The Washington herald., 1907-12-27

Rear Admiral Willard H. Brownson.
who resigned the Office OF chief Of the
Bureau Of Navigation on Christmas Eve.
as the result OF difference OF opinion
with President Roosevelt. did not appear
at the Navy Department yesterday.
Commander Cameron McRae winsiow.
who was designated 10 act as chief. and
who viii be nominated 10 the Senate for
that Office, was on hand.
The most important comment hoard
among navy men is that the new llght
that has been thrown on the workings OF
the Navy Departments bureau system bv.
the criticisms OF Henry ReuterdahI and
the controversy which led 10 the resigna-
ton Of Admiral Brownson. is hound ~
produce a thorough inquiry into that svs-
tenn. with the object OF eIecting its re-
organization
Nearly every department. Of the gov
ernment has been overhauled and reha-
bilitated since the Spanish war. but the
navy is in the exempted class.
Surgeon General Rixey. 10 whose in
fiuence is attributed President Roosa-
velts decision to put a naval surgeon IN
command OF a hospital ship over the pro-
test Of Rear Admiral Brownson. has
said that the Bureau Of Navigation had
interfered too much with the internal
administration Of the Bureau Of Medicine
and Surgery. and this Interference had.
at times, caused him great concern as
10 how I could meet the needs OF those
under my care
Approval OF President.
L is generally accepted that the Sur
geon General made this criticism with
the approval Of President Roosevelt. and
the covert slap at Admiral Browuson in
dicates how deeply the President resents
Admiral BrOwnson's resignation.
An interesting and important issue
was raised yesterday in connection
with the Presidents decision TO put a
naval surgeon instead Of a line or
Ger in command Of the hospital shin
Relief The Relief is TO be navigated
| by merchant sailing master and mates.
not amenable 70 naval discipline Thev
viii be under the supreme authority Of
B The naval surgeon. but. in turn, will
command a crew Of regularly enlisted
blUeJackets.
Contrary TO Lavf
II is asserted that this is contrary
to law and regulations. as the civilian
4
bluejacket crew. and the latter. in fact.
are not required by law TO obey any
except regularly commissioned line Of
icers OF the naval service.
Surgeon General Rixey contends that
navy surgeons have had positive curl-
mand for several years, but this is dis
puted by line officers. who challenge
the production Of any evidence to sus-
tain the Surgeon General
The whole matter was thrashed out il
several weeks of discussion, with the
President as the final arbiter Rixey won
the battle over the powerful Nsvigg..on
Bureau. and the Medical Corps CT ne
navy is jubilant
Undoubtedly the fact that the sosritaI
/ ships Of the army Of which the RELIEF
was until recently one. have always been
under the command OF an army medical
officer with a civilian Navigator 10 haudle
( the ship had much to do with the max
| ing OF the decision. Rixey's contention
that in time Of war the Relief would fy
the Red Cross flag. and that there should
I be no question of guaranteeing her neu-
I trality. also had great weight
In the retirement of Admiral Brown
son from active duty the navy VIII lose
one Of its best officers As superintendent
Of the Naval Academy. commander OF a
! feet. and Chief Of the Bureau Of Naviga-
ton, successiveiy. he has had the three
best assignments possible in the Amer
lean navy. showing the high esteem n
which he has been held.
Admiral Browns0n has consistently re-
fused 10 discuss publicly the present con-
troversS up to the moment But II is not
impossible that Admiral Rixey's charge
that the internal administration OF the
Bureau Of Medicine and Surgery has been
too much interfered with by the Bureau
OF Navigation" and his contention that
the hospital ship Relief ought 10 have
gone with the fleet on its voyage around
Cape Horn. may provoke some reply
from the retired admiral and an inves-
tigation.
Presidents Strong Letter.
II is said that the President wrote a
strong letter 10 Admiral Brownson on the
subject Of his resignation and the causes
which led up to IL
Friends OF Admiral BroWnson express
the belief that none of the correspondence
~yIH ever be given out from the White
House, owing 10 The strong arguments IN
favor Of his stand advanced BY Admiral
Brownson and the heated nature Of the
Presidents nleuer OF Immediate accept
ance
Admiral Brownson, II developed yester-
day, after carefully writing the letter Of
resignation several days ago, rew-ote It
on Monday and carefully revised it on
Tuesday morning. Il was handed by him
personally 10 Secretary Metcalf. at I2.45
O'Clock on Tuesday afternoon. with the
personal request that he be allowed to
make his resignation effective at once.
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