The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-28
senator HALE J
PRAISES ACT
OF bR0WNs0N

Washington. Dec ?s.-'I think that Ad-
. miral Brownson has acted with praise
worthy courage and promptness In ten-
dering his resignation" said Senator
Hale. chairman of the senate committee
on naval affairs. yesterday.
He will not lose anything by his manly
course. either in the navy or with the
public declared the senator.
This was Senator IIales first express
sion of his views on the new phase OF
the controversy between the line AMI
stan of the navy. The senator's uuter-
ance aroused the deepest interest, be-
cause. If the quarrel Is threshed out in
congress. as IL is predicted II will be, he
necessarily will be an important factor IN
the fight
After saying he had not seen the ad-
miral since his resignation was sent in
Mr.. Hale continued:
II have always sustained the staff OFF,
GERS I'm their fight for positive rank AMI
complete recognition such as arc received
by their peers In the army, and / now
have bill pending which gives them
such recognition throughout the service.
But In that measure there vs. "a precau-
tionary provision against giving them ac-
itual command of any navy vessel.
This is the continuation OF an extern
sion OF the fight between the two branch
es of the service. That fight is the crux
OF the present controversy. and because
i think he is right my support Is given
unreservedly 10 the admiral as against
the contentious of Surgeon General Rixey.
III may be that on some occasions STAFF
officers have been in command OF ves-
sells, but | know of no instance when
such officers have been given command
after the point was raised and both sides
were heard. / do not believe that the
GOntentlCn W ST a
has been pressed seriously at any time
In the past. Indeed, l am of the opinion
that the old staff officers would never
have asked for such recognition"
FOR DISCIPLINE.
When asked for his reasons for the
position taken. Senator Hale replied:
They are entirely in the interests OF
discipline. Think what might happen Il
the command OF the vessels should be
turned over TO chaplain or even to n
paymaster. and IL is just as reasonable
TO put the crews OF naval vessels under
the charge OF those officers as II is TO
place them under the command of sur
geon.
Evidently Admiral Brownson recognizes
THIS fact, and. being "a man OF character
ana decision. he did not hesitate TO re-
sign his position when, as the active head
OF navigation. his view OF the law and of
the best policy I'm the interest OF the SER
Ice was oNerfulcd."
Admiral BrSwnson's REIMBURSEMENT OF
his position ak chief of the bureau of
navigation, carrying with It. as IL did
the ex-officio connection with the naval
general board, always maintained by the
hfad OF that bureau. will result I'm con-
siderable loss OF pay to him.
Being entirely without duty and rcle-
gated 10 the retired list. his income will
be diminished i'm the first place by the
loss Of 25 per cent Of the full paw Of an
admiral on the active list namely $500
q year. Also. he will no longer receive
the allowance to an active officer OF his
grade OF $500 year for quarters and $500
for heat and light.
IL so happens. however. that Admiral
Brownson is a. man OF independent means
and abledo disregard financial consider
atons IN taking his stand as the cham
pion of the line in the present contest
with the~ e~staff.
DOCTORS WITH RIXEY.
The medical side OF the naval contro-
Norsy has received the commentator of
the legislative committee of the Ameri-
can Medical association. DIR. Charles l..
Reed chairman of that committee. has
sent the following telegram 10 Surgeon
General Rixey at Washington:
Your demand and the presidents or
der giving the medical corps of the navy
actual control where IL has actual re-
sponsibility. commands grateful approval
OF the 10000 physicians of the United
States"
When DIR. Reed heard of Rear-Admiral
Brownson's resignation and the supposed
reason for its presentation. he wrote a
telegram TO President Roosevelt COM
mendng In the name of the American
Medical association the DreSident'S stand