Evening star., 1901-02-04
SAM N--SCHLEY
Santiago Controversy Resurrected in
the Senate.
DUE TO SECRETARY LONGS LETTER
Several Senators Criticise Com
munication and Publication.
OTHER PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY


The Sampson-Schley controversy was pre-
c'pitated in the Senate today by Mr.. Chan
dler who read and criticised the letter OF
Secretary Long to Senator Morgan. Mr..
Hale explained what had been done for the
naval officers and referred to the nomina-
tions sent In during the last Congress. He
said that owing to the Sampeon-Schley
controversy they could not be acted upon
before the Congress expired He said he
expected the nominations would be sent in
again this Congress but no action had been
taken by the executive.
Mr.. Chandler said there were many mis-
takes in the letter OF the Secretary.
Mr.. Pettigrew declared the whole trouble
arose because the President and Secretary
desired to promote Sampson. who. he said.
was not in the battle, over Schley. who did
the fighting. The administration. he said,
seemed to promote men who did no fighting
during the Spanish war.
Mr.. Teller criticised the publication Of the
letter, and said the Secretary knew how
to communicate with the Senate IL ne De-
sired to do so.
Mr. Morgan said he did not know how
the letter got into print. This closed the
incident.
Chandler who offered a resolution, which
the Senate passed. calling upon the Secre-
tary Of the Navy for a list Of the members
of Admiral SIMPSONS feet whose names
were sent to the Senate for promotion dur
ing the Fifty-fifth Congress. Mr.. Chand-
Ter said the occasion for his presentation
of this resolution was found in pub
lished letter written by Secretary Long to
Senator. Morgan, In which he had charged
that the delay in recognizing the services
of These men was due to the non-action OF
Congress rather than of the executive de-
partments. He called attention to the fact
that while the list OF officers for promotion
had been sent to the Senate during the
last Congress. the President. upon failure
to act In that Congress, had not renewed
the recommendation for the present Con-
sress. He explained that the failure OF
the Senate to act had been due to the
Sampson -Schley controversy.
Mr.. Pettigrew's Criticism.
Mr.. Pettigrew said there had been an ef-
fort to promote Sampson over Schley.
notwithstanding Schley had done the fight
ing and had previously outranked samp-
son. He said the President aftsrward had
corrected this injustice. and that having
done This because Of the attitude of the
Senate that body did not deserve the Secre-
tary's criticism. Proceeding Mr.. Pettigrew
declared that the administration was dis
posed to promote men who have never
In conclusion, he accused Messrs. Hale and
Chandler with using the Long letter as a
pretext for filibustering against the sub
sidy bill.
Replying Mr. Chandler said he consid-
cred the action of the executive In the mat
ter OF the promotion of Messrs. Schley and
Sampson correct
Would the failure to capture Cervera' S
fleet have been visited upon Schley or upon
Sampson" asked Mr.. Bacon (Ga).
Mr.. Hoar Enters a Protest.
This question had the effect of bringing
Mr.. Hoar to his feet with protest. He
gave notice that II there was to be an
effort to reply to that inquiry he would OBJ
ject to the continuance of the controversy,
which only proceeded upon general consent
the resolution having been acted upon.
Mr.. Chandler said, however. that he had
no purpose Of attempting reply.
Mr.. Teller criticised the publication Of the
Secretary'S letter as a matter OF bad taste
saying that the Secretary of the Navy knew
how to reach the Senate with his recon-
mendations without the use Of the news
papers.
ceived the letter printed, but said he had
not given 1t to the public. On the contrary
he said. he had guarded the letter most
! jealousy. Hence, 1t must be that the let
from his desk in the Senate. or given ou,
| at the Navy Department. He was inclined
to the latter view. Mr.. Morgan said his In
| terest IN the question was due to his desire
| to see justice done to Lieut.. Hobson enc
| Capt Clarke and that the Secretary's let
| ter had been in reply to his urgency ir
| their behalf. He did not. he said. consider
| that there was anything improper In ths
| SecretaryS letter.
Senate's Right to Executive Docu-
| nents.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) then addressed the Sen
$o ~
the sense of the Senate that that body hat
| the right to demand information and docu
ments on file In the executive departments
| He had made the resolution impersonal. HI
| said, but he predicated much of what HI
| said upon the recent refusal OF the Secre
| tary Of War through the President, to SUD
| ply to the Senate the report made by Audi
| tor Lawshe concerning the Cuban posta
| accounts.
| THE HOUSE.
! The House met at 1916 today immedi
ately after the conclusion of the Marshal
! exercises and took a recess until l o'clocl
| to permit the hall to be cleared of th'
chairs which had been brought in to ac
commodate the guests OF that occasion.
| After the consideration Of the Senate bill
] TO create a commission to adjudicate thu
claim. Of citizens Of the United State!
| against Spain. which the United State!
| agreed to assume by section Of the treat!
| of Paris. was taken up. This bill had beer
| postponed until today by order Of tn
| House.
| The bill had been reported with a,
| amendment to refer the claims to th'
| Court Of Claims. that action having beef
| taken in accordance with the instruction.
| Of the House, when the bill was recon-
| mitted at the last session.
| Mr. Haugen (Wis). in charge OF the bill
| asked the House to vote down the amend
! ment and pass the original bill. This cours
| led the opposition. under the lead Of Mr.
| Underwood (Ala.). last week to charge tina
the consideration Of the bill had been agreed
to under a Misrepresentation.
| Claims Amount to 928, 900 900.
Mr.. Grosvenor tOhio) today argued IL
favor OF the passage Of the original Sen
ate bill. He said that not more than $29
100000 of claims were now on file at th
State Department.
Mr. Underwood urged that the amend
ment should be adopted, first because tn
| House. after full discussion on a previou
occasion. had instructed the committee t
bring In such an amendment and. sec
| ondly becauss the government already ha