New-York tribune., 1901-12-15
THE VERDICT ON SCHLEY
NO ACTION YET TAKEN BY
SECRETARY LONG.
DEWEY HELD TO HAVE CONQUERED IN
MOST OF THE MAJORITY FIND
INGS-TALK OF CONGRES-
SIONAL INQUIRY.
SIONAL INQUIRY.
LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I

Washington. Dec. l4-Secretary Long has re-
feIred the report Of the SchIey c7urt to the
Judge-Advocate General for review following
the customary course OF the departmental rou-
tine, and when the papers are returned to him.
which he expects will be early next week he will
give final consideration TO the matter and submit
II TO the President. Until then, the Secretary
says he will take action and express opin-
ion. In the time the court is technically in
session, and Will remain until dissolved by
order Of Secretary Long. who convened IT. The
practice IN such is laid down specifically in
Naval Regulation No. 1,739, respecting courts of
inquiry, in the following language:
The proceedings of a court of inquiry must
be authenticated by the signatures Of the presi-
Dent and judge advocate of the court only, and
are then to be submitted for the consideration
Of the officer convening the court; after which
the court may adjourn temporarily to await his
further instruction.
EXTENT OF DEWEY'S DISSENT.
In regard to some conflict Of opinion which
has arisen to the extent OF Admiral Dewey's
dissent from the decision Of the majority Of the
court, JUdge-Advocate Lenly issued the follow
ing statement:
According TO naval practice. Admiral Dewey,
by aflXlng his signature to the report Of the
court Of inquiry in the case Of Rear Admiral
Schlev expresses full concurrence in all the
findings Of fact and in ali the opinions reached
by the court. except those with respect to which
he has in terms signifed dissent in his minority
opinion.
SENATE AGAINST FURTHER INQUIRY.
Opinion in the Senate is divided as to the
probability OF Congressional investigation Of
the Schley controversy, but is. the whole
against the probability Of such action. ma
jority OF the Republican Senators appear to be
averse to the reopening of the question, and
those holding this view include friends Of Ad
sod Salr
as content 10 abide by the opinion of Admiral
Dewey because of his superior facilities for
reaching a correct conclusion. and Senator Ma
son took a similar position, adding that the
opinion of the Admiral Of the Navy would be
accepted as the verdict Of the country, regard
less Of what conclusion other members of the
court might have reached Senator Hale thought
there would and should be no further investi-
CATION He is chairman of the Committee on
Naval Affairs, and said ne would use whatever
influence he might possess against further in
ouiry as detrimental to the best interests OF
the navy. Senator Cullom declared that further
inquiry would be -'uomfoolery," and that no
more light on the subject could be secured.
Democratic Senators generally seem disposed
TO wait for an expression of opinion by the
friends CT Admiral Schley. Senator Martin said
that while he did not feei called upon to present
declaration. he thought that Congress should
adopt q joint resolution stating It's commence
in the Admiral. Senator Bacon said he would
Be glad to vote for a resolution declaring Ad-
niral Dewey's position to be correct. Senator
Money assented to the proposition that Congress
should act if action was desired by the frienos
Of Admiral Schley. Senator Rawlins thought
resolution of confidence would be in order
and Senator Jones' of Arkansas thought that
resolution on the question was among the
Probabilities.
Senator McComas Of Maryland, excused HIM
self from discussing the verdict Of the Schley
case. saying that he would not decide on ms
course until he could hear from the Admlrafs
friends.
VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVES
Among members Of the House of Representa-
tives the findings of the Schley case were dis
cussed with great interest, and there was con-
siderable speculation as to the prospect OF a
Congressional investigation The prevailing
view appeared to be that much would depend on
the wishes Of Admiral Schley and his friends
in the Maryland delegation Representative
Cummings, Of New-York, pointed out that Rep
resentative williams Of Mississippi, had al
ready introduced q resolution proposing in