The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-12
COURT OF INQUIRY
WILL OPEN TODAY
All the Members Are Now in
Washington.
HOWISON WILL SERVE
Unless Dewey and Benham Feel That
He is Disqualified.
NO TAKING OF TESTIMONY FIRST DAY
II is Expacted That FormaIities VIII Take up
the Time of the Opening Session. The
Challenge of Howson thu
Great Feature.
(By the Associated Press.)


(By the Associated Press)
Washington, September 11.--All the
members of the Schley court of inquiry
are now in Washington. Rear Admiral
Howison, the third member, arriving last
night. Today Admiral Howison paid a
formal call as required by naval ETH
quette at Admiral Deweys residence on
Rhode Island Avenue. Admiral Dewey,
however, did not come to town today,
but remained in his country home Ad-
miral Howison then went to the Navy
Department. He had called upon Acting
Secretary Hackett last night and the only
other formal cali required of him was to
visit the Judge Advocate General, Cap
tain Lemly, which he did.
Rear Admiral Howison was extremely
guarded in answering inquiries respect
ing the court of inquiry He said it
would not be proper to say anything for
publication in advance of the meeting of
the court as to his own intentions or
probable line of action of the court.
1t is evident, however that he has not
in any degree altered his resolution to
serve as member of the court if the
other members accept his own view as
to his qualifications. Ell adheres to the
views set down in his letter to Acting
Secretary Hackett that it is the duty
! of naval officer to accept without ques-
ton a call for services upon court
of inquiry or court martial and although
such duties were not the sort promising
pleasant occupation, they were not to
be evaded by any act of the person
whose service is required. Therefore.
Rear Admiral Howison will by no act of
his tomorrow seek to escape duty on the
court of inquiry and if he should not
serve it will be because Admiral Dewey
and Rear Admiral Benham feel that he
is disqualified to act as an impartial
Judge.
ALL IS NOW READY.
Everything is ready for the meeting
of the court.
The impression at the Navy Depart
ment now is that the taking of testimony
will not begin tomorrow, although that
was the original expectation. A large
number of witnesses are in Washington
ready to take the stand at a moments
notice, but forma1ities are expected to
consume most of tomorrow's session.
which, after ALL is likely to be short
owing to the late hour of beginning. No
summons has yet been issued for Ad-
miral Sampson and it is said very few
formal summons have been issued by
the Department Although no positive
statement on that point is made it is
gathered from the attitude of the Govern
ment officers that they have no present
intention of calling Admiral Sampson.
NO USELESS CEREMONY.
While observing all the forms that are
npPpcCarV tn mainf q N
court, there is no disposition on the part
of it's members to try to magnify it's i'm
portance by useless ceremony. There
will be no waste of gunpowder in salutes
nor will the marines be turned out in
state at the Navy Yard as the three Ad
mirals make their way to and from the
building, where the court will meet. To-
morrow they will go to the Navy Yard
in plain clothing and thus relieve the
commandant of the necessity of ordering
an official salute. They will go to the
hall shortly after noon and in the COM
mod1ous retiring room adjacent to the
court room provided for their accommo-
dation will array themselves in what is
known as the naval dress uniform This
is not what is known as special full
dress, but is very nearly SUCH the
main differences consisting in the
elimination OF the cooked hat Instead
of that Admiral Dewey and his fellow
members will wear simple naval caps, al
though in the case of officers of their
rank, the cap is almost encrusted with
gold save on top. They will wear the
naval frock coat and gold epauletts and
the service sword. After the first day
this uniform will give place to the easier
though less impressive naval undress
uniform divested in large part of the
heavy gold trimming of the dress suit.
and even permitting the wearing of a
comfortable blouse
Precisely at l o'clock the members of
the court will be seated, Amiral Dewey
at the center of table placed crosswise
OF the court room, with Rear Admiral
Benham on his right and Rear Admiral
Howison on his left. The witnesses will
stand at the left end of the table next to
the official stenographers and the judge
advocate, Captain Lemly with Solicitor
b. r. Hanna, his associate in the case will
occupy the other end of the table. A
place has been reserved for Mr. Stayton.
VINO is to represent certain naval officers
not onlcially named as yet He will not
pe recognized as counsel by the court,
however until some of his clients are
involved In the case by the testimony.
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