The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-03
Secretary Of The NaY Longs Proposal Of
Three Glasses cfMstals.
PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE OF PAY
fsssd on Rank cl Recipients TO Take PIacs Of In
cease That Would fesuIi From fromO oas.
6rate Of Vice Admiral.

Washington. Jan. 3.-The president
has again taken up the question OF re-
ward for The naval officers who par
ticipated IN the destruction of Ger
vera's fleet of Santiago, and his fnal
conclusions Will be embodied shortly
in recommendations 20 Congress. either
I'm a form OF "A renewal of the advance
ment or Rear-Admiral Sampson and
the officers under him by numbers
with perhaps some notifications
scheme which the Senate refused 10
ratiry last springer according TO
some other method. The secretary OF
the navy in his report recommended as
an alternative proposition. legisla ton
on the line OF the bill introduced last
spring (Senate bill 5005). which pro-
Vides for three classes OF medals-one
for conspicuous conduct in war. one
for extraordinary hero.sm and one for
general meritorious service. the first
10 carry with IL a percentage OF in
crease OF pay, based upon the rank OF
the recipient and calculated to take the
place OF the increase which would he
the result of promotion were that form
of reward given Either method would
contemplate in addition the thanks OF
Congress 20 the commander in chief
oe the North Atlantic snuadron and the
officers and men under his command.
There also has been a suggestion OF
creating the grade Of vice admiral for
the benefit OF Rear-Admirals Sampson
and Schley. As a result OF the Samp-
sOn-Schey controversy the reward OF
an the subordinate officers In the
North Atlantic SQUADRON has been
blocked up 10 this time. and IL is the
urgent desire OF both the president and
Secretary Long that Justice be done to
them. and that they obtain the rewards
which thev have earned.
A CONSULTATION
Preliminary TO the presidents decision
1pon his course OF ACTON. the presi-
dent and Secretary Long, yesterday.
had r. consultation with eight OF the
Santiago captains at the White House.
The naval officers present were: Chad
wick " the New York. Cook of the
Brooklyn. Clark OF the Oregon, Philip
(now rear admiraD OF the Texas. Ev-
ans OF the Iowa. Higginson now rear
admiraD OF the Massachusetts,. Folger
OF the New orleans. and lAeut Com
mander Wainwright OF the Gloucester
Rear Admiral Sampson was not pres
emit These commanding officers were
especially invited by the president. who
desired TO hear from their own lips. the
story or the battle Of Santiago. the
general movements and difficulties OF
the campaign. including the cruise o.:
the flying SQUADRON in search OF Ger
veras feet. and their own ideas as 10
the method ot comforting the rewards.
TALKED WITH PRESIDENT.
For almost two hours the captains
talked with the president, who mani
tested keen interest in their personal
accounts OF the stirring events on the !
south coast OF Cuba. Some OF the con-
trOverted questions We're gone into at
length. The ConCensus OF opinion OF the I
naval officers as developed at the con-
ference. seemed 20 favor the method OF 1
reward recommended by Secretary Long 4
the comforting Of medals which would I
carry with them a percentage OF in (
crease OF pay in u OF advancement (,
by numbers. This woIld compensate 4
for actual promotion both by giving in 4
creased pay and by giving to the recip- 7
tents distinction which would mark .
them for future service. At the same 4
time,in some cases IL would work hard
ship: as. for instance. in the case OF /
Capt. Clark. Despite his heroic service l
I'm bringing the Oregon around the Horn
i'm such marvellous style,and the gallant
service of the Oregon in the Santiago
fight. Capt. Clark is today two numbers
below his position at the opening of the
war. This is due to the advancement,
of the Manila captains. whose promo
tiOns were confirmed bv the Senate
Capt. Clark, at the conference today,
however was willing that Secretary
Longs plan should be adopted in order
that justice might be done 20 the 9TH
crs.
The president. shortly after the re-
convening OF Congress-. will transmit
his recommendation II Is not I'm
probable that I'm doing SO ne will ac-
company tnem with 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. and so long with
holding from them the tewards To
which their gallant service entities
them.