Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-12-27

ard "Non-Contguous United States"
he grand total Of 10th imports and ex-
por.s will probably reach three ana a
half billion dollars. This growth IN
foreign commerce, it is stated, is chiefly
in manufactures and materials for man.
uiacture.
Although official communications re-
qsrdiug the BrowDson-Rixey naval con-
,roversy have ceased both at the Navy
Department aud at the White House,
the incident has by no means closed.
Congress will probably take 8 hand 10
tho affair and, in view Of the important
LEGISLATION which has bsen requested Tor
the American navy, will want to be
fully informed OF ell Of the facts IN the
case. 1t is understood that Immediately
after the reconveniDg of Congress, Jam
uary 9th, q resolution will be introduced
calling for all of the correspondence In
the matter of the assignment OF q naval
surgeon TO command the hospital ship
Relief and all facts and reasons, legal or
otherwise, that led to this issue OF the
fight between the Cline and STAIR aud
the resignation of Rear Admiral Brown
son 50 chief OF the navigation bureau.
Uuouestionably there will be consider
able debate in both Senate and House
on the subject and real friends OF the
navy hope that the outcome may be a
reorganization ia some directions which
will not only tend to concentrate anlhor-
ity and cut much of the red tape that
has developed under the bureau system,
but result 10 the betterment of the par
sonneI of The whole service.
II Congress adopts the resolution oil
inquiry, it will bring out the suppressed
letter Of Admiral BroGnson to the Pres
ident in which the formers reasons are
expressed for so strongly opposing the
detail of a surgeon or staff officer to COM
maud a ship, instead OF line Officer
Among line officers the feeling exists
that President Roosevelt has not been
rank in not having permitted before
this the publication Of the sdmiraIs
letter. Ia it, they say, Is the only
official presentation Of their side OF the
csse which i. is possible for them to make
under the naval regulations. All Efforts
to get the letter from the White House
or from the Navy Department have so
far proved unavailable. Yet Surgeon
General Rixey has been permitted to
make his argument in support i the
medical corps contention that hospital
ships should be under the command OF
surgeons. If be had not ths Presidents
permission to make that public state
ment he would be liable to cOurt-martisl
for discussing naval affairs in the news
papers and for crilicisiDg the work OF
another bureau Of the department.
Admiral Brownson himself cannot
make public his letters Without making
himself liable to court martial. So, un-
lsss he wants to sacrifice himself, OF IN
less Congress interferes, the one'sided
statement of the case already made pub
lie will stand uncontradicted. 1t Is
Known that Admiral Brownson's letter
in the most direct language, charges that
the action taken by the President Is
illegal and absolutely prohibited by law
AID naval reguls ions.
Admiral BrowDs)D, late chief OF
the Bureau of Navigation, was io1ay
ordered detached from his duties on
the Joint army and navy board.
His posilion on This board vas en-
tirely distinct from that Of chief OF
the bureau, and todsy's order is consid-
cred to be an additional evidence of the
Presidents dispIeasure, over his attitude
10 the controversy with Surgeon General
Rixey. Captain WinslOw, acting chief
of the bureau of navigation, occupied
the unique position today of issuing the
orders detaching his former chief ron
duty, Had Admiral BrownsOn been re-
tanned on the joint board, he would have
drawn full pay, but now he will be en-
titled to only Two thirds pay Of rear ad-
miral.
The condition of Representative Will
liam A. Calderbead, Of Kansas, who was
some weeks ago taken with the grip, and
later contracted pnuemonia, is much
improved today. The Kansas congress
man has been very low at times but 1t is
stated that he is now on the road to re-
covery.
Southwest storm warning was display
ed at 1870 q. m. along the Atlantic
coast from Delaware Bfeskwster to New
York. The lake region storm is NOV
ing rapidly eastward and will cause high
southwest winds along the middle A.
lantic and New England coast tonight.