The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-13
UTTERLY ~cONTEMPTIBLE.

OAA~ 4OuVO
among the commanding officers VIII,
participated in the naval operation
In the war with Spain. They wer
given on the authority of the Wash
!, ington Post, which represented tn,
figures mentioned as authentic and oh
tanned with the consent of Secretar,
Gage from the reports of the auditor
of the treasury for the navy depart
ment. The Journal is advised toda,
by its Washington bureau that these
figures are official. We have taker
the pains to confirm them because
they revealed acts of favoritism an6
discrimination SO d~iscreditable to the
navy department, and so outrageous
OF every sense of justice, that we did
not desire to emphasize them further
without making sure that they were
correct.
According to these figures, it ap.
pears that Admiral Sampson has re.
ceiyed $25, 1914 as bounty and prize
money for vessels captured and de-
stroyed during the Spanish war; that
Admiral Dewey has received SO, $50
as his share of the prize money won
by the fleet in Manila bay, and that
Admiral Schley has received $149, SO.
The money awarded to Sampson in
cludes 14,132.44 prize none for YES
sells captured and destroyed at Santi-
ago; $3.50 bounty alleged to have
been earned at Manzanillo, and $685.
for prizes captured in the West Indies
operations. All this money has actual
ly been paid to Sampson, and with it
he has bought himself a home in the
fashionable quarter of Washington.
Something extraordinary, too, is the
reward paid to Captain Chadwick, who
commanded the New York, Admiral
SIMPSONS flagship. He was allowed
$13,S60.08, drawing two portions of
bounty money, n as fleet captain
and chief-of-staff, and the other as
captain of the New York. Chadwick
was ashore at Siboney when Cervera's
fleet was destroyed, and Sampson was
on board the New York, and so far
on his way eastward from Santiago
that he was unable to reach the scene
OF action until long after the last Of
the Spanish ships had been DESTROYED
by the Brooklyn and the Oregon, and
the Spanish admiral had surrendered
to Admiral Schley.
Other cases Of rank discrimination
are furnished by the experience of
Captain Francis A. Cook, who sailed
the Brooklyn, Admiral Schley's ship,
and Captain Clark, who commanded
the Oregon, which, with the Brooklyn,
did most of the fighting in that bril-
liant engagement. Neither of these
officers have thus far received a dol
lar. although Captain Cook has been
awarded s2,19o.32, and Captain Clark
$1,9S9.60. Commander Wainwright.
who commanded the Gloucester and
fought the Spanish torpedo boats
~singlehanded. making under the cir.
cumstances one of the most brilliant
exhibitions of valor and seamanship
OF the war, has been awarded $425. 6S,
but has not yet received a dollar.
Other instances of discrimination
might be cited, but these are sufficient
to show not only that Admiral Schley
has been Disseminated against, but
that the naval clique, headed by
Crowninshield, and apparently with
the consent of Secretary Long, for it
is difficult to understand how it could
done without his consent. have
drawn $4,000 out of the treasury of
the United States for the benefit of
two favorites, neither of whom was
the scene of action at the time of
the destruction of Cevera's fleet, while
officers who contributed CALAMITY to
that glorious result, are insulted with
comparatively insignificant and trih-
ing rewards.
The American people like fair play.
they recognize that these facts furn-
lsh convincing evidence of the most
shameful discrimination and fayorit-
ism in the navy department, and they
will demand. of congress that every
body responsible for this dirty bust
be called to account and be made
suffer a just penalty, beginning
with Secretary Long and going down
line as far as responsibility can
traced. 1t is a nasty, mean piece
business and acquiescence in it by
congress may be expected to destroy
Ill enthusiasm and ambition among
he naval officers. What encourage i
is there for brilliant services TO
he country when those who perform