Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-22
SCHLEYS REQUEST DENIED
HOWISON'S ALLEGED INTERVIEW
NOT REFERRED TO THAT OFFICER.
Navy Department Thinks the Subject
Now Belongs to the Court Of In
quiry-The Correspondence.

Now Belongs to the Court of In
quiry-The Correspondence.
The Navy Department late yesterday at
ternoon gave out the correspondence with
Admiral Schley relative to opinions said to
have been expressed by Admiral Howison.
The closing letter of the acting secretary
Of the navy states that 1t would be irregu-
lar for the Navy Department to hear and
determine questions affecting the compe-
tency Of members of the court, and advises
Admiral Schley that the question Of Adj
miral Howison's competency will be left
to the court of inquiry itself. The CORE
spondence follows:
"wASHINGTON, d. c.. August 10. 1901.
1.-The Secretary Of the Navy.
"Sir: 1 have the honor to inclose here
with a newspaper clipping in which Rear
Admiral Henry L. Howison. who has been
selected to fill the vacancy caused by the
relief Of Rear Admiral L. A. Kimberly from
the court of inquiry. is represented to nave
expressed certain opinions.
eff this statement, taken from the Bos-
ton Record, be true, 1t would In the 1udg-
ment Of my counsel. disqualffy him FOR
serving in this inquiry.
II respectfully request that copy or TINS
letter. with this Enclosure. be submitted TO
Rear Admiral Howison for his considera-
ton, and l would further request that
may be favored with copy OF his answer
II have entertained high personal regard
for Rear Admiral Howison throughout
long professional service. SO that ieel
sure that if the statements expressed IN
the inclosed clipping are true Rear Adm1-
raj Howison would not be willing to serve
as a Judge under such circumstances.
wv. S. SCHLEY,
"Rear Admiral, U. s. Navy.
The newspaper clipping referred to is In
closed in Admiral Scheys letter.
Navy Department.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. August 20 1901:
Rear Admiral w. s. Schley, U. 8. NJ,
Washington. d. Z.
'.Sir Your letter of 10Th, inclosing news
paper clipping in regard to alleged state
ments of Rear Admiral Henry l.. HoWlson,
was received by mail this morning.
Soon after its receipt Capt. James Park
er, one of your counsel, called at the ue
partment and stated that he intended to go
to Boston on Saturday to make furtner
investigation in the premises, and wished
that no step be taken by the department
until the result of his visit could De con'-
municated to the department..
The department would be pleased TO
learn Immediately if 1t be your desire that
action be withheld for the present Re-
snectfully F. w. HACKETT,
acting Secretary.
"The Arlington. Washington. D. C., Au-
gust 20 19Ol . 80,
Sir: In reply to the departments letter OF
this date. referring to a clipping contain
ing alleged statements OF Rear Admifai
Henry L. Howison, l would say that l
believe that the action requested snouia
not be withheld. as its purpose was to
avoid any delay in the court after Its
session had begun.
. I beg therefore that the request OF
my letter of yesterday may be commune
Gated to Admiral Howison.
Very respectfully,
w. s. SCHLEY.
Rear Admiral U. s. N.
To the Secretary of the Navy, Washing
ton, D. {.
Sir-In reply to your letter of the 10th
instant. enclosing a newspaper clipping
and requesting the department to send 1t
to Rear Admiral Howison, together with
a copy of your letter, you are informed
that the appointment of Rear Admiral
Howison third member OF the court
of inquiry was accomplished only after
taking great pains to insure absolute i'm
Partially in the officer selected. To
question unOfficially put as to his avail
ability in case the department should re-
quire his services, Rear Admiral Howison
replied:
Il know of no reason why should not
be available for such duty, should the de-
partment so decide. l have made no pub
lie utterance relating to the subject. and
and papers bearing upon the questions to
be decided by the court"
Your counsel. Captain PARKER before the
appointment had Ieen announced. men
toned to the acting secretary the names Of
certain rear admicals. any one of whom,
he said. would DE perfectly satisfactory to
Rear Admiral Schley. One of the names so
mentioned was that Of Rear Admiral Howl
sen. II may be added that of four officers
consulted by the department the names of
three were upon the list thus mentioned by
your counsel
This much has been detailed in order to
remind you of the fact that a fair-minded
officer OF excellent reputation and Of un-
blemished character had been found in the
person Of Rear Admiral Howison, who,
at the date Of his appointment. appears
to have enjoyed the confidence Of both the
department and yourself
Your request Is based upon q newspaper
clipping that purports to contain state
nents In regard TO the truth of which
You ask the department to lay before
Rear Admiral Howison a statement. wholly
unsubstantiated. tnat appears to have been
made by some person unknown at time
and place likewise unknown.
The department is unable to view your
request in any other light than that Of a
preliminary challenge Of the fitness of
Rear Admiral HowIson to serve as a men,
Der Of the court. 1t will be treated as is
usual in cases of courts Of inquiry
The established practice in the military
well as In the naval service has fixed
the method in which the right of challenge
before cOurts-martial and courts Of inquiry
shall be exercised.
The department. having constituted the
court. should not at this stage of the pro-
ceedings, undertake to hear and determine
questions that may arise respecting the
competency of it's members. Such a pro-
ceeding would he irregular all questions of
this nature being left to the determination
of the court itself.
This correspondence will be transmitted
to the president of the court for informa-
ton. Respectfully.
+. w. HACKETT
Acting Secretary.
Rear Admiral w. s. Schley, L. S. n.
FARM STATISTICS.