The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-12-26
Head Of Navigation Bureau
Quits Service
REASON IS UNKNOWN
Capt. winalow Has Been Appointed 20
Position by PTeaidsnt.-Every Bureau
Stirred BY Decision Of President and
Congress Greatly Concerned

Washington, De. 2s.-PFesidenI
Roosevelt Al Washington Tuesday r.
csited and aeoepicd tne resignation Of
Rear Admiral Willard II. BroNnson a.
eAiel u the bureau 81 navigation. The
resignation takes effect immetiatsl,
and Capt. Cameron McR MiusloW IA,
l.een appointed - socceed the admiral
No reason fur the resignation u given
II The White House.
Diligtnt Inquiry yesterday from
Rear Admiral Br0~nson. from SECRETARY
Metealf - the White Hoa~c faiin1 70
develop the reason for sAc seeming re-.
tircment 81 the rcuf admiral from toe
navigation bureau Admiral Hrownson
takes the position that the subject i one
for the discussion Of ne superior oiiicsr,
which would take the inquiry 10 Secfe,
tary Metcalf. The secretary IN turn
passes tho responsibility Of stating that
rason u the resignation 70 President
Roosevelt. Secretary Loeb. speaking
Tor tho presidnnt says that no informa-
ton can be obtained from that source.
Two theories have BEEN advanced a.
hcing sufficient IN themselves 20 bring
Secretary Aletcalf presented 20 tae
president early yesterday aftenoon.
One a these reasons i that the admiral
finds himself uEnhlc 70 agree with tie
IDEAS II the president regarding certain
Important policies % b. pursued BY the
bureau II navigation. Snch a disagree.
nlcnt. honestly entertained, would leave
che admiral but ono course. and taat 20
take bic place on the retired lac and re-.
lin0uish the active management II the
bureau over which fc has dominion. The
other reason 4 that. the rear admiral
being on the retired let q the navy,
may not be legally confirmed hy the
Senate 20 an appointment that tae
Judge advocate department II the navy
has been wrestling with this legal ques.
tion. with special reference 20 the case
of Admiral Brownson. for several weeks.
II i also known that an opinion on the
question mas recently been rendered.
What the effect II this opinion Is can
Only be surrnised, IN view of the action
taken BY the admiral yesterday. Those
who believe that Il i the reason for his
resignation say that the opinion set
forth the law 70 be that his confirmation
could not Be legally executed BY tae
Senate. Such decision would nndouht-
edly have the result Of causing the adj
miral 70 place bis resignation in The
hands OF the secretary.
Admiral Brovnson's appointment a.
chief n the bureau 81 navigation was
made By the president during the recess
II Congress. Il Is customary for the
names Of recess appoiutecs TO 80 10 the
Senate on its next converting after the
appointments have been made. In the
present case, and because Of the nm.
certainty Of the right Of a retired naval
officer to be assigned 70 active duty.
Admiral Brownsou' name has been
withheld from the Senate pending the
rendering of the legal opinion IN the
case. The resignation and it's accept
anee win obviate the raising Of the
question between the legislative and ex-
ecutive departments Of the government
"a to the right Of retired officers 70 be
to active duty IN time Of
peace.
Since Admiral Browmson took COM
mand Of the bureau Of navigation, that
bureau mas had to handle the question
Of the cruise Of the Atlantic fleet to the
Pacific, the greatest peace move 81 the
navy during its history. The resignation |