The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-13


department has acted upon the COM
plant made by the Hon. William E.
Chandler against Rear Admiral Rob-
ley D. Evans. It has reprimanded the
admiral and the following letter has
been addressed to him:
Navy Department,
Washington, D. c., August10.
Sir: The honorable William E.
Chandler, president of the Spanish
treaty claims commission, lately a SEN
ator of the United States and formerly
secretary of the navy, has complained
to the department, as you are aware,
of certain structures upon himself in
your book entitled a Sailors Log
The structures in question are in the
nature of aspersions upon the official
conduct of then QSS4 secretary of the
navy.
1.-The text of your book, it is not nee
essary here to recite; nor is it needful
to ask of you an explanation why you
felt yourself justified in publishing
what you have. 1t is obvious to any
reader that you speak Extensively of
Secretary Chambers action that you
impugn his motives and otherwise ira
duce him in respect to orders given
you by the secretary in the discharge
of the duties of his office.
you are informed that this deliber-
ate publication of yours has justly in
CURED the displeasure of the depart
ment. For an officer thus to attack a
former head of the navy department be-
cause of orders given to him by that
official is to abandon the courtesy that
should always characterize an officer
of the navy. If tolerated. it would un-
questionably prove subversive of dis
cipline. 1t would tend to bring the
office itself into disrepute. The act is the
more reprehensible in this instance,
because of your long experience in the
service.
1T has become my duty, therefore,
to censure you for this breach of obli-
cation imposed upon you as commits
stoned officer of the navy of the Unit
ed States which 1 accordingly do.
"a copy of this letter will be furnish
ed to the Hon. William E. Chandler.
Respectfully,
"E. w. HACKETT,
Acting Secretary.
''To Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans,
"U. S. N, Washington"
Former Senator Chandler was noti-
fed Of the action of the department in
the following letter:
Navy Department,
Washington, D. c., August 8.
ITO Hon. William E. Chandler,
Sir: Referring to recent correspon-
dence upon the subject of alleged stric-
lures made by Rear Admiral Robley
d. Evans upon the conduct and motives
of the secretary of the navy, in 1884,
published in his book entitled a Sail
or's Log 1 have the honor to inform
you that the department regards this
action Of Admiral Evans as deserving
of reproof.
Accordingly, the department has
censured that officer, as will appear
from a copy of a letter to him of this
date. herewith enclosed.
Il have the honor to be,
Yours respectfully,
Fl. w. HACKETT,
Acting Secretary
Admiral Evans has acknowledged
under date of August 10, 1901. his re-
ceipt OF the letter of acting Secretary
Hackett. 1t is the understanding at
the navy department that the action
taken closes the incident. This is GER
tainly so, so far as the department is
concerned, and if anything further is
done, it will have to be on the initia-
tive of Admiral Evans, in asking for a
court of inquiry or of Mr.. Chandler.
The right of the navy department to
administer a reprimand, without wait
ing for the findings of a court, has been
in question at times, but it is said the
precedents leave no doubt that this
right exists.