The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-25

The Sampson Scandal.
Secretary Long is quoted as saying
on yesterday that it was his desire TO
name a court of enquiry TO investigate
the scurriIous charges against the Vic
tor Of Santiago. on the request of that
distinguished officer the very charac-
ter of which VIII convince the country
that fair and impartial enquiry and
d just and honest conclusion viii b
..5Jained."
II IS as well To remind Mr- Long that
the composition Of tn court may be
uneNceptionable. and Yet lis ability and
liberty TO conduct a thorough jnvesti-
cation of the case before il. in all its
many phases, and so to satisfy the
national demand. viii rest with him
The rescript for the guidance OF the
tribunal, now in preparation, is expect
ed TO define the subjects of its enquiry
and If SO, 1t VIII be strictly confined to
them. There Is a suspicion abroad IN
Washington that by the terms of the
rescript the court may be estopped from
admitting evidence Of OF considering
the foul conspiracy which the American
people generally believe 10 have existed
and To stu exist among certain per
sons IN the Navy Department, to de
fame and ruin Rear Admiral ScbIey for
the benefit Of the individual who fer
three wears has been trying L. deprive
him of the honors he 50 gloTiously Won
in the great Antillean sea battle No
inauisition which should fail 10 take UP
this important matter, which lies u the
bottom of the Sampson Navy scandal
would be satisfactory 10 the public II
Mr.. Long IS sincere in his declaration
that ne wants fun, fair ana impair
tial investigation, he viii be careful not
TO throw the aegis Of his rescr1pt over
the creatures whose contemplate plot
tings have brought shame and humIlla-
ton TO the service. and made Il the
IauehingstocB of every European navy
Sampson. We observe, is talking
again. and spitefully as usual. He 5
reported as asserting that he ordered
tie code of signals arranged for by
Captain AIcCalIa Al CienfUegos to be
communicated 10 every captain in the
fleet In view Of the facts that OF all
the commanders only Commodore
SchIev and Captain Cook, on board the
BROOKLYN. were left II ignorance Of the
advancement. and that the commodore
was his particular aversion. the popular
inference. vii be that SIMPSONS mem
ory-. once more : at fault When con-
frouted with the statement that he had
read and endorsed Maclay's baseless at
tack uoon Admiral Schiey, that mem
ory which appears 10 have been con-
structed under one Of the Goodyear pat
ents. utterly failed him, ana he de
cIareG that he could not remember
reading the proofs Of the naval his
tory : third volume until reminded
that he had done 50 b. his aide Nil
Bennett Perhaps. were he again 10
have. recourse To his efficient memory
keeper he might recolIect that he
did not have the signals communicated
to SchIey fer reasons which seemed
good. or clever. or something else at the
time Possibly i Is not as necessary
10 entertain doubts concerning Samp-
. sons veTacltE as It is 10 dep!UTe the
fact that his iapses OF memory would
seem 10 disquaIify him as :. credible
witness IN connection with events
which happened several years ago IN
/ less his mental aide were allowed 70
occupy the stand jointly with him. and
TO coach MIN as he should be called
upon 10 answer questions, II IS 10 be
/ feared that his testimony particularly
in a case in which he had a direct per
sonaI interest. would be OF little value
To himself or his friends Of the Navi-
CATION Bureau ring It IS pleasant 20
hear him talk and to see him write.
The country likes II. Il he VIII only
. keep On ne may SUN promote the cause
Of Justice, as i must gall him 10 know
he has IN the past Even the little
J character sketch he gaze Of himself in
his endorsement on Gunner EIorgan's
/ application for q chance To secure q
/ commission. has done no end Of good
. He is u resoUrcefuI male. and It should
not be difficult for him 20 offer his feI-
Ioyv-coIntrymen several new and inter
. esting personal spectacles between now
. and The converting Of the court OF en-
/ quiry IN September next
The full composition Of the court was
announced Al the Navy Department
I this morning It viii consist OF Admi-
raj Dewey. president, and -Admirais
Kimberly and Benham, retired, mem
bers. The veteran officers associated
/ win tho Admiral OF the Navy on this
[ tribunal are represented a. being IN
. biased and able men That being con
coded. It only remains for Secretary
/ Long to give them a free hand Should
he DO 50 the Sampson scandal viii lee
. buried as a result OF their IaboTs. But
should they be hamLered and render
ed unable to uncover the Navigation
/ Bureau conspiracy. the court of enquiry
will not be the end OF the matter Con
z-rese may take 1t UP without any re
script" limitations. IN any event, the
press and the public viii, and there
will be ceasaIess war until the truth Of
/ history and the fame Of Americas sec
ond greatest sea soldier has been fully
indicated officially, as it has been long
ago at the bar Of the worlds opinion
4 Time for Everything
\ gentleman Of this city has applied
to the District Commissioners to enjoin