The Washington times., 1901-09-15
THE COURT OF ENQUIRY.

1 AhG OOOh1 ENQOllkl.
The lax notions of honor that have been
introduced into the service under the
present administration of the Navy De-
| partment fnd no tolerance from veterans
like Admiral Dewey and Rear Admiral
Benham. If the department does not rec
| ognize the obligations of an officer and
gentleman, they do 1t did not take
them long to- decide that Rear Admiral
| Howison was, disqualified to sit upon the
| Court that is called to enquire into the
conduct of a brother officer whom he had
prejudged r.
1t was expected of Rear Admiral Howl
son that he would ask to be relieved from
! this duty the moment a Goubt of his
| impartality was expressed. His foolish
| and evasive letter and his persistence in
seeking place on the Court made a
formal challenge inevitable and the Court
very promptly sustained the challenge and
ruled Howison out. 1t was an unfortu-
nate day for his reputation when he tried
to render the Navy Department obsequi-
| Gus service. But the rebuke administered
by the Court is not only to Howison, but
more especially to Hackett. who went out
of his way to assure Howison that he was
just the kind of judge the department
wanted
This first action of the Court of Enquiry
| re-establishes the confidence that was :m-
paired by the detail of Howison, since it
shows that the Court respects itself too
much to be swayed by department in
fiuence from the line OF honorable con-
duct. Unfortunately 1t still rests with
Hackett to make another detail. but after
one experience he probably Will not run
the risk of another rebuke, even We're
there a second Howison to be found in
the list-Philadelphia Times.
The American people have absolute con-
fdence In the high intelligence and judi
cial sense of the Court over which Ad-
miral Dewey presides. If anything were
needed to demonstrate the impartiality OF
the Court it would be found in yesterday
decision to drop from its personnel Ad-
miral HowIson upon the presentation OF
evidence that he had more than once ex-
pressed strong prejudice against Admiral
Schley.
mended for the prompt measures. record
ed in our Washington dispatches this
morning, to secure a new member OF the
Court in order that the investigation may
proceed without delay. We are conhdent
that the testimony will be strictly con-
fined to the questions at issue and that
the Court will not permit forensic bun
combe or tolerate any display of partisan
or personal spleen. The sooner it is over
the better it will be for the good name or
the navy and the nation.-New York Her
aid
Rear Admiral Schleys challenge of
Rear Admiral Howison reclted. briefly.
that before the Appointment of the latter
as a member of the naval Court of En-
quiry he had expressed an opinion on the
merits of the case to be Investigated by
the Court: that this opinion was adverse
to Rear Admiral Schley; that Howison
had given public utterance to unfavorabie
opinions on the personal and professional
characteristics of Schiey. and that he had
also instituted and announced COMPARE
sons between the actions of Sampson and
Schley, to the disadvantage and dispar-
agement of the latter officer. The unchal-
lerged members of the Court of Enquiry.
Admiral Dewey and Rear Admiral Ben
ham, held these objections to be sufficient
to warrant the exclusion of Rear Admiral
Howison from participation in the pro-
ceedings as a member of the Court, and
he was accordingly excused.
II is to be regretted. on many accounts.
that Rear Admiral Howison. whose per-
sonal opinions were given so freely in ad-
vance to various reporters. should not
also have reached in advance the con-
clusion forced upon him at the latest mo-
ment by his fellowsmembers of the Court
of Enquiry. Prejudice openly expressed
poisons honest Judgment and defeats the
intent of official enquiry. and none knew
better than Rear Admiral Howison that
Schley-Sampson controversy rendered
him ineligible to sit in judgment on the
merits of the -case.--Philadelphia Record
The first meeting of the Court of En-
quiry appointed by Secretary Long at the
request OF Admiral Schley occurred yes
terday and was notable principally for
the able plea of Mr.. Rayner In support Of
his clients opposition to the seating of
Admiral Howison upon the judges bench
This objection was caused by remarks
that, If made by Howison. would clearly
unfit him to exercise the impartial judg-
ment needed in the position he had been
selected to occupy. The strongest portion
of the attorneys argument was probably
contained In the simple statement that
Admiral Schley was willing to receive as
conclusive evidence a denial on the part
of Admiral Howison that he had made the
remarks mentioned in connection with the
affair under discussion
This, strangely enough. Admiral Howl
son declined to do, and the objection to
his sitting as judge was made permanent
and Immediately effective. Admiral Dew
ey and Rear Admiral Benham then with
drew and in short while returned to the
court room and announced that the appli-
cant's objection was sustained whereupon
Howison bowed and departed. accompa-
MED by the feeling on the part of nearly
everyone that his exit would have been
more graceful if made sooner and with
out compulsion. Thus the first strong
point made by Admiral Schley was sue
cessfully contended by him.
The main interest in this prejudicial
episode is the evidence given the friends
of the Marylander that whatever preju-
dices may or may not exist against his
personality among clique of naval Off
GERS, II is impossible to detect the slight
est taint of this kind in the Court as at
present constituted. The two judges al
ready certain to serve constitute a ma
jority of the board and there can be no
chance of bias harming the professional
reputation of Admiral Schley. Maryland
and the nation at large can feel the ut
most confidence in the Court that will be
presided over by Admiral George Dewey.
Baltimore Herald.