The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-30

Secretary Hackett Would Like
Admiral Howison to be Relieved
from sitting on the schiey Case.

The washington correspondent OF the
Baltimore SLE gays:
The failure Of Admiral h l. Howl
son to AXE cognizance OF the COM
munications passing between the navy
department and Admiral Schley re-
speeding n alleged interview in which
unfaSorable comparison was made be-
tween sampson and Schley Is serving
To embarrass acting Secretary Hackett,
who continues to insist that the incl
dent is ciosed. This is true as 20 n
further action by Mr.. Hackett. but in
view OF the protest that probably viii
be niade against Admiral Howison con-
tinuing on the court IL the interview
proves to have been authentic the de-
partment and the administration would
welcome some word from Howison.
even II il were asking that he be relieved
so that some other officer against whom
counsel for Smiley could probably find
no reasonable objection might be as
signed. The attitude OF the department
as indicated by Mr.. Hacketts refusal TO
communicate with Admiral Howison
relative to the public u~tterances he is
said to have made. and which IL not de-
MED will unquestonably warrant the
suspicion that he is ~pretudieed in the
controversy and therefore not quail
fed to be a member OF the court. con-
tinues unchanged and leaves practical
ly the entire matter with the court
Realizing row that Admira Schley Is
preparing to challenge the retention or
Howison on the court IL necessary. and
that should the other members vote
that he was Ineligible the departments
position would be embarrassing, the
officials would regard with considerable
favor an application from Howison to
be relieved without either denial or af-
firmation of the alleged remarks at
tributed to him in the interview. IL is
said that his position would have been
made clearer had he come out at once
with a fiat-footed denial. If he could
conscientiously make one, rather than
rest under the growing suspicion hat
perhaps he gave u~tterance to the state
ments contained in the interview. So
far there has nothing passed between
the department and ADMIRAL Howison
relative to II, and officially the admiral
has no knowledge tina the slightest
question has been raised as to his serv-
ing on the court He has had full
knowledge. However, OF the firm inten-
ton OF Admiral Schley's counsel to
take action If he remains silent as TO
the interview in question. This silence
is constructed by many OF Admiral
Schley's friends as evidence that Ad-
miral Howison aid speak as quoted. but
hat he Ia no idea the remarks
| would be printed as ar interview. and
hat he is willing now to rest on his
original declaration that he has never
| discussed publicly the issues involved
in the controversy.
| Opinion in the navy as to the course
| Howison should pursue is divided prac-
| tically on the lines that exist among
| the opponents and advocates OF the two
admirals. The navy believes. almost as
d whole, that if Admiral Howison is re-
| tanned on the court by the votes of Ad-
mirals Dewey and Benham public con-
fdence in the court will be shaken and
| the purpose of Secretary Long to Sc
| cure a thoroughly impartial body de-
| feated. The way to remove any such
suspicion, naval men claim, is for Ad-
! miral Howison to ask for relief and
| the selection CT some officer thoroughly
| acceptable TO counsel for admiral
| Schley and agreeable at the same time
to the department. Mr.. Hackett has
| declared the departments full satisfac-
| ton in the entire impartiality OF Ad-
miral HoWison. and further that he
will serve unless the court decides 9TH
erwise. Howison could greatly relieve
/ the position in which the department
has been placed by Mr.. Hackett by p
| plying for relief. and it would not sur
| prise the officials IL he should adopt
| this course.
| Sensitive tc the criticism heaped upon
him, Mr.. Hackett has refused to read
| the and stated this even
| ing that he had looked at none for three
| DAYS. return OF Secretary Long is
| expected next week when the sudden
prominence SIr. Hackett has secured or
late may be forgotten. His retirement
from the navy department is looked 1or
| within a few weeks.