Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-30

Senator Hale. within few days, has
been stirring up the officers of the
navy. A considerable contingent of
these officers from the rank of ensign
up to the rank of admiral finds ways of
getting themselves stationed in Wash
ington. The duties here are light but
the officers get very busy in short
order, urging Congress to do this thing
and that thing, to increase salaries and
to Tighten the duties of the naval SER
vice. AS every naval officer was ap-
pointed to the Naval Academy by some
senator or member. he usually has a
little pull and he goes to the Capitol to
impOrtunC for the favors the navy
wants.
Recently it has been the personnel
bill. The navy officers want Congress
to create a reserve, to which officers
can be retired, so that younger men
will command ships. There are pro-
baby some good features in the pro-
position. 1t is generally conceded that
officers attain command too late in life
to be of the greatest service to the
government. OF course all the officers
arc for it, especially all the younger
officers. for it would mean that every
mothers son of them would become an
admiral if he lived long enough.
Mr.. Hale, as chairman of the naval
committee thinks. and justly so. that
he knows as well what ought to be done
for the navy as a lot of officers who are
seeking promotion for their own self
ish ends. He does not like to have
them haunting the corridors of the
Capitol and buttonholing senators and
members of Congress 1t is automatic
around the big White dome that no
young naval officer is brave enough to
penetrate to Senator Hale'S inside COM
mittee room and discuss naval legisla-
ton with him. The youngster would
get some wholesome advice and would
not be anxious to repeat the venture.
But officers. in numbers. have been
trying to circrInvcrt Senator Hale by
winning votes in the Senate for their
personnel bill, although it Is taken for
granted that Senator Halc's committee
will think the subject too largo a one
to be considered at this brief session of
Congress. They have become so bold
in their operations and had effected
such a close organization that the
senior Maine senator thought it high
time to give them a scare. Accord
ingly he Introduced a resolution, citing
an executive order by President Roose-
welt January 81, 1902, against solicita-
ton for legislation by officers and en-
ployes of the government and also cit
ing the navy regulations on the subject
and asked for an investigation by the
secretary of the navy to ascertain
whether the order is being violated by
any. of the officers Of this department.
The press dispatches indicated that
Mr.. Hales resolution was not received
as cordially in the Senate as he might
like. On the contrary he accomplished
with it the very purpose he had in
tended. That was an agitation of the
subject before the Senate and a discus
sion by senator's pro and con, all of
| which would call attention anew to the
regulations and impress upon naval
officers the offenses they have been
committing.
On Mr. Hale's own motion the re-
solution of inquiry was referred back
| to his own committee and probably
nothing more will be heard of it.
senators did not like to commit them
selves to the idea that a navy officer
should not under any circumstances
consult with his Congressional friend
about legislation that would further his
own professional prospects. But the
agitation of the subject Of navy lobby
Il ing has cleared the Capitol corridors Of
these officers and some of them are a
little more attentive to their duties in
the department.
| When President Roosevelt issued his
order in 1902 it was intended to apply
to letter carriers and postal clerks,
who had been maintaining lobby here
in Washington and even threatening to
defeat for reelection members who
would not vote them an increase in pay.
They did get revenge upon Representa-