The Washington herald., 1907-12-26

The resignation Of Rear Admiral Willard
H BrownsOa from the Office Of Chief of
the Bureau OF Navigation, because
President Roosevelt overruIed his obiac-
tion TO placing a naval surgeon in com
mand Of a hospital ship is not likely 10
end the controversy between the Inc and
the STAFF Of the naval service involved in
this incident
Admiral Brownson's protest was ths
breath applied to the smoIdering fame
and those who have known OF an the
trouble that has been brewing for long
time. realize that the matter cannot be
adjusted without much discussion and
the distribution OF some hard knocks
Coming right on top Of the publication
.of Henry ReuterdahTs attack on the bu-
reau system OF the Navy Department the
controversy between Admiral Brownson
and Surgeon General Rixey assumes an
important and far-reaching aspect II has
served TO call attention TO the differences
that exist between the bureaus og ma
Navy Department. and TO demonstrates
the need OF a more harmonious admins
tratlon-
Thorough Airing Coming.
Nothing more viii be needed to attract
the attention Of Congress TO Mr.. Reuter-
dahIs structures. and when the Senate
and the House reassembIe after the boli-
days there is bound 10 be a thorough
| airing Of the causes which have operated
10 bring about conditions which naval
officers themselves are anxious 10 rem
edy-
Surgeon General Rizey came into tbs
limelight last night by giving out a pre-
pared statement OF his side Of the con-
troversy with Admiral Brownson. which
( led 70 the latter's resignation. There IS
/ enough in what the Surgeon General saws
10 indicate that his statement has the
/ sanction OF President Roosevelt. II pre-
/ sents the Presidents attitude in the con-
/ troversy in an authoritative way. and
from some Of the Surgeon Generals ex-
/ pressions it Is impossible 10 escape the
/ conviction that the President is reseatfuI
Of the radical course pursued by Admiral
Brownson 70 emphasize his adherence 70
a principle
The internal administration OF the Bu-
reau Of Medicine and Surgery says the
Surgeon General who is the chief OF that
bureau. "has been. in my opinion. too
much interfered with BY the Bureau OF
/ Navigation. This interference has. az
times. caused me grave concern as to how
1 could meet the needs OF those under
my care
Admiral RiXey's -snappy utterance viii
not be lost on those who believe there
is much truth in the criticisms Of the
inharmOniOus working OF the naval bu-
reau system, and additional food for
thought viii be supplied in another dec
laration Of Admiral Rixey, that if it had
not been for the Bureau OF Navigation
the naval hospital ship Relief. the dis
pute over the command Of which brought
about Admiral Brownson's resignation.
would now be with Admiral Evans feet,
instead of out on the Pacific Coast.
An Interesting Affair.
The trouble which brought about the re-
tirsment OF Admiral Brownson from the
/ Bureau of Navigation is interesting 10 the
whole Official contingent in Washington,
/ on account OF its personal aspect. Asirn!-
raj Brownson has been President Roose-
velts intimate friend for years Surgeon
/ General Rixey is the White House ply
sician. as he was when Mr.. Mckinley was
President. Both Admiral Brownson and
Surgeon General Rixey were on terms Of
intimacy with the Roosevelt family.
Many naval officers are inclined to be-
lieve the Surgeon General used his per-
sonal influence 10 greater advantage than
Admiral Brownson, and thus won out in
the dispute as 20 whether a line officer or
a surgeon should command the Relief.
DIR. Rixey's Statement.
Dr. RiXey's statement gives a detained
explanation of his and President Roose-
velt's attitude in the controversy. He
says
Admiral BrownsOn and 7 have been
friends for many years. and when on
duty in Washington as naval attending
surgeon was his family physician.
His resignation as chief Of the Bureau
OF Navigation has been assigned 70 va
rious causes, among others To a differ
ence OF opinion as 10 the command Of the
hospital ship Relief. While I do not
know that this is a cause. II may be in
teresting 20 know the present status OF
this question.
Hospital ships. as a rule. always have
been commanded by medical officers.
with a sa ling master and civilian crew
for purposes OF navigation.
The Relief, formerly belonging TO the
United States army. was always COM
manded 10y q medical officer when used as
a hospital ship
a joint board OF army and navy med
ical officers, convened BY Executive order
Continued on Page =, Column 4.
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