The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-03
REWARD OF NAVAL OFFICERS
PRES. M'KTNLEY AGAIN TAKES UP
 THE QUESTION.
Will Submit Another Recommend d ton to Congress shortly After It CoMvcnes TO-day-A Consultation With tho Officers Who Fought or Santiago Held at the White House.

|
 Washington, Jan. 2.--The president
 has again taken up the question of re-
 warding the naval officers who partici-
 pated in the destruction of Cervera's s fleet off Santiago, and his final conclu- sions will be embodied shortly in rec
 concentrations to congress, either in the form of renewal of the advancement of Rear Admiral Sampson and the off, cers under him by numbers, with per- 1 haps some modified tions-the scheme ' which the senate refused to ratify last spring-or according to some other method.
 < The secretary of the navy in his re- port recommended as an alternative proposition legislation on the line of the 1 bill introduced last spring (senate bill 505), which provides for three classes of medals-one for conspicuous conduct in war, one for extraordinary heroism and one for general meritorious service the first to carry with it percentage \ of increase of pay, based upon 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 meth cd would contemplate in addition the thanks of congress to the commander in-chief of the North Atlantic squadron and the officers and men under his com mand. There also has been a sugges- ton of creating the grade of vice ad- miral for the benefit of Rear Admirala Sampson and Schley. As result of the Sampson -Schley controversy the re- ward of all the subordinate officers in the North Atlantic squadron has been blocked up to this time, and it is the urgent desire of both the president and Secretary Long that justice be done to them and that they obtain the rewards which they have earned.
 Preliminary to the presidents decision upon his course of action the president and Secretary Long to-day had con- sultation 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, Philip (now rear ad- mlraD of the Texas, Evans of the Iowa, Higginson (now rear admiraD of the Massachusetts. Folger of the New Or- leans and Lieutenant Commander
 
 Rear Admiral Sampson was not pres ent. These commanding officers were especially invited by the president, who desired to hear from their own lips the story of the battle of Santiago, the gen. eral movements and difficulties of the campaign including the cruise of the flying squadron in search of Cervera's fleet and their own ideas as to the ! q LI almost two hours the captains talked with the president who manifested keen interest in their personal accounts of the stirring events off the south coast of Cuba. Some of the controverted questions were gone into at length. The concensus of opinion of the naval of ficers as developed at the conference, seemed to favor the method of reward recommended by Secretary Long-the x comforting of medals which Gould carry with them percentage of increase of pay in lieu of advancement by num- bers. This would compensate for &C., tual promotion both by giving increased pay and by giving to the recipients distinction which would mark them for future service. At the same time in some cases it would work hardship; as, for instance n the case of Captain Clark. Despite his heroic service in bringing 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 number below his position at the opens ing of the war. This is due to the ad- vancement of the Manila captains, whose promotions were confirmed by the senate. Captain Clark, at the con- ference to-day, however, was willing that Secretary Longs plan should be adopted in order that justice might be done to the others
 The president shortly after the recon vening of congress tomorrow will transmit his recommendation. It is not that in doing so he will &C., company them with 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 withhold- ing from them the rewards to which their gallant service entities them.