Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-09-06

ors-Gen. Shaftsr May be Called as Witness
The Bethlehem Steel Company Trying to
Bleed the Treasury-EnsIish Correspondents
Spring Sensation Regarding the Nicaragua
Canal.
| (From our regular correspondent)
WASHINGTON, August 20, 1901.
Washington would be peaceful at
present were it not for the Sampson
Schley controversy, but both sides
are so busy in considering what they
will do to each other that there 10 a
semi'sulphurous suggestion of war.
The adherents of Admiral Sampson
have thus far been kept occupied in
explaining as much of their chiefs err
ratio conduct as they can without Civ.
ing their case away beforehand. Some
OF the explanations do not explain.
The latest development in the case
is the discovery of the fact that the
Cuban, General Garcia. knew, or sur
missed, that Cervera was coming out of
the harbor of Santiago on the morn
ing OF July 3. His information came
from the refugee French Consul at
Santiago. and was, presumably, wig.
wagged to Sampson, as there was .
code Of signals arranged between Gar
cia and Sampson for that precise
emergency. 1t would appear, there
fore, that Sampson not only thought
that Cerveia might come out at that
time. and. as he has already claimed,
made all arrangements to stop him
should this happen, but that he act.
ually knew that the sortie of the
Spanish fleet was about to take place,
and knowing, deliberately absented
himself with one of the best ships OF
the squadron, and was hull down be-
hind the horizon, seven miles away,
when the time came for him to make
his everlasting reputation. On ascer-
tanning this, Admiral Schley's friends
took immense delight in arising and
asking with one voice, "WHY"? It
really seems, sometimes, SIS if the
Schley press of the country, which
means most OF the newspapers, were
one big interrogation point addressed
to the unlucky Sampson.
That Schley lie the hero OF the en-.
listed men there is no doubt. The
"jackies" on his ship swear by him,
and 80 do the gunners and the sailors
on other ships, not including, of
course, the New York. Schley was
the only one OF the three prominent
Admirals dewey. Schley and Samp-
sony, who attended the banquet at the
Waldorf-Astoria given for the enlisted
men during the New York celebration.
Schley made Q speech which took the
sailors by storm.
1t has been suggested that General
Shafter should be called as witness
when the court OF inquiry meets. 1t
is not known just what Sampsou's
supporters in the Navy Department
think OF this suggestion, and for obvi-
GUS reasons it is not likely to be
known. They cannot endorse it with
good grace, and they cannot regard il
with open disfavor without hurting
themselves. That Skaters testimony.
if taken, would be one of the most in.
teresting chapters in the record can
not be doubted. The big General is
not good ct fabrications or evasions,
and he was in . position 10 know
Sampson very we'll. He would have
to relate, under oath, the story of the
Santiago campaign - he saw it from
the rear.
Little can be learned at present,
from any authoritative source, OF the
actual facts in the controversy, The
reason is that Secretary Long has or.
dered every man connected with the
Navy Department or with the service
to keep his mouth shut. In this the
Secretary has again shown the tact
which has always been one of his
prominent qualifications for states.
manship. 1t will really do no good to
have the whole matter thrashed over
on the statement of every little officer
who knows, or thinks he knows, some.
thing about it, and the battle of San.
tiago was an affair in which . great
many officers. big and little, took part.
and on which practically every one in
the service has an opinion. There are
people, however, who note the fact
that Captain Chadwick, of the New
York, one of SIMPSONS devoted ad.
herents, said number OF things about
forbidden subjects . few days after the
order was given, and was not pun-
ished, while Captain Forsyth, who
came out in Schley interview, 10
said to bein danger of q serious repri.
mand. They are asking "Why"s
again and again, in this connection.
II is probable that that little word was
never more badly overworked in
Washington than it has been during
the preliminary proceedings of the
Sampson-Schley Investigation.
In his leisure moments, the Secre-
tary of the Navy has been considering
the matter of certain vouchers sub
mittsd by the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany and the Carnegie Steel Com
pany for royalties paid by these CON-
pauies to the Harvey Steel Company
for the use Of the Harvey process in
hardening steel. The matter is in
some ways test case, for il the gov
eminent refuses to pay these royalties
the decision will effect all royalties
upon battleships constructed since
1893. The only plates directly in.
volved are those of the battleships H.
linois and Wisconsin.
The steel companies claim that the
government had q contract, in which
it agreed to reimburse them il they
were required to pay" these royalties
to the Harvey people. Secretary Long
has withheld his approval until the
Court Of Claims decides whether the
government process infringes on the
Harvey system. Acting Attorney
General Beck has now given an opin-
ion on behalf of the Department of
Justice, sustaining Mr.. Long in his re-
fusal. The case has been dragging
along for some time. Secretary Her
bert refused to pay the royalties when
he wes Secretary of the Navy.
Tho Antitrust League is trying to
reach Attorney. General Knox and