New-York tribune., 1902-01-07
SAMPSON, COMMANDER.
SECRETARY LONG DENIES THAT MUS.
TICE HAS BEEN DONE TO SCHLEY
N AWARDS OF BOUNTY.
TpY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRInuNE.I

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
Washington Jan. 6-The Navy Department made
mother statement today as to the naval COM
-,a1der-in-chief at the battle OF Santiago While
eorne surprise is expressed al the publication in
--iew Of the Presidents determination 10 prevent
further discussion Of the controversy especially by
those connected with the military services Sec
retary Longs official letter 10 Senator Nelson IS
regarded a a warranted defence Of his own action
against misguided criticisms The necessity for
such defence AT this time. however fairly indi-
Gates that the subject has not been absolutely ex-
balsted and that frequent temperance in vari-
Gus forms cannot easily be avoided. Senator Knute
Nelson. of Minnesota. December 2S sent 10 the
Navy Department set Of questions propounded by
The Editor Of the Chicago "Skandinaven'' about the
methods Of distributing prize money which reflected
on the fairness the department Secretary Long
reply. bearing date OF January . shorn Of its Ions
quotations from the Revised Statutes and court de-
csi0us. Is follows:
L is true that this department has been subject
ed 70 untriendy criticisms in connection with the
as you state been alleged IN many newspapers
THAR The Navy Department has discrin:inated in
these awards Such criticism has not. however,
9 ne TsL raTrrrt ais en- - onIrarv To noD,Ilar
understandings neither possessed nor exercised con
a,tua distribution is nov in progress in the Treas
Ury Department, while all questions Of law and
fact relating thereto nave been determined OF are
pending before courts Of the United States This
except 10 answer such inquiries as have been made.
When hostilitles between the United states and
books certain provisions Of law authorizing the
distribution among capJors ot one-ali OF ne who,e
o. moneys re--.zea rom the eap-tlr- - OF j noSI.ie
vessels 9na ilelr sefE9t7 = ,-, r Ts sr. an I'M
and. IN part, above quoted. II viii be seen mat
unon nc capture ~ prize j. vas me GIty oi me
some home port in charge of "a prize crew; that
Tara a turned over 70 ,he United States court Tor
he district sitting in admiralty IN order that te
fFhs of all parties might be judctallE determined
This department has. accordingly. exercised no
control over ne award OF PFC Llo.lgS "a az 49,
ions with respect thereto nelhS heiI1 anu ', 49,
nireI by the courts During the recent spanish
tre tinted states District Court for The Southern
District of Florida sitting AT key est Inat court
9e-IE m @ 5ie+-iSt ,,--+s sitting AZ savannah Ca: AT
1-rsriasr7n : a. an Rrooslvn \ y and by the
supreme court Of the District Of Columbia. At
n order TO secure prompt and anal judicial de
termination Of questions involved IN the GlslIloI-
.-n non = At-o-9, General that Il might
itself undertake such distribution nevertheless pre-
c-r--s and the court Of Claims was selected as a
suitable tribunal for The adjudication OF the q1es-
tons involved
DECISION OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS.
With regard 10 the particular matter referred to
= your letter So the claim OF Aa!I.Ta sampson .
Es-. ~ f,re r -G7 --Dfere5 lis decision from
which no appeal vas taken. In pursuance OF this
5T The sadiror f5r s5s TaTy Department By Tes-
erence thereto il viii be- noted that among the Au-
second-e5n July g. -sss a naval engage
Admiral " T sampson. United states Navy. was
The commander-In-chief OF the said United states
tinted states Navy. was the commanding officer
a. aiysioG On o. q sq43dron 3 LaeTe2t on G4y under
Eighrh-The commanding officers OF the feet and
are entitled 20 receive from the United States
bounty; as provided BY law. in The sum Of not
seven hundred dollars lsi66.7OGj. as may be ap-
P8T0nea 512 5eng tR2se G5ag; 01 %c4 % sum se
IniraL United States Navy. and commander-in-chief
thousand three hundred and thlrty-fve dollars
It VIII be noted that the amount distributed as
bounty Is not deIencent upon the value OF the
SIMPSONS STATUS UNDER THE LAW.
A point overlooked By the general newspaper
comment the subject VIII be perceived BY ex-
animation Of this decree, and that IS the fact that
they had existed since the Civil War. the
rnander-in-chef OF feet or squadron is entitled
70 ohe-t"eACeln OF az PFlZe money awarded 10
any vessel or vessels under his immediate COM
pr=ted by the court and Il has been interpreted
by al courts having 70 DO with the matter gives
eth by virtue II his position as comTnan-
eur during the engagement or not. As com
mander-in-chief Admiral Sampson would. there
Of The bounty for the destruction OF the Spanish
= -Ela al me Dne- rms was The law for Whicn
l4e NaEy Derar.HenL IS N no wlst resPonslole 4 Die
E-ovr7e{ra ~ -Ea rel f-7nort ~ -be nrze-iavvs
take as they found them.
Il is proper 70 add. however, that the Navy De-
pa--Uent itself the first realize The in
equities arising from these provisions OF law,
applied 20 modern conditions and recommended 70
the Naval committees Of Congress the enactment
OF q repea ing use. which favorably re-
ported upor- and passed by Congress on March g.
-s-e follows:
And all provisions II law authorizing the dis
t-iaI--0n among Captors Of the whole or any poT-
-loU ut The proceeds OF vessels, or any property
hereafter captured condemned as prize, OF proVd-
ins for rl@ payment Of bounty for the sinking or
destruction Of vessels Of the enemy hereafter oc-
curing in time Of war. are hereby repealed 60
Stats ? 1,p07l
A rather amusing feature Of the attacks made
upon the Navy Department in this connection les
f. rle f10r thar The newspapers making such crlu-
Cisms have suddenly discovered that there IS IN
equity in the duplication II the prize laws and are
blaming this administration for such inequ'ty
more -han Two wears after the matter has oeen
cured ov The repeal OF the Objectionable features
@ these laws which the enactment. not OF
the Navy Department bur of Congress. such repeal
having been made ar the instance Of III" depart
rneu- they are accusing. and for the very purpose
OF renedvtrg The evils ~ which they complain
Z $ believed thar the foregoing statement an
EweTs your several Inquiries IN 50 Tar as the ca1+
available o This department viii admit l.
thank YOU for your letter, and am always Elad 70
give all Information
DISCUSSING SCHLEN'S CASE
Mr. RAYNER TALKS WITH CONGREssMEN
ABOUT BILLS INTRODUCED