The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-29
CONGRESS MAY ACT
Indications Point to Inquiry
In BrOWnSOn Case.
SENATOR HALE TO START IT
What IL the Matter with the Navy 2"
Is Question Foremost in Minds of
This. Ia l. Relieved, VIII Form
Basis Of Proposed Investigation.

/ Whether there viii be a thorough over
baUling of the naval bureaus by Con
gress has not been determined.
All indications are toward an inquiry.
which will include. in addition. some ex-
animation Of the causes which led to the
resignation Of Rear Admiral Willard H.
Brownson from the Office Of Chief Of the
Bureau Of Navigation.
The first move. it is expected. will be
the presentation of a resolution by Sena-
tor Hale. Of Maine. chairman Of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, requesting the
Secretary Of the Navy TO furnish to the
Senate a copy Of Admiral Brownson's 5
letter.
He Will be asked why he was unable
to agree with President Roosevelts deci-
sion to place a surgeon instead OF a line
officer in command Of the hospital ship
Relief.
Thresh Out the Question.
There was never a time when conditions
were so favorable TO thrashing out the
question What is the matter with the
navy?'
! Congress. il is understood generally, is
to have a do-nothing session. There may
be financial legislation and the enact
ment Of some necessary changes IN ex-
isting law. but the legislative programme
viii be confined mainly to the annual ap-
preparation bills. unless the leaders
change their present intentions. In these
circumstances, plenty Of opportunity Will
be afforded for oratory, and the recent
criticism of naval methods will prove a
fruitful topic Of discussion.
Senator Burrows. Of Michigan, member
of the Naval Committee, said yesterday
he was in favor OF calling for the facts
Representative Foss, of Illinois. chair
man of the House committee, said the
House would take no action pending the
| outcome of the inquiry by the Senate.
Such inquiries usually originate in
the Senate" he remarked.
In making this statement. Mr. Foss
overlooked the fact that the naval ap-
appropriation bill, which will form the
basis for an airing of conditions in the
navy. will originate in the House, and the
opportunity to make critical speeches viii
not be thrown aside by members
Troubles Thick and Fast.
The troubles of those who deprecate any
| overhauling of the naval administration
are coming thick and fast. Every move
in the effort to prevent agitation has
| been upset by some circumstance that
has served to add fuel to the fire OF con-
troversy. Just at the moment Of the
fleets departure. Henry Reuterdahls ar
ticle attacking the naval bureau system
and the methods Of battle-ship construc-
tion appeared.
Then came the interview with Rear
Admiral George w Melville. former
Engineer Chief Of the Navy. backing up
what Mr.. Reuterdahl had said The mat
ter might have been allowed TO rest for
a while if the resignation of Rear Ad-
miral Brownson had not served TO cali
attention to the differences between the
bureaus. and This was emphasized by the
statement of Surgeon General Rixey that
the Bureau Of Navigation had hampered
the work of the Bureau Of Medicine and
Surgery
Senator Hale's interview uphnlding the
action of Admiral Brownson helped to
attract more attention 40 the controversy.
The latest contribution 10 the series Of
articles, statements. and interviews is a
pamphlet published by the Government
Printing Office yesterday. under the title
Personnel of the Navy and Marine
Corps" 1t comprises reports Of the per-
sonnel board. of which Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy Newberry is president.
and boards representing each Of the staff
departments of the service.
These reports are made in September.
October and November. and We're trans
mitted to Congress just before the holi-
day recess. Their publication at this time
Continued on Page 4, Column 4,
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