Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-28
TOLD The PRESIDENT
HIS ACT WAS ILLEGAL
Admiral BPoHnson Resigned His
Office Rather Sign on In.
warranted Order.
Bit BY BIZ DETAILS COMING OUT
Admiral 6rownson's Tilt With Presl-
den. Pushes Him Out of Navy =
win Bring vcxatlous Question Be-
fore onsreas-Mattor That Brought
Conflict Mere Incident to Question.
DIV Aasocinted preasl


WASHINGTON. d. c.. Dec. 81 -
Bit by bit the details OF the interview
which Rear Admiral Brownson, late
chief of the bureau of navigation. had
with the President n few days ago
which prccipitated his resignation, Is
trlckiing out TO the public. Officers
who profess TO know something OF
what was said assert that 3rownson,
though respectful TO his commander
In chief. was unusually emphatic in
his remarks.
When the President, who already
had been convinced by Surgeon Gen
cral Rixey that Surgeon Charles II.
Stokes should be placed In command
of the Relief, informed Rear Admiral
Brownson of his decision. tho latter
inquired In an empratic tone:
Don't, you know, MFR. President,
that such n thing would he illegal?p
And when the President made an
observation that sounded to Brown,
son something like n demurrer, the
fearless chief of the bureau OF navi-
CATION replied:
II tell you that II is illegal, Mr..
President, and IS specifically prohib-
tied by the law"
Even this vigorous protest against
the Presidents action did not move
him, and he directed that the orders
necessary for the execution of tho
plan be prepared. This was done, but
when they reached Brownson for his
signature he declined to attach his
name to them. Realizing what his
refusal signiflcd, he transmitted his
resignation to the President.
The bitter feeling between the line
and the stan of the navy which for
years has existed over the question
of titles" OF the latter reached such
point before tho resignation OF
Rear Admiral Brownson of the bur-
can of navigation. few days ago,
that the open break had to come.
The hard feeling which exists in these
divisions of the navy Is not the re-
suit of the single appointment of a
! surgeon to command q hospital ship,
as was the case when the President
pcremptorily ordered the bureau OF
navigation to detail Surgeon Stokes
to command the Relief, but is the
result of years of pent up feeling.
Tho break had to come and 1t Is be-
lieved by many persons both In an
out Of the service that when the
particular incident that brought on
the trouble has been forgotten, the
real issue will then come up. That
issue will be whether the staff Is
longer TO be deprived of what il
claims MS its rights to recognition
under present existing naval regula-
tions.
Congress for years has been trying
to effect a peaceagle understanding
and better feeling generally between
the line and the staff. The former
has always openly declared that II
did not recognize staff officers as be-
ing equally entitled to all the honorF
and privileges accorded its own mem
hers; the staff, while not wishing
for authority to command out of It's
own corps. has begged piteously for
the last named right, but so far IL
has never, apparently. been accord
ed.
The open declaration of Admiral
Brownson that unless he could make
his own details as the chief of the
bureau of navigation. and unless his
authority was to be upheld in all In
stances. he would quit the naval SER
vice which he did, will get the mat
ter squarely before Congress when
1t takes up the question of titles
for the stan of tho navy soon after
the holiday recess.
So far as the appointment of Sur
geon Stokes is concerned, that is ONLY
an Incident in the bitter feeling OF
the line and the staff, but 1t will
serve the purpose of showing Congress
that Admiral Brownson, the head OF
possibly the most important bureau
under the whole navy department
preferred TO quit the naval service, to
all intcnts and purposes discrejited
after many years OF long and dis-
tinguished service for his country's