The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-13
THERE WILL BE NO POWDER
BURNED IN SALUTES.
ARRANGEMENT OF COURT
First Matter Of General Interest to
Come Up Will Be Challenge
Of Howison.

Washington, Sept. 11-Although no
positive statement on that point is
made it is gathered from the attitude
of the government officers in the
Schley court of inquiry that they have
no present intention of calling Ad-
miral Sampson.
While observing all the forms that
are necessary to maintain the dignity
of the court there is no disposition on
the part of it's members to try to
magnify it's Importance by useless
ceremony. Therefore, there will be
no waste of gunpowder in salutes nor
will the marines be turned out in
state at the navy yard as the three
admirals make their way to and from
the building where the court will
meet. Tomorrow they will go to the
yard in plain clothing and thus re-
lieve the commandant of the neces-
sity of ordering an official salute. In
the c~ommodious retiring room ada
cent to the court Dom provided for
their accommodation they will array
themselves in what is known as the
naval dress uniform. This is not what
is known as special full Dress" but
is very nearly such, the main differ
ence consisting in the elimination of
the cooked hat. Instead Admiral
Dewey and his fellow members will
wear simple naval caps, although in
the case of officers of their rank the
cap is almost encrusted with gold
W it's top. They will wear the
naval frock coat and gold epaulettes
and the service sword. After the
first day this uniform will give place
to the easier, though less impressive
naval undress uniform, divested in
large part of the heavy gold trimming
of the dress suit and open, permitting
the wearing of a comfortable blouse.
Precisely at / O'Clock members of
the court will be seated. Admiral
Dewey at the center of a table, plac-
ed crosswise of the court room, with
Rear Admiral Benham on his right
and Rear Admiral Howison. on his
left. The witnesses will stand at the
left end of the table next to the Of
fetal stenographer and the judge adj
vocate, Captain Lemley, with Solic-
itor F. P. Hanna, his associate in the
case, will occupy the other end of
the table. A place has been reserved
for Mr.. Slayton, who is to represent
certain naval officers, not officially
named as yet. He will not be pecog-
nized as counsel by the court, how
ever, until some of his clients are in
volved in the case by the testimony.
The judge advocate first will adj
dress the court and read the precept
under which it is convened. The next
step will be the recognition of coun-
sci by the court, and Captain Lemley
will introduce Mr.. Hulse as the Of
fetal s~tenographer.
Next will come the most interesting
part of the days proceedings, name
", the challenging by Admiral
Schley's counsel of the competency
VI Cdl 8NAul1lI di I1OWlSOu as d llGll.
Der of the couft. They will reiterate
the charge that Admiral Howison has
expressed al opinion adverse to Ad.
miral Schley and it will be the object
Of counsel to support this charge by
afidavits and perhaps by oral testi.
mony. It is for the court to say
whether such testimony will be ad.
mitted. The expectation is that an
hour or two will be consumed in ar
guments by counsel directed to the
two members of the court whose com
potency is not questioned. Admirals
Dewey and Benham then will retire
and determine whether or not the
statements presented are sufficient
to make manifest the INCOMPETENCE
of Rear Admiral Howison. There
will be no appeal from the decision
of the court or this point. Even the
secretary of the navy could not undo
it's work.
Captain Francis A. Cook, who com
manded the Brooklyn during the
West Indian campaign, probably will
be the first witness. The headquar
tiers of Admiral Schley was a scene
Of great activity today. Up to moor
five OF the witnesses named>by The
admiral had been in consultation will
Messers. Wilson and Rayner and hat
informed those gentlemen Of the line
Of testimony which can be expected
from them when called before thu
court.
Wanted.-The address Of Johl
Dieifenbacher. Russ & Heppenheim
uehl.--N on