New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-09
FIGHT AGAINST CROZIER. |
MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE MILITARY
COMMITTEES ADVERSE REPORT.
RUMORS AFLOAT OF COMBINATION TO
DEFEAT PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
FOR DENOMINATION.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I

mittee on Military Affairs the Presidents
promotion of Captain William Crozier to be chief
of the Ordnance Bureau, with the rank OF orlga-
der general, than has attended any transaction
thus far connected with the LVIIth Congress.
The seal of secrecy is on the lips of every MEM
Der of the committee, and not one of them can
be induced to give a reason either for the COM
mittee's action the nomination or the cause
for the strict Injunction of silence imposed by
the committee all its members. All that is
positively known is that the Presidents nom
nation of the acknowledged chief ordnance
expert of the army for the highest grade of that
department of the military service has been ad-
versely reported by the committee to whlch IL
referred. that the committees vote was
Q to g and that the will now be bitterly
contested on the floor of the Senate in executive
session.
MANY RIJMORS AFLOAT.
OF course. there is myriad Of rumors con-
corning the cause of the committees action
Not the least interesting OF these is that Captain
Crozier's we'll known opposition to the adoption
of the Isham shell part of the ordnance
material Of the army aroused such antagonism
to him in influential quarters that nine members
of the Military Affairs Committee could not
withstand the pressure brought to bear upon
them to reject his elevation to office for
which everybody admits he is admirably fitted
by attainment. achievement and experience Just
how much influence the promoters of the Isham
shell really did WELD, either directly or ndi-
rectly is Of course, a mere matter of specula-
ton. 1t may be that this has had nothing what
to do with his rejection by the committee.
and that other and more potent and powerful
influences than any concern combina-
ton of concerns interested in the manufacture
of ordnance and ordnance supplies have inter
vened to humilitate the President and every sup
porter of his administration and ruin the career
of of the best trained and most scientific
officers Of the army. From the inner circle OF
the Military Affairs Committee there comes a
hint that the only reason for adversely report
ing on Captain Crozier's nomination that
he is the inventor of several new and advanced
Improvements in ordnance. for which he holds
patents. and that the law distinctly prohibits
the promotion 10 the head of bureau of any Off
Ger of the army who thus is interested in supplies
which the army may need actually uses. This
accusation, however, loses ali its force by reason
of the fact that Captain Crozier has never profit
ed to the extent of one cent by the patents he
holds. and that ne proved when called before
the committee to testify that he refuses to &C
cept royalties from the Government Of the
United States ordnance material which
he holds patents. He also showed that his sole
object in patenting his inventions TO pro-
tect this government In the use of his inventions
against European rivals that desire to purchase
the Crozier improved ordnance for in their
armies, and that to make the United States still
secure in its position in this important re-
spect he has taken out patents in all European
countries on his contrivances
TALK OF OPPOSITION TO ROOSEVELT.
A which in this respect resembles that
of Captain Crozier is furnished by the adoption
by the Board of Notifications Of the Burlington
Crozier disappearing gun carriage This con-
trivance adopted when Captain Crozier's
immediate predecessor General Burlington. was
chief of the Ordnance Bureau. the Continuance
being the joint invention of Captain Crozier
and General Burlington. But neither of them has
ever accepted a cent Of royalty from the gov
eminent for the use Of their most valuable in
ventian. Nor was any objection urged to
General Buffington's retention of the office of
chief OF ordnance because he IN part in
ventor of of the most valuable improve
ments in the nations modern system Of coast
defences and Notifications. Why. then. 1t Is
being asked. should Captain Crozter be thus
disseminated against? In searching for the
most probable cause the suggestion is becoming
widespread that the humiliation Of this young.
vigorous and highly capable officer by the Mill
tary Affairs Committee OF the Senate foreshad-
ows determination formed by element Of
Senators to create all the trouble possible for
President Roosevelt, to the end Of contributing
In this way to his defeat for the Republican
Presidential nomination in 1904 There have
been rumors of opposition springing up In the
Senate to the President, but heretofore little
no attention has been paid to them. But in
the Of Captain Crozier there appears to be
cause for the suspicion that an element or
Senators of both parties is conspiring against
Mr. Roosevelt succeeding himself President.
At any rate, this Interpretation is being put
the action OF the Military Affairs Committee
by farsighted and experienced Senators and
R,arlr an al wi
political situation In Congress. On no other
hypothesis than this. these Congressman think.
the harsh treatment accorded to the Prest-
dent. Secretary Root and Captain Crozier alike
be accounted for. In fact, from this point of
view, 1t can be contended that the committee
meant only to affront the President and the Sec
rotary Of War, since Captain Crozier is himself
not of sufficient Importance to be made an is
sue OF.
HOPE OF CROZIER'S CONFIRMATION.
When the case Is carried to the floor of the
Senate, however, there is strong hope that the
President and the Secretary Of War will be sus-
tanned by the confirmation of Captain Crozier
as chief ordnance in spite Of the adverse report
on his nomination made by the Military Affairs
Committee. The supporters of the admnstra-
ton will then remind the Senate that General
Buffington's invention adopted by the gov
eminent while that official was chief of ord
nance and that effort then made to hui
initiate that official. They will also remind those
who propose base their objections to Captain
Crozier's promotion the ground that cap
tain should not be raised to the grade of brig
adler general at the expense of officers already
nearer that grade than he, that the Senate al
ready has confirmed the appointment of two
captains brgadier generals without creating
any Observation-Disclosures Leonard Wood of the
medical department, and Captain j. Franklin
Bell Of the cavalry arm. 1t Will also be forcibly
borne in upon Senators who may say they have
scruples against jumping officers over the heads
of others that scarcely a voice was raised in
protest wher Frederick Funston of Kansas.
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