The Portland daily press., 1900-01-08
AN UNFAIR SYSTEM.
naval Plan OF Rewards works Injrs-
tfce.

i
Washington. January e-Seorstary
Long has addrsssd ths following letter 10
the chsirmsn Of committees OF the naval
affairs Of Oh. Senate and Hous, smbody-
ing the departments latest view 90 TO the
best form OF rewardinR the officers who
participated in the destruction Of De-
vsra's fieet Of santiago.
"Sir-The department. hns the honor
10 suggest that tie present sysssn Of
rewarding officers OF the navy and ms-
rins corps for 'eminsns and conspicuous
\ conduct In battle and extraordinary
hsroism,' under the provisions respective
ly Of sections 1905 and 10 Of the Re
vised Statutes. has bsen found 70 be un-
satisfactory since In isS practical appli-
cation 10 operates upjustly ard In some
instances defeats the purpose for which 1t
4 was devised. At the prsesnt time some
officers who rendered distinguished ser
vices during the war with Spain, have In
recognition thereof been adva1oed upon
the list; others remain without reward
Of any kind, while others still, by the
curious operation Of the existing system,
ind themselves In lower relative POSI-
tions than they occupied before the war
Of 1928, In whtoh they so gallantly par
tioipatsd. An illustration Of the objsc-
tlonabls opsr~tion Of the present method
Of rewards Is ofitrsd by the case OF Capt
Charles K. CLARK. United States navy.
who commanded the Oregon during the
memorable run Of that vessel from Pa
cifio to A Atlantic waters and at the battle
Of Santiago and yet, owing to the pro-
motion over him OF Captains Gridley,
Coahlan and Dyer for their eminent and
conspicuous conduct In the battle Of
Manila boy, he 10 today two numbers
and, II Capt. Grldley had survived, would
be three numbers lower on the list than
II the war had never occurred.
,'The visilanoe, prudence and capacity,
unremittins and sustsined In wisely
meeting ~ they successfully arise. the
countless details Of the management Of
battleship, establishing and maintaining
ths morale essential to good work and
bringing the vessel into effective action
at q critical time, are qualities which
entitls an officer to shArein rewnris,if
any are given, for distinguished naval
service. These qualities are exhibited
In q high degree by the officers partici-
patins In the battle OF Manila, who have
been rewarded BY Advancement 10 the
| navy list. They were also exhibited BY
other officers, particularly those who so
uonspicuously and msritorlousIy partloi-
pated In the battle Of Santiago and yet
have not In any way been rewarded.
"Where officers have travely and with
| Jealous patriotism acquitted thsmsel yes
In difficult circumstances with uniform
| success, an Analyt tical comparison OF
| their respective achievements Is practically
since all the varied circumstances Of
! the cAsss can hardly be taken into full
and accurate account. 1t is, however,
deemed to be the duty OF the department
to bring to the attention of the commit
tee with tbs recommendation that early
action to taken by Congress In the mat
ter the general question of the inade-
quscy Of the present system Of rewards
and to suggest. that . remedy Is TO be
found In the provisions OF certain mess
ures now before Congress. One OF these,
Senate bin. b8th Congress, first session,
provides that the advancement in rank
of officers OF the navy and marine corps
for war service shall not interfere with
tho regular promotion of those other
wise entitled thereto. This measure Is
similar to Senate bill 5,066. 55th Con-
gress third session which was prepared
by the department., and has, am in
formed, already passed the Senate at Its
| present session and, II enacted int, law
will, In the case above oited for example,
have the effect of restoring to the officers
concerned the numbers lost by ad vance.
ments heretofore made under the present
| system. The other of these In Senate
bill zoos, both Congress, third session,
providing for suitable rewards for oiiic-
eis and men of the navy and marine
oorps, for exceptional and meritcrious
service in the line Of duty.
"Ihis measure IL believed to afford 9
satisfactory substitute for the methcd OF
| rewards, would enable the departments
| to confer upon the officers above refeirsd
to the medal therein designated as 'the
honor medal with its attendant advan-
tagss and benefits, and would. it Is
| thought, prove equitable recognition In
the case OF other ofii ,ers OF the navy en-
titled thereto by reason of exceptional
service In the line Of duty.
"In consideration OF the imI ortencs of
this general question. the department
| urgently requests that 1t may receive
such early attention of the committee as
Its conve niencs will suggest
every respectfully,
Ia