The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-10
Senator Hale Introduces Bill For General Discussion of
 Naval Affairs
PULLMAN PROPOSES ID
 AIR BaONNS0N MATTER
One of the Provisions of the Measure Is That Staff Officers of the Navy May Not Take Command
 of a Vessel.

Washington, January 9.-The intro duetion by Senator Hale today of h,s navel personnel bill proved the occe sion for a somewhat general discuss sion of the navy and recent occur renees in connection with that branch of the public service.
 In presenting the measure the Maine senator entered upon d full explana- tion of it's provisions. together with his resolutions for it's adoption. but be- fore he had proceeded far he was called upon by MT. Tillman, a member of the naval committee, to say whether the consideration of the bill would proba- bly, bring out the facts relating to the controversy in the naval department. MT. Tllman added that he considered the adYisability of offering a resolution for such an investigation.
 MT. Hale replied, "I have been asked great many times. in view of the recent transactions in the navy depart ment whether I did not propose intro dueing resolution of investigation. The subject is undoubtedly worthy of the attention of Congress. but after looking the matter over as l have been able to do. l selected this method, ac- tion upon which involves consideration by the Senate instead of submitting the department to an investigation"
 Provisions Discussed. Mr Hale then proceeded with tho provisions of the bill. He spoke of the provisions concerning line and staff or- 1cers and their duties, saying it dealt with subject which had been a battle ground for many years. He had after consideration, inserted the provision that the rank of staff officers should not carry with it command of any ves- sel in the navy.
 There are two sides to this ques- tion," the senator added and I have simply incorporated that provision in the bill in order that it may be con sidered by the committee and perhaps by the Senate"
 MT. Hale spoke of the naval academy and it's magnificent equipment, saying there are now 1164 midshipmen at the academy and on practice cruise, and that it would in his judgment soon be necessary to receive. in the higher ranks of the navy only a small portion Of these midshipmen who in number are greater than the officers of the navy itself and to permit the remainder to go into civil life.
 Senator Gallinger objected to the prae- tice of appropriating S1o0oo,000 or slo,- GOO 900 for a naval academy and then merely given education to men who ara to enter private life.
 TiIlman Opens Up.
 MT Tillman again entered the discussion and again reconsidered the Brownson in- cident. He referred to magazine arti- cles critieizng the navy and charging that naval ships are being built in way ito fit them only for the scrap heap. That assertion, he said should either be contradcted or the construction or such vessels should be stopped. He wanted to know whether the committee would bring out the facts in respect to those charges.
 "Wiu it find" he asked, why Brown son resigned" and continuing said: The President has given his version of this controversy but although he is great stickler for a square deal, he does not give Admiral Brownson's version of 1t. | want to know whether the minority members of the committee on naval af- fairs will be given an opportunity to have the facts brought out
 MT Hale said in reply that he had hoped there would be no question of mi- nority or majority in the committee as they had always acted as one body
 T simply wanted to know" said Mr. Tillman whether we would be stopped from getting witnesses.
 ''I should certainly hate to be in tho way of the senator when he wants to call on witnesses" responded MT. Hale, smiling. T have no doubt they will pe received"
 Foraker's Question.
 MT Foraker said he would like to know whether the precedents cited in the Presi- dents letter should be given the weight attached to them in that connection.
 "They impressed me- said MT. Fora aker, "as very important and as the President has relied on these precedents. 1 would like to know just what should be given to them.'
 Senator Hale gave Senator Foraker's query the same treatment as he had awarded that of Senator Tillman and without definitely admitting that the whole naval controversy should be opened up in the naval committee considera- ton he gave it as his belief that the probability was the committee would go to a certain extent into the subject.
 The subject was then dropped for the time.
 Many Changes.
 The bill is expected to work many im- portant changes in the personnel of the navy and greatly increase it's efficiency. It proposes a settlement of the vexatious question as to whether the members of the staff shall have rank with the line officers, puts an end to the creation of bureaus by the secretary of navy and gives substantial raise in pay to every commissioned officer and enlisted man in the navy and marine corps. There IS an important section relating to the app
 
 CONTINUED ON PAGE S.)