The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-14
CfrcmIntinn staternrnt.



Opposition in the Senate 70 the appoint
nient Of General Leonard Wood to a place
in the list of regular army brigadiers
which viii make him eligible for chief
command within a few years. must have
been more apparent than real Yester-
day, it fell fat and The nominations-sey-
enty in aI-were confirmed precisely as
they came from the White House
With that victory to encourage the
Administration it viii now try to do
something for its favorites in the sister
service On yesterday Mr. Mckinley nom
mated Mr.. Charles a. Boutelle, a
Representative in Congress from Maine,
10 be a captain on the retired list. The
claims of the gentleman named for this
desirable position, which viii pay him
handsome life annuity without any duty
10 perform. are peculiar. As a Represen-
tative he was long and honorably connect
ed with the House Committee on Naval
Affairs. and devoted 10 its labors all the
business ability and experience he had ac-
quired as a trader and newspaper nan,
and. when his health failed. his friends On
the committee and on the floor felt that
no more fitting provision for him could be
devised than a commission il the navy.
with which he had been identified during
The civil war as a volunteer officer
The objection to this appointment is that
It establishes a bad ard dangerous prece-
dent Mr. BOutelle, who has been out OF
the navy for thirty-seven years. is given
as high . rank nov. as he would have at
tanned if he had never left it This simply
happens because he has friends and infiu-
ence strong enough to overcome executive
and legislative custom and sense Of pro
PTiety.
Those who defend the action. the blame
for which does not all belong TO the Pres
ident by any means, say that MIR. BoutelIe's
Is a peculiar case and viii not be regarded
Is q precedent But there are other peo-
PIE In the world capable OF producing pc
cUliar eases and their friends may desire
to provide Tor them also IN the list OF
naval annuitants. There may be deserving
ez-navsI officers who resigned from the
service at the end Of the Mexican war. and
who would like to be favored wiLh flag
rank cen retreite' in their CID age. Some
such persons may be the grandfathers Of
Senators or leading Representatives. The
entering wedge win De driven by the con-
frnation Of Mr.. BoutelIe-
Whatever may be wrong about the Bou-
teIIe business sinks into insignlfcance
By the side OF the final attempt to honor
the Navigation Bureau pet, Sampson, at
the expense OF the gallant officer who
fought and won the sea battle OF Santt-
ago The Secretary of the Navy. it is an
nounced. has furnished the President with
list CT officers TO be rewarded for dis
tinguished service in connection with that
affair II Mr. Mckinley and the Senate
should concur with Mr. Long. Sampson.
the Absentee would be promoted over
the head of Rear Admiral Schley. As the
Administration appears able to DO most
things It pleases, it is possible that even
81 - af~Sraceful scheme may
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n .a-
ea -. end
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san Juan de Porto Rico. winch
did not scratch the old forts. but
killed a woman or two in the suburbs of
the town? Is it the Matanzas mule2 Ger
taialy it can be nothing connected with
the CeTvera fight; because Sampson was
twenty miles away when that occurred.
and never came on the ground until all
was over. We are then driven to enquire
again what il can be that gives Sampson
commanding influence over the navy ring
We do not know the answer, but perhaps
one might be found IN the private conf
dences which, possibly, may have passed
zen the department and the captain
resided over the Maine Board OF
y We offer this suggestion for
neit Of Senators who may desire TO
l the real reason why the Administra-
feels il imperatively necessary to
I this person Sampson with the lau-
Of a victory with which he had no
lu, to 90 than had his bottleh5Ider
Crowninshield-