Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-08-01
FROM WASHINGTON.
[Oorr,spsndenoe Of the Alexandria Gssetts.J
Washington. August /.

Washington. August l.
Secretary Long ia having some diih-
cultv in selecting q Rear Admiral 10
take the place OF Rear Admiral Kim
berry, on the schley court of inquiry.
IL il said that there is hardly anotner
officer 10 the service who has not ex-
pressed his opinion OF the controversy.
MANY names have been suggested. the
most prominent being that OF Rear
Admiral Luce, who however, is dis
qualified. At recent dinner OF the |
alumni association OF the Navel
Academy he said 10 a speech that there
should be but one vice.admirsl, and |
that one VIM. Z. Ga npsop. Indirectly |
he has EXPIRE ssed himself still more
strongly. Secretary Long, In his de-
sire to be perfectly fair, will therefore
not appoint Luce. II ia reported that
among the interesting matters TO be
brought out at the Inquiry is skillful
twisting of language charged to
Admiral Crowninshield. In the corre-
spondenoe sent by the Secretary to
Congress last winter Admiral Schley's
dispatch of May %, 1898, Ia made to
read 10 part thus: "Much to be re-
cte.ted cannot obey orders OF depart.
ment.n 1t is claimed that the log OF
the Brooklyn shows the origin
10 have read: Much to regretted
that orders of department can
not be obeyed." Schley's friendse be-
lieys that this distortion OF words
changes the meaning of the sentence
mater ally. Captain Parker, assistant
counsel for Schley, hes intimsted that
| 10 the court OF inquiry Sampson will be
asked many questions to show that ne
| ia guilty of some of the very things oil
which he accuses bis brother officer.
The Navy department has decided not
to change the language OF the precept
constituting the Schley Court OF 10.
1uiry. and has Sd informed Admiral
| Schley.
Mrs. Rita NJ. Ruiz, widow of the
nsturaliz ID American dentist who wss
murdered 10 Cuban prison just before
the Snauish war, has filed claim for
$75 900 against the Spanish govern
ment for her husbands death. The
Spanish treaty claims commission will
| hear testimony 10 the case and II 1t can
be proven that DR.. Ruiz's death was
brought about by Spanish officials, will
call upon the Madrid government for
ildemulty. DR.. Ruiz was thrown into
prison In Havana on the charge OF be.
Ing a Cuban spy and was later found
dead 10 bis cell with his skull crushed.
Prof. Charles A. Schott, one OF the
most distinguished scientists In the
government service, died at his resi-
dence here last night at the age oil
seventy.fve. Heart disease, from
which he had longsuffered, caused his
death. Prof. Schott was for over half
a century an assistant 10 the United
States Coast and Gsodetic Survey, and
was the author of many valuable scien-
| tific works. a few years ago the
| French Academy conferred upon him
toe media, OF the institution for h6
c)ntriGS:ions to the science OF terres
ial m aguetsm. Prof. Schott leaves q
widow, one son aud two daughters.
The Census office has on its payroll
\ q number of inspectors that meander
up aud down the aisles between the
| long lines OF toiiug clerks IN the huge
| department watching for evidences OF
time killing. There are three thousand
employees 10 the Census Bureau. II
each one OF the three thousand should
waste Is minutes day, it would mean
@ loss OF 700 hours a day, which In
year would COST the government more
than 100000. The inspectors are clerks
detailed 10 the special work OF keeping
| tab On the others.
This afternoon the Acting Secretary
| OF the Navy Hackett made public the
correspondence between Rear Admiral
| Sohley and the department relative to
the use of the word "disobedience" 10
the precept concerning the Court OF In
quiry. The Acting Secretary declined
to grant the Admiral's request for q
modification OF the language employed
and explained the reasons therefore.
Admiral Schley's letter follows:
Great Neck, n. Y, July q, 1901.
Sir have the honor TO scknow-
ledge receipt OF the department CON-
munication of July 26, ipst., enclosing
copy of al order ''conveDing, pur.
suaot to the request contained in (my)
communication OF the % inst, a Court
OF Iuquiry." Inssmuca IS the Court
is directed to Investigate" and, after
such investigation, report "full and
detailed statement of all the pertinent
facts which it may deem 10 be estab-
lished, together with its opinion and
recommendation in the premises" /
would respectfully suggest to the de.
partment that paragraph B OF the de.
partment's preoept, which is as follows,
| viz, IS. The circumstances attending
and the reasons for the disobedience by
Commodore Schley of the orders OF the
| department contained 10 its dispatch
dated May %, 1898, and the propriety
of bis conduct In the premises, "be
notified 90 as to omit the departments
expression OF opinion, and thus leave
the court free to express its own opinion
10 that matter. Very respectfully,
w. s. SCHLEY, Rear Admiral.
The answer to the above was as fol-
lows:
Navy Department,
Washington, d. c., August /.
Sir: The department has received
your letter of the 9th ultimo, ia which
you acknowledge the receipt OF copy
of the order converting, at your request,
court OF inquiry to investigate your
conduct during the war with Spain.
and su. gest that paragraph five OF said
order, directing the court to inquire in
to "the circumstances attending the
reasons for the disobedience by Commo.
dore Schley OF the orders of the ''de.
partment," etc., "be 80 modified as TO
omit the departments expression OF
/ onlnion. end thus leave the court free