New-York tribune., 1901-08-22
sCHLEY COURT TO DECIDE.
QUESTION OF ADMIRAL HOWISoN's
COMPETENCY LEFT TO IT.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ADMIRAL
scHLEY AND ACTING SECRETARY
HACKETT MADE PUBLIC

ADDICTION Aug 2l-The Navy Department this
,,-,oon made public the correspondence with Ad-
,ral schey relative TO opinions said TO have been
,-sssed by Admiral Howison. member of the
, - ,rouiry The closing letter of Acting Sec
-, E5ackett says that Il would be irregular for
-, ,yeyv Department TO hear and determine ques-
,,,ns affecting the competency OF members of the
- sns ady1ses Admiral Schley that the ques-
ton Of Admiral HoWison's competency will be left
- The court OF inquiry itself The correspondence
follows:
Washington. D. C. August ls. 1901.
THE Secretary Of the Navy
Sir: have the honor 10 inclose herewith news
ESwfson (who has been selected TO MI the vacancy
nyesS bv the relief Of Rear-Admiral l. a. Kim
SeTlv from the court OF inquiry is represented TO
Ssi.s Sys eypressed certain opinions.
n this statement. taken from The Boston Rec
ord 9e aisS4afy him for serving in this inquiry.
FesPsGslqii Pss incosGfe be submitted 10 ReaTAdmira
EoW1son for his consideration, ana would further
neoiest thai may be favored with copy Of his
snsTneT nna;.e entertained high personal regard for
pas--Adrniral Howison throughout long pro-
fessionaI se ex1ressed in the Enclosure are true
slatsn'Ti a5rniral Howison would not be willing TO
serve as a judge under such circumstance have
tne X 5. sCHLEY. Rear-Admiral. Z. S. N
Navy Department Washington. August 90 1901.
Resr-Admiral W s Schley, L. 5 n. Washing
$50 ION Your letter OF the 18TH nclosing newspaper
clipping in regard 70 alleged statements OF Rear
Sufr i
As Morning soon after its receipt Captain James
ps1ser one of your counsel. called at the depart
% Iers rsafuTaav 10 make furthe~ investigation in
.Ss department. until the result OF his visit could
b@ communicated 10 the department
,neistey IL il be your desire that action be with
F. W. HACKETT. Acting Secretary
TIE Arlington Washington, August %. 1901.
Sir: In reply 10 the departments letter OF this
date, referring 70 cilpplngSJ containing alleged
would saw that believe that the action requested
should not be withheld, as its purpose was to avoid
I beg therefore that the request OF my letter
Of yesterday may be communicated TO Admiral
HO"isO" ". s scHLEY. Rear-Admiral Z. s. n
To the Secretary Of the Navy. Washington. D. c.
August 2 1901.
Sir: In reply 10 your letter OF the 18th inst. in
closing a newspaper clipping and requesting the
department send IL 10 Rear-Admiral Howtson
together with COPY OF your lelteF, you axe IN,
formed that the appointment Of Rear.Admral
was accomplished only after taking great pains TO
insure absolute iHpartiality in the officer selected
nv IN cese the department should require his ser
vices Resr-Admiral HoWison replied:
able for such duty should the department. decide
] have made no public utterance relating 10 the
subject and ! have seen none Of the official re-
porfs and papers bearing upon the questions 10 be
Your counsel Captain Parker before the ap-
pontment had been announced, mentioned 10 the
Tnirsis any one of whom he said, would be per-
fecty satisfactory 10 Rear-Admiral Schley One
Of the names so mentioned that OF Rear-Ad-
miral Howison. II may be added that OF four ofh-
GERS consulted by the department the names OF
three upon the list thus mentioned by your
counsel.
This much has been detailed in order 10 remind you
n the that a fair-minded officer of excellent
reputation and of unblemished character had been
found in the person Of Rear-Admiral How1son, who
the date OF his appointment appears 10 have
joZed the confidence OF both the department and
yourself.
Your request is based upon a newspaper clipping
that purports 10 contain statements in regard 10
the truth 0f which you do not yourself express
opinion. You ask the department 10 lay before
Rear Admiral Howlson q statement wholly un-
Substantiated that appears TO have been made by
some person unknown at time and place likewise
unknown The department is unable to view your
request n any other light than that OF a prelin-
mary challenge OF the fitness of Rear-Admiral
t1oV1son 70 serve as a member OF the court i viii
6e treated as is usual in OF courts Of inquiry
The established practice in the military : well
as in the naval service has fixed the method in
which the right OF challenge before courts-martal
and courts OF inquiry shall be exercised.
The department, having instituted the court
should not at this stage Of the proceedings under
take 70 hear and determine questions that may
arse respecting the competency Of its members
such proceeding would be irregular all questions
OF this nature being left the determination of the
court itself
This correspondence will be transmitted 10 the
president Of the court for its information Re
sDectfully
F. W HACKETT, Acting Secretary.
hear-Admlral W S. Schley, City.