that has been done to
the commander-in-chief, officers and men
OF the North Atlantic squadron in so long
withholding from them the rewards TO
which their gallant service entities them.