The age-herald., 1900-01-03
THE REWARDS OF
 NAVAL OFFICERS President Has Again Taken the Matter
 Under AdViSement. A NEW PLAN PROPOSED SampSOn-SChley Controversy Has Block
 ed All Action. CAPTAINS AND PRESIDENT CONFER The Suggestion of Creating the Rank of Vice-Admiral for Benefit of
 Both Rear Admirals Will
 Probably be Adopted
CAPTAINS AND PRESIDENT CONFER

Washington, January 2.-The president has again taken up the question of reward ing the naval officers who participated in the destruction of Cervera's fleet off Sam tiago, and his final conclusions will be em- bodied shortly in recommendations to con- gress, either in the form of a renewal of the advancement of the officers by the numbers, with perhaps some notifications, the scheme which the senate refused to ratify last spring, or according to some other method.
 The secretary of the navy, in his report, recommends as an alternative proposition, legislation of the line bill introduced last spring, which provides for three classes of medals-one for conspiuous conduct in
 war, one for extraordinary heroism, and one for general mertorious service, the first to carry with it percentage of in crease 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 ot re- ward given. Either method would contents- plate in addition the thanks of congress to the commander-in-ch chief of the North Att lantic squadron, and the officers and men under his command.
 There also has been a suggestion for the creation of the grade of vice-admral Tor the benefit of Rear AdmTals Sampson and
 Schley. As 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 it is the urgent desire of both the pres ident and Secretary Long that justice De
 done to them and that they obtain the re-
 wards they have earned < Preliminary to decision upon this course of action the president and Secretary Long today had a consultation 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, Phillips (now rear admiraD of the Texas, Evans of the Iowa, Higginson {now rear admiraD of the Massachusetts, | Folger of the New Orleans and Lieutenant | Commander Wainwright of the Gloucester. Commanders Tell the Story These commanding officers were especial | ly invited by the president, who desired to | hear from their own lips the story of the 1 battle of Santiago, the general movements | and difficulties of the campaign, including | the cruise of the Flying Squadron In l search of Cerveras fleet and their own | ideas as to the methods of comforting re- | wards.
 | For almost two hours the captains talked l with the president, who manifested keen interest in their personal accounts of the l stirring events off the south coast of Cuba. 1 Some of the controverted questions were l gone into at length.
 | The consensus of opinion of the naval of | fcers as. developed at the conference seem- ed to favor the method of reward recom-
 mended by Secretary Long-the conferring of medals which would carry with them percentage of increase of pay in lieu of ad- vancement by numbers.
 This would compensate for actual promo tion 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 1t would
 work hardships; as, for instance, in the case of Captain Clark. Despite the heroic service in bringing the Oregon around the Horn in such marvellous style, and the gall lant service of the Oregon in the Santiago fight, Captain Clark today is two numbers below his position at the opening of the war This is due to the advancement of the Manila captains. whose promotions were confirmed by the senate.
 Captain Clark at the conference today, 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 reconvening of congress tomorrow will transmit his recommenda- tions.