Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-25
Ctlef Of Bureau Of Navigation Of
Navy Gives Up Place Be-
cause Of Differences.
NOBODY WILL TALK ABOUT IT
srownson says Its for His Superior
on'eers to Talk About. Metealf
Ayers Its Up to the s.,s'e.r., and
Loeb Says, Nothing to be said-His
Successor.
(By Associated Pressl

(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. II -
President Roosevelt today received
and accepted the resignation of Rear
Admiral William IL. Brownson as
chief of the bureau of navigation The
| resignation takes effect Immediately
and CAPTAIN Cameron MGR. Winslow
Las n'cn appointed TO succeed the
al.nial. NJ reason for The resig-
nation is given at the White House.
Diligently inquiry from Rear Ad-
miral Brownson, from Secretary Met.
calf and at the White House. failed
to develop the reason for the seem
ingly sudden retirement OF the Rear
|, Admiral from the navigation bureau.
Admiral Brownson talks the posi-
ton that the subject is ono for tho
discussion OF his superior officers.
Secretary Metcalf passes the re-
snonsibility OF stating the reason of
/ the resignation to President Roose.
volt.
Secretary Loeb. speaking for tho
President, says that no information
can be obtained from that source.
Two theories have been advanced
as being sufficient in themselves to
bring forth the letter OF resignation.
One of these reasons is that the
admiral finds himself unable to agree
with the ideas of the President re-
garding certain important policies to
be pursued by the bureau of naviga-
ton. Such disagreement. honestly
entertained, would leave the admiral
but one course, and that to take his
place OH the retired list and relinquish
the active management of the bureau.
Cannot Do Active Duty.
The other reason is that the rear
admiral. being on the retired list of
the navy, may not be legally con-
firmed by the Senate to an appoint
ment to active duty. 1t is known that
the judge advocates department OF
tho navy has been wrestling with this
legal question with special reference
to the case of Admiral Brownson for
several weeks past. 1t Is also known
that an opinion on the question has
recently been rendered What the
effect of this opinion Is can only be
surmised Those who believe that
1t is the reason for his resignation,
say that the opinion set forth the
| law to be that his continuation could
not be legally executed by the Sen.
ate
Admiral I,rownson's appointment
as chief of the bureau of navigation
was made by the President during
the recess of Congress. 1t is GUS
tomary for the names of recess APP
pointees to so to the Senate on its
next converting after the appointments
have been made. In the present case
and because of the uncertainty of the
. right of n retired naval officer to be
assigned to active duty, Admiral
Brownson's name has been withheld
from the Senate, pending the render
ing of the legal opinion in the case.
The resignation and its acceptance
will obviatc the raising of the qucs-
ton between the Legislative and exec
utive departments of the government
as to the right of retired officers to
/ be appointed to active duty in time
of peace.
Since Admiral Brownson took com
mand of the bureau of navigation,
that bueau has had to handle the
question of the cruise of the Atlantic
fleet to the Pacific, the greatest peace
move of the navy during its history.
The resignation of Admiral Brown
son, as chief of the bureau of naviga-
ton, has the effect OF placing him in
his former position on the retired
| list of the navy.
Who Will Have the Place.
Commander Winslow, who hat,
been designated to act as the head
of the navigation bureau, has for
some time past been assistant to AID.
moral Brownson.
Commander Winslow is anxious to
. obtain command of the new battle
ship New Hampshire. so 1t is believed
that his present resignation is in-
, tended to bridge over an interval dur
ing which the President can mako a