The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-25
REAR ADMIRAL
BROWNSON OUT
Chief of Bureau of Naviga-
ton Resigns and ReSigna-
ton Is Accepted.
EVERYBODY KEEPING MUM
RIGHT TO HOLD THE POSITION
QUESTIONED.

1. 9 &, . q o &. <. o <. o . . . d" q o g. .
3. Washington, Dec. 24.-President @
g Roosevelt today received and ac- 9.
g cepted the resignation of Rear g
2 Admiral Willard II. BrOwnsOn as e,
3 CHIEF of the bureau of navigation %
q The resignation takes effect i'm %
@ mediately, and Captain Cameron g:
&: MGR. Winslow has been appointed g
. to succeed the admiral. No rea- o
q. son for the resignation is given 9:
9 at the White House %
O. @ 9 g q . 9 g 9 g 9 9 g 9 % g 9 @
Washington. Dec. 24-DiIigent in
quiry from Rear Admiral Brownson,
from Secretary Metcalf and at the
White House failed to develop the rea-
son for the seemingly sudden retire
ment of the rear admiral from the ma
vigatiOn bureau. Admiral BrOwnsOn
takes the position that the subject is
one for the discussion of his superior
officers, which would take the inquiry
to Secretary Metcalf. The secretary in
turn passed the responsibility of stat
ing the reason of the resignation on
President Roosevelt. Secretary Loeb,
speaking for the president says that
no information can be obtained from
that source.
Wo neofIeS advanced.
Two theories have been advanced as
being sufficient in themselves to bring
forth the letter of resignation which
Secretary Metcah presented TO the
president today. One Of these reasons
IS that the admiral finds himself IN
able to agree with the president re-
garding certain important policies 20
be pursued by the bureau of naviga-
ton. Such a disagreement, honestly
entertained, would leave the admiral
but one course, and that to take his
place on the retired list and reIinquish
the active management of the bureau
over which he has dominated. The
other reason that the rear admiral.
being on the retired list of the navy.
may not be legally confirmed by the
senate TO an appointment to executive
duty.
Opinion Has Beer Rendered.
1t is known that the judge advocates
department of the navy has been Wres-
thing with this legal question, with spe-
ctal reference to the case of Admiral
BrOwnson, for several weeks past. It
also is known that an opinion of the
question has been rendered. What the
opinion is can only be sUrmised in view
of the action taken by the admiral to-
udy- InOSe WHO DGtleNe IndL II Is the
reason for his resignation say that the
opinion set forth The law 10 be that his
confirmation could not be legally ex-
ecuted by the senate. Such a decision
would undoubtedly have the result OF
causing the admiral to place his resig-
nation in the hands of the secretary.
Recess Appointment.
Admiral Brownson's appointment as
chief of the bureau of navigation was
made by the president during the re-
cess of congress. 1t is customary for
the names of recess appointments to go
to the senate on its rext converting
after the appointments have been
made. In the present case, and because
of the uncertainty of the right of re-
tired naval officer to be assigned to ac-
tive duty, Admiral BrOWnsOn's name
has been withheld from the senate
pending the rendering of the legal
opinion in the case. The resignation
and its acceptance will Obviate the rails
ing of the question between the execu-
tive and executive 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
bureau has had to handle the question
of the cruise of the Atlantic feet to the
Pacific, the greatest practice movement
of the navy during its history. The res
ignation of Admiral BrcWnsOn as chief
Continued on Page 2.