The Washington herald., 1907-12-25

As a result Of official differences with
President Roosevelt, Rear admiral VII
lard II. Brownson resigned yesterday
from the Office Of Chief Of the Bureau Of
Navigation, the most important position
in the naval establishment
The President and Admiral Brownson
had been 7close friends for many years.
admiral Brownson has been a house
guest at Sycamore HII. and was fre-
quently AT the White House in social
and unofficial way
The extent to which the personal re-
lations between the President and Ad-
4 miral Brownson have been disturbed by
their differences IS not known. but it is
declared by acqUaintances Of the admiral
that the latter has said there would be
no break in their pleasant intimacy.
~he trouble between Mr.. Roosevelt
and Admiral Brownson was due. priaa-
riiy, TO a recommendation OF Rear Ad-
miraI Presley II Rixey. Surgeon General
Of the Navy. that the hospital ship Re
lief be reftted and attached 10 the At
lantc feet when ii reached the Pacific
Coast where the Relief is now.
Surgeon Placed in Command.
Admiral Rixey urged that the Relief be
placed in command OF a naval surgeon.
with certain officers OF the merchant
service as his subordinates. and that the
crew be composed OF regularly enlisted
/ blue ejaCkerS Of the navy
President Roosevelt liked the idea. and
the plans for carrying il out progressed
50 far shat Surgeon Charles r. stokes
was ordered 10 prepare 10 take command
Of the ship
Against this course Admiral Brownson
protested He contended it was improper
10 have a stan officer. and a surgeon al
that. in command Of a vessel in commits
sion This was contrary 10 practice. and
would interfere seriously with disciplfne
he held The slightest knowledge OF the
feeling in the line Of the navy against
permitting staf officers 10 exercise con-
mand win be sufficient 10 show how seri-
oIsly this question was viewed bv Ad-
lmiral Brownson.
Matters came 10 a climax on Mon
day. President Roosevelt told Adn,i-.1
BrOwnson he had decided 10 adhere ~
the plan prepared by Surgeon General
Rixey. who is the White House phv-
sician, and would assign a naval sur
ge0n 10 command the Relief.
ThereupOn Admiral Brownson. v,ho sS
noted for his frankness. said. il is nm
derstood that as the President apDar-
entity had lost confidence in the iDdr-
ment OF the Chief of the Bureau Of Nsvf-
cation. the matter would be simpIined bv
getting new chief who would be will
ing 70 carry out the Presidents policy 10
place srar officers in command Of naval
vessels
Hands in Resignation.
Admiral Brovnson handed his resigna-
tion to Secretary Of the Navy AIetcalf
Saturday. and with it Iong statement
| Of his reasons for wishing 10 retire from
active duty Alr- Metcalf took the letter
OF resignation and the statement 10 the
White House in the afternoon. The res
ignation was accepted Immediately. and
the President designated Commander
Cameron McRae Winslow as acting Chief
Of the Bureau Of Navigation. Com
maRder Winslow viii be nominated for
the once Of chief when the Senate con-
venes after the holidays
. No official explanation is forthcoming
Of the reasons for Admiral Brownson' $
resignation. At the White House there
was marked reticence.
Admiral Brownson said last night he
had submitted his reasons for resigning
in statement which the President had
received. and that il was for the White
/ House 10 say whether that statement
should be made public.
He declined 10 tell the substance OF
the statement or 10 make any comment
whatever on his action. He denied how
ever, that mis- resignation had been due
10 criticism of his retention Of the Of
fee Of the Chief Of the Bureau Of Navi-
cation after he was a line officer. and
that the statute, therefore. did not apply
10 him President Roosevelt retained
him under a recess appointment. and
/ when Congress convened sent his nOmi-
nation TO the Senate
An Opinion Rendered.
In Difference to the objections Of Ad-
miral Brownson 10 being retained as
Chief OF the Navigation Bureau. Secre-
tary Of the Navy Metcalf referred his
case 70 the Judge Advocate General of
the navy VINO rendered an OPINION re-
Gently that line officer could retain
the Office as chief OF a Navy Depart
ment bureau after he had reached the
retirement age.
This. however. did not satisfy Admiral
BrOwnson, who was disinclIned 10 retain
mis- position as a bureau chief as long
as there was any question as to his legal
right to do so.
The incident VIII tend TO revive the
old and bitter warfare between the line
and the Engineer Corps, which was end
ed only through the expedient Of trans
ferring the engineers TO the line.
IL never has been claimed. however
that naval surgeons were entitled 10
command, although in the army every
surgeon or staff officer has positive rank.
70 Surg Gen. Rixey's influence the
Presidents decision 70 Overrule Admiral
/ BrOwnson is attributed among navy men.
Admiral RiXey. whom many line officers
decline TO recognize as an admiral and
insist on referring 70 him as doctor
this being another ramihcatiOn OF the
line and staff controversy-has been Sur
geOn General and Chief OF the Naval Bu-
reau OF Medicine and Surgery since Feb
ruary, 1902. and as such has served as the
official physician at the White House
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