The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-15
DRY BONES RATTLE AGAIN SHOULD NOT Be OFFICERS
ADMIRAL SAMPSON REEVES AN
OLD CONTROVERSY.
Believes That Warrant officers Should
preston may Cost Him Advancement

NEW YORK, February PA special
to the Journal from Washington says
In an extended explanation of his veto
of the application of Gunner Charles
Morgan to take examination for promo
ton to the rank of Ensign, Admiral
Sampson takes a remarkable position.
He says that men of the class of gun
ners in the Navy should not become Of
ficers, because, owing to the social du-
ties of naval officers in time of peace
they should all be gentlemen.
Sampson, in his answer to Morgan's
petition for Endorsement, holds that Gin
time of peace the Nays function con-
sists of certain extent of represent
ing the country abroad and should at
least be men of refinement. While
there are perhaps a certain few among
the warrant officers who could fulfill
this requirement, l am of the opinion
that the vast majority of them could
not. Once commissioned they would
have the same social standing as other
officers. 1 do not mean to detract from
the sterling worth of the warrant Off
GERS of the Navy. merely mean to sug
gest TO the department that, unfortu-
nately for them, they have been de-
prived of certain natural advantages,
and, in consequence their proper place
is that of leading men among the crew
and not as representatives of the coun-
try in the wardroom."
Secretary Long said today: have
received and acted upon this CORE
spondence. 1 have designated Gunner
Morgan as one of the men to be exam
ined for promotion to the position of
Ensign"
Morgan rendered splendid service in
establishing the theory that the Maine
was blown up by an explosion from the
outside.
NEW YORK, February 25-A special
to the Tribune from Washington says:
Admiral SIMPSONS Endorsement on the
application of Gunner Morgan for pro-
motion from warrant grade to a COM
mission in the Navy, has been the en-
crossing subject of discussion in the
Navy today, and while the spirit which
is believed to have animated him is
generally supported by the officers of
every rank his deliverance is deeply de-
plored and it's far-reaching effect is
dreaded. The officers believe that it de-
feats beyond doubt Simpsons promo
ton to the grade of Vice Admiral and
in all probability other rewards recon-
mended by the President on account of
the sea campaign in Cuban waters.
But the most notable result of the
publishing of the Sampson Endorsement
and one which is calculated to have
most radical effect in the future of the
Navy lies in its bearing on the Senate
amendment to the naval appropriation
bill, now in conference. The indorse-
ment is thought to insure the legisla-
ton against which it was really aimed.
The amendment provides for the pro-
motion of not exceeding six petty naval
officers in one year, when the Naval
Academy fails to furnish the required
number of graduates. The amendment
is apparently a harmless affair, merely
designed to furnish an incentive to ex-
traordinarily energetic and capable
young Americans to win advancement
on their merits in the ways open to
them in other careers under a repub-
lican form of government, but it also
resurrects the bitter line and staff con-
troversy which injured the Navy for so
many years and which was finally
buried,it was supposed. when the per-
sonnet law three years ago gave real
instead of relative rank to officers and
amalgamated the line and engineers