The age-herald., 1901-12-21
THE scHLEY CASE.

From the New Orleans Times-Democrat'
 It now turns out that the two retireo rear admirals, Benham and Ramsay, who found against Schley on all if not more than all. of the precepts included in the departments indictment of him, had con- siderable of motive for arriving at conclusion such as the department wanted and adverse to Schley. They both nave sons in the navy, and were naturally so- fictitious about the young mems future career.
 The following, in reference to this and other subjects connected with the Sehley affair, appeared in the well-informed Washington Post, Sunday:
 Many of the Senators and Represen- tatives who discussed the Schiey yer dict called attention to view of the matter which has not yet been empha- sized They pointed out that the two rear admirals who condemned Schley were forced to take this action in or der to avoid placing Secretary Long in a position where his resignation would have to be rendered. He could not have remained in the cabinet if the court had rendered an opinion adverse to the navy department Not only would this disrup- ton of the cabinet have occurred. but with the incoming of a new secretary there would naturally have followed complete encouragement of the navy de- pertinent.
 Under the circumstances. the choice of two evils was presented. and the easier course of sacrificing Schley was natur- ally adopted. It is appreciated that Ad- mral Dewey alone was in the position where he could exercise absolute freedom without endangering himself to personal discomfort from the enmity of the de- partment. Not only has Admiral Benham "a son in the navy, but Admiral Ramsay is in the same position, his son being paymaster."
 Nobody accuses. or would think of &C., cusing either Admiral Benham or Ad- mral Ramsay of deliberately finding a verdict which he knew to be contrary to the evidence; but naval life in Washing ton is so thoroughly permeated with that Crowninshield influence which says, in acts which are more eloquent than words, that indisposition to oblige the depart ment means obstruction to advancement in naval career. that the two admirals in question looked at the evidence uncon- sciously through department glasses, and so found, in accordance with the depart ment's wishes, against Schley.
 The navy department influence reaches out. too, beyond the proper province of the department, as we have before now pointed out Senators and Representa- lives, and especially the members of the naval affairs committees of both houses, have so frequently had favors done for them by the department in the shape of positions for their dhe Senators and RepresentativesD friends or relatives in the naval service, that not unnaturally Senators and Representatives. and es- pecialiy the members of the two impor- tant commit tees named. would not will ingly disoblige the heads of the navy de- partment This interchange of favors Is again referred to here to make 1t plain that there need be no surprise if resolu- tions favoring Schley, introduced in either house of Congress, be not heard of again. 'Smothered in committee" would be the verdict accounting for their untimely end No
 It is questionable, we think, to the last degree whether ever justice will be ob- tained for schley, or whether ever an in vestigation of the conspiracy against him in. the navy department will be secured, through Congress. Politics would inter- yene to preyent if