The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-27
THE PRESIDENT MAY ACT.
Howison May De Forced From the
Court of Enquiry.

| From the comment heard yesterday at
| the Navy Department it is inferred Rear
Admiral Howison is hardly likely to
serve on the Schley Court of Enquiry.
| 1t seemed to be the general opinion he
must retire, if the challenge of Schley $
counsel is presented to the court. 1t was
suggested he might retire voluntarily If
| he thought his participation in the
| quiry would prove distastetul to the Of
| fcer before the court. But 4 ccording to
the opinion of several of Rear Admiral
| Howison's brother officers. the President
is more likely to interfere before the
court convenes, and, unless the rear adj
miral acts speedily, before Rear Admiral
Howison shall retire voluntarily.
At Canton, from all that is said in the
department, MIR. Hacketts conduct as
Acting Secretary is viewed with an APP
prehensiOn approaching alarm. Instead of
allaying the antagonism to the Admins
tration which has grown out of the
SchleySa mpson embroglio, Mir. Hackett
is believed to have added fuel to the fire.
Men who were awaiting the hearing be-
fore reaching their conclusions in the
matter are now unable to await the find
ings with anything like confidence. The
course of the department has been such
that, whatever the facts in the case.
Rear Admiral Howison is held to be
biased beyond the point of fairness and
Mr.. Hackett is believed to have deliber-
ately misconstrued Admiral Schley's let
ter.
About the only remedy open to the Ad-
ministration, according to yesterdays
gossip. lies in the constitution of a court
beyond reasonable criticism. On that
ground Mr.. Mckinley is expected to in
tervene His reliance on public opinion
in similar instances is we'll known. The
change of front on the Porto Rican tariff,
the appointment of Southerners to the vol
unteer forces, and the declaration of war
against Spain are regarded acts due
directly to the Presidents desire to sub
serve the popular will. But the best ex-
ample concerns the very trouble which
has produced the Court of Enquiry.
When the naval personnel bill was
about to be sent to the Senate, all the
officers of the so-called clique were as
sembled at the White House by the Pres
ident. He then asked them what rewards
they thought due Captain Sampson and
Commodore Schley. The reply was unani-
nous No officer who had been censured
for .'reprehensible conduct" they said,
was worthy any promotion over his fell
lows; as for Captain Sampson his reward
should be commensurate with his estab-
lished ability and his distinguished ser
vices. Within very short time-it is
said within a single day-the President
recommended the advance of both Schley
and Sampson to the grade of vice admiral.
If in that instance Mr.. McKinley's faith
IN popular verdict was strong enough
to offset the unanimous vote of the
Crowninshield-Chadw following,
IT is believed in the Navy Department the
President will not hesitate to act along
similar lines in the present case.
Nothing is known, of course. of Secre-
tary Longs attitude in the Howison mat
ter. He would naturally approve his as
any show of reason.
But the Chief of the Bureau of Nayi-
CATION and his conferes are said to be
greatly annoyed at the prospect of having
any change made nj the court. particu-
larry at the prospect of any change by
request from the President Howison is
entirely satisfactory to the Sampson wing.
With him on the bench that following eX-
poets the attitude of the department will
be interpreted with full regard for GUS
tom and precedent in the navy.
If the printed expressions of opinion ac-
credited to him are in fact his-and no
one apparently doubts the anti-Schley fol-
lowing has full Information on that point
Admiral Schley's 'treprehensible con-
duct is certain to be viewed by at least
one member of the court it is viewed
by the Secretary. the Assistant Secre-
tary, the Chadwick, association,
and t&e Chief of the Bureau of Naviga-
that no Presidential action will be taken
if the group of men so bitterly opposed to
Schiey can by any representations to the
Executive prevent it.