The evening world., 1907-12-25
5 CASE
A SEALED BOOK At
THE WHITE HOUSE
Nothing Will Be Added 10
Bare Announcement of
Admiral's Resignation.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6-whiie Prosi-
dent Roosevelt has not given OUT the
letter Of resiEnation OF Rear-Admiral
willard II. BrownsSn. retired. an Chief
OF the Burrau OF Navigation waich has
had the handling OF the Atlantic fleets
cruise to the Pac!nc. and while Rear
Admiral Brownson = rs,ic<nt regarding
h!a reasons for leaving the department
at this time. 1t is generally believed that
surgeon-General Rixey Is the man who
caused The breach between tho Rear
Admral and the President.
There Is no man In oric!al or unoni-
cial cssaeity who has the ear OF the
President more than DR.. N1ey. A.
family physician for the President. he
Is on intimate terms with every mem
Der OF the Roosevelt family. DR.. R!xey
has hsen in attendance upon Mrs. Mich
olas Longworth. the Presidents daGSi-
ter, during her illness from appendicitis.
and during this period he has seen the
President and talked with him daily.
No secret was made OF Dr. kixsy's
stand Just before tho sailing OF the fleet.
The SUPERINTENDENT urged Secretary
MescaR to put medical officers In com
mand Of the hospital shipn Secretary
Mctcalf submitted the suggestion to
Rcar-Admirai Brownson. and The latter
promptly rejected the Idea as an absurd
lty. He said rather eurtly that Il was
impossible to think OF putting medical
officer over navigating officer In COM
mnnd OF a vessel
RIxey Went to President.
DR.. RiScy did not mean TO take no
for an answer. He hurried to the
White House, where he was assured OF
an audience with the President. and ap-
pca,ed to the Chief Executive. Mr..
Roosevelt sided with his family physi-
clan. the Surgeon General OF the Navy.
When the decision OF the President,
taking sides with the Surgeon-Generai.
was communicated to the head OF the
bureau OF Navigation. the latter hur.
rted to the Waite House and protested.
The discussion became hcated and II is
said It led to decided difference OF
opinion between President Roosevelt
and the ReAr-Admirnl. At Is said the
differences were such that Browason
determined to resign without further
parley.
Secretary OF the Navy Aetcalf and
tRear-Admirai Rrownson have not been
working In harmony In fact. u Is
said to-day the resignation has come
after four months fSh, on the part
OF Admiral Rrownson In the interests
OF the navy as a fighting machine and
against the bureau system.
The admiral though bureau man
himself for the las, eight months and
though on coast survey work a long
time ago and In charge of the Naval
Academy for years. Is. more than all
n naval ofYicsr.
He had just como from the command
OF the AsIatic station whSn made the
head OF the Navigation Bureau. He has
felt Utmost from tho first that the hu-
reau system was great detriment to
the efncicncy OF the navy. He took this
belief to the President. who at thai
time was nn admirer OF the admiral HI
Il free In expression OF the same be-
l!,s 10 Secretary Metcalf.
This was tho foundation OF tho trou.
BILE. II became acute Monday. after the
publIcntion OF statement In which Ad.
n,nnl prownson wns quoted as speaking
as follows in the presence OF secrctar,
Metcalf:
Tho organization of the navy IL bad
I say It before Secretary Metcalf an
III have said 1t to the President. d.
not believe In the bureau system. and
think 1t should be reorEanlxed."
Row with MsteAh.
A hot interview between tho Admira
and tho secrstarr followed the pubIics
ton OF his statement. There was
ahArp exchange OF opinions and Ma
disagreement n TO how each remem
bersd ths Conversation In question, Th
lilo was not passed. but thH situation
became strained. Then came the d!f
ference with Or. Rixey which was III,
mai straw.
Admiral Brownson declined again to
day 70 discuss tho reasons which 10,
up TO his resignation. Aguln he mad
It manifest that any Information bear
Ing on the subject must come iron
those higher In authority. TO whom h
referred all who asked him for news o
the subject. He said II was with III
greatest regret that he took leave o
the Navy Department In an active ca
pacIty after forty-six years OF Eorvicc.
AT the White House efforts Tn secur
Admiral Brownson's letter OF res!gna
ilon or the reasons for his leaving III
active service were met with tho POSI-
tive statement that nothing beyond tn
bare announcement OF the admiral
resignation and the sclection OF his sue
ccssor wotild be g1yen out from tina