The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-15
CONGRESS
SLOW.
No Recognition
For Heroes of
War.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The Sampson
Schley controversy was precipitatel IN
the Senate by Mr.. Chandler, who read
and criticized the late letter of Secretary
Long to Senator Morgan, explaining why
the officers and men of the Santiago
fleet had received no reward for Their
good work. Mr.. Hale explained what had
been done for the Naval Officers, ana
referred to the names sent In during the
last Congress. He said that, owing 10
the Sampson-Schley controversy, they
could not be acted upon before the '3es-
sion of Congress expired, but he ex-
pected the nominations WoulQ be sent IN
again during this Congress, but no action
had been taken by the Executive.
Mr.. Pettigrew declared the whole trou-
BILE 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 Ad-
ministration, he said, seemed to promote
men who did not fight during the Span
ish war.
Mr.. Teller criticised the publication of
the letter, and said the Secretary knew
how to communicate with the Senate ii
he desired 10 do so.
Mr. Morgan said he did not know how
the letter got into print. This closed the
incident. The letter was as follows:
Dear Senator: l have your letter with
Clark and others, and to the failure of
the Government to recognize their SER
vices. / need not say to you that no one
feels this more keenly than myself, or
has done more to endeavor to secure JUS
tice for the men who conducted and
consummated the Santiago naval cam
paiSn. WIN you let me say that the de-
| lay is not with the executive branch of
| the Government so much as with Con-
gress. l do not say this to in any way
Shift the responsibility, but in the hope
that the cooperation of Congress may
be secured in this respect. With the in
terest which you ana other members. OF
the legislative branch feel in the case, L
do not despair.
1T is more tnan two years now since
the President sent in nominations Tor
promotion, and these Nominations have
never been acted upon by the Senate. At
each session of Congress l nave prepaI ed
and submitted bills asking tor rewards
for these officers. No acton has been
taken upon them. In each OF my annual
reports | have urged the matter with all
the force possible, but t attracts no 1t
tention. The President has asked tor
the creation of the grade or vice admir-
al, which would perhaps lead to a Solu-
ton of the matter.
Il feel keenly the lack of any recog-
milton to Hobson. whose feat is famous
the world over. have repeatedly talked
about him to the President, who, as you
know, feels the most coruial interest in
behalf of all the men. He cannot separ-
ate Hobson's case from the rest nor can
advise him to do so. 1t would be an
unjust discrimination against Captain
Clark, to whom you refer ana who is two
numbers worse off now than if there had
been no war. 1t would be an injustice
to the commander in chief, who planned
and consummated> the whole campaign,
and who had a greater responsibility up
on him for longer time than any otti-
Ger on the Atlantic. 1t would dIscIimi-
nate against the enlisted men, who have
| yet had neither thanks nor medals, nor
any recognition and are Inundated on the
deck of every warship on which Their ship
mates who served IN the Asiatic Squad
ron display their medals and the Santa &c
men have none. feel almost like invok-
ing the help of yourself and every other
Senator and Representative as to what
seems the simplest justice.