The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-15
Is Reviewing Findings Of the
SChIey Court Of Inquiry and No
Immediate Action Will be Taken
by Him in the Matter
CONGRESS MAY PROBE
THE AFFAIR NEXT
Opinion Divided As to Probability
of Such an InveStigation-Sen-
ator Hoar is Content to Abide
by the Opinion Of Admiral Dew
ey and Others Think the Same


Washington, Dec. 1.-THE secretary
of the navy has now before him for re-
view the report of the court Of inquiry
in the Schley case He is naturally TAX
ing time to do this carefully, so that i'm
mediate action is not expected. Mean
while, the court Is technically in SEES
sion, and will remain so until dissolved
by order of Secretary Long. The ques-
ton has been raised since the appear
ance of the two reports in print, how far
Admiral Dewey, the President, sub
scribed to the opinions expressed in the
I first report and in the findings by APP
pending his signature, that signature
being required of him apparently by the
naval regulations, regardless Of his in
dividual opinion.
In response to inquiry on this point
/ the ge-advocate- general of the navy
says: According to naval practice,
Admiral Dewey, by aff1xing his sigma
ture to the report of the board of in
quiry in the case of Rear Admiral
! Schley expresses full concurrences in all
| the findings of fact and in all the opin-
| ions reached by court except those with
respect to which he has in terms signi-
fed dissent in his minority opinion"
Opinion in the Senate Is divided as to
the probability of a congressional in
vestigation of the Schley controversy,
but is upon the whole, against the prob
ability of such course. A majority of
the Republican senators appear to be
adverse to the reopening of the ques-
ton, and those of this view include
friends of Admiral Schley.
Senator Hoar expressed himself as
content to abide by the opinion Of Adj
miral Dewey because of his superior ia
cilities for reaching a correct cOnclu-
sion. Senator Hale thought there would
be and should be no further investiga-
ton. He is chairman of the committee
on naval affairs, and said he would use
whatever influence he might possess
against further inquiry as detrimental
to the best interests of the navy. DEM
oCratic senators generally seem disposed
to wait upon the expression of opinion
by the friends Of Admiral Schley. Sen
ator Martin said that while he did not
feel called upon to present a declaration
he thought Congress should adopt
! joint resolution stating its confidence in
! the Admiral. Senator Jones of Arkan-
| sas thought it most probable that res
olution bearing upon the question was
among the probabilities.
Chairman Foss of the House naval
committee declined to express an opin-
| ion as to what Congress would do in re-
gard to the Schley case. Among Mr.
Foss's associates, 1t is the general I'M
Outstanding that the chairman is not
favorable to congressional action.
Chairman Payne, the majority floor
leader; Representative Meyer of Louis
lana, a member, expressed themselves
as being opposed to a congressional in
vestigation
Senator McComas, the only senator
from Admiral Schley's own state, Mary
land, who was at the capitol, today ex-
cused himself from discussing the YER
dict in the Schley case, saying he would
not decide upon a course of policy until
he could hear from the Admirals
friends.