Evening star., 1902-01-06

flutes the charge that the department mas
Disseminated in favor of Sampson as
against Schley in making these awards"
The text of the letter is as follows:
Secretary Longs Letter.
Navy Department.
WASHINGTON. January p 1902.
Sir: Your letter of December 2S, 1901,
asking for the use of your correspondent,
the editor of the Standinaven of Chicago,
Il.. information regarding the methods of
distribution of prize money and bounty,
aas been received, and in repiy l take
pleasure in transmitting herewith certain
Information with respect to the matter.
1t is true that this department has been
subjected to uEfriendly criticism in con-
ncctiOn with the distribution of prize money
and bounty. and ii has. as you state. been
alleged in many newspapers that the Navy
Department has Disseminated in favor of
Sampson against Schley in making these
awards Such criticism has not, however.
been inteIligertly made and is unjust be-
cause. in fact. the Navy Department. con-
trary to popular understanding, neither pos
sessed nor exercised control over the dis
tribution OF such rewards. The actual dis
tribution is now in progress in the Treas
ury Department while all questions of law
and fact relating thereto have been de-
termined or are pending. before courts of
the United States. This department has
taken no action in the premises. except to
answer such inquiries as have been made.
Law Regarding Prize Money.
When hostilities between the United
States and Spain began in 1898 there were
upon the statute books (Revised Statutes Of
the United States. edition of 1878, title xvi,
Prize. p. s97, sections 1913 to 4G-2) certain
provisions OF law authorizing the u.stribu-
ton among caDtors of ore-half or the whole
OF moneys realized from the capture of hos
tile vessels and their carg0es. The follow
ing extracts from the statutes show some
tang of the prescribed procedure
" Section 4G15. The commanding officer
Of any vessel making a capture shall secure
the documents of the ship and cargo, in
clUding the logbook. with all other docu-
merts, letters and other papers found
board, and make an inventory of the same,
and seal them UP and send them, with the
inventory. to the court in which proceed
ings are to be had.
- Section 1916. If any vessel of the
United States shall claim TO share in prize,
either as having made the capture
having been within signal distance of the
vessel or vessels making the capture, the
commanding officer of such vessel shall
make out written statement of his claim,
with the grounds which it is founded,
the principal facts tending to show what
vessels MADE the capture. and what VeS
ssls Were within signal distance of those
making the capture. with reasonable partic-
u'arity as to times, distances, localities and
signals made, seen or answered, and such
statement OF calm shall be signed by him
and sent to the court in which proceed edingS
shall be had. and shall be fled in the cause
" Section $3.50. The net proceedings of all
property condemned as prize shall. when
the prize was of superior or equal force to
the vessel or vessels making the capture,
tc Cecreed TO the captOrs; and when Of in
feriOr force. one-haif shall be decreed to
the United States and the other half to the
captors-
Law Regarding ROunty.
Bounty, as distinct from prize money, Is
provided for by section 4tiSJ
Sec. 1855. = bounty shall be paid by the
United States for each person on board
any ship or vessel of war belonging to an
enemy at the commencement of an en-
Sagement. which is sunk or otherwise de-
strcyed In SUcn engagement by any ship
or vessel belonging to the United States
or which II may be necs sssary to destroy
in consequence of injuries sustained in ac-
t!on. of one hundred dollars. if the enemy s
vessel was of inferior force. and of two
hundred dollars # Of equal or superior
force, to be divided among the officers and
crew in the same manner as prize money
and when the GCtual number of men on
board any such vessel cannot be satisfac-
torlly aScertained II shall be estimated ac-
cording to the complement allowed to YES
sells of its class in the navy Of the United
States; and there shall be paid as bounty
TO the captors of any vessel of war cap
tured from an enemy, which they may be
instructed to destroy, which is fmme-
diately destroyed for the public interest
but net in consequence Of injuries received
in action. fifty dollars for every person
who shall be or board az the time of such
capture.
Distribution of the Money.
The distribution OF prize money and
bounty alike is made in accordance with
section 1921. which reads:
See 1851 All prize money adjudged to
the captOrs shall be distributed in the fol-
lowing proportions:
First. To the commanding officer of a
feet or squadron. one-twenticth part of all
prize money awarded to any vessel or YES
sels under his immediate command
Second. To the commandin officer of a
olvlsion or a fleet or squadron, on duty un-
DER the orders OF the commander in chief
OF such fleet or squadron, a sum equal to
one-hftleth part of any prize money
awarded to vessel of such division for a
capture made while under his command
such fftieth part TO be deducted from the
mOiety due TO the United States il there
be such moiety, otherwise from the amoun,
awarded to the captors: but such fftiett
part shall not be in addition to any share
which may be due to the commander OF
the division and which he may elect to re.
eeive, as commander of a single ship max.
i nird. 70 the neet captain. one-hun
dredth part of all prize money awarded to
any vessel or vessels of the fleet or squad
ron In which he Is serving, except in q
case where the capture is made by the YES
sci on board of which he is serving at tn,
time of such capture: and in such case II,
shall snare, in proportion to his pay witt
tne otner ohicers and men on board sucf
vessel
Fourth, To the commander of singl,
vessel. one-tenth part of all the priz,
money awarded TO the vessel under hi.
command. IL such vessel at the time of tn.
capture was under the command of tn,
Commanding officer of fleet or squadron
or division. and three-twentieths If hi
Vesse! was acting independently of sucl
superior officer.
Fifth After the foregoing deductions
the residue shall be distributed and pro
poruoned among all others doing duty o,
board. including the fleet captain. an,
borne upon the books of the ship, in pro
portion to their respective rates OF pay Ii
the service
No Control by Navy Department..
From an examination of the sections O
the Revised Statutes cited. and. in part
above quoted, 1t will be seen that upon tn