The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-10
HALE WOULD IMPROVE NAVY Senator Presents a Pro-
 posed Law. QUESTIONED BY MR. TILMAN South Caro1inian Asks About the
 Brownson Matter. Statesman from Maine Seeks to In- crease Pay of Onicers and Men.
 Willing fo Investigate
 Fully.
QUESTIONED BY MR TnLMAN

Washington, Jan. 9.-The introdua- ton by Senator Hale today of his na. val personnel bill proved the occasion Tor somewhat general discussion of the navy and recent occurrences in con- nection with that branch Of the public service.
 In presenting the measure the Maine Senator entered upon a full explana- ton or it's provisions. together with his reasons for It's adoption but before he pToeeeded Tar. he was called upon by MT. Tillman. a member of the Naval committee. to say whether the consid- eration of the bill would probably bring out the facts relating to the contro- yersy in the Navy Department. MT. Tillman added that he had considered the advisability of offering q resolu- Non for such an investigation.
 Mr. Hale replied: T have been ask ca great many times in view of the recent transactions in the Navy De- partment, whether did not propose tn- troducing resolution of investigation. The subject is undoubtedly worthy of the attention of Congress but after looking the matter over as carefully aa have been able to do, have selected this method of action. which involves the consideration by the Senate instead oi submitting the Department to an in- yestigation."
 Mir. Hale then proceeded with his ex- planation- of the provisions of the bill.
 He spoke of tho provisions concern~ ing line and staff officers and their du- ties. saying that 1t dealt with subject which had been a battle ground for many years. He had after consldera- tion, inserted the provision that the rank of stan officers should not carry with it command of any vessel In the zavy.
 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 consid- , cred by the Committee ana perhaps by the Senate"
 Naval Academy EaulpmeAt.
 Mir. Hale spoke of the Naval Acade- my and it's magnificent equipFnent. saS~ Ing there are now LISA midshipmen at the. Academy. and on practice cruise. and that it would. in his judgment soon be necessary to receive in tlie higher ranks of the navy only small portion of these mtdshpmen who in number are. greater than the officers of the navy itself, and to permit the remainder to go into civil life.
 Senator Gallfnger objected to the practice of appropriatIng SI0.000.O00 or S1s.000,0o0 for Naval Academy and then merely giving education to men who are to enter private life.
 Mir. Tiliman again entered the dis cussion and again referred to the Brownson incident. He referred to magazine articles criticizing the navy and charging that ships are being built in way as to fit them only for the scrap heap.
 That assertion" he said. should either be contradicted or the construe- tion of such vessels should be stopped.s He wanted to know whether the con- mittee would bring out the facts in re- apectto those charges.
 "Will 1t 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 square deal, he does not give Admiral Brownson's ver- sion of it. I want to know whether the minority members of the Committee on Naval Affairs will be given an op- portunity to have the facts brought out?"
 Mir. Hale said in reply that he had hoped there would be no question of minority or majority in the Committee, as 1t had always acted as one body.
 TlIlmRn Wants Witnesses.
 T simply wanted to know" said Mir. Tillman. whether we would be stop- ped from getting witnessesT'
 T should certainly hate to be in tho way of the Senator when he wants to call in witnesses" responded Mir. Hale. smilingly. 'T have no doubt they win be received"
 Mir. Foraker said he would like to know whether the preeedents cited in the Presidents letter should be given the weight attached to them in that connection.
 "They impressed me-" said Mir Fora ker, "as very important and as tho President has relied on these prace- dents, I would like to know just what weight should be given to them."
 Senator Hale gave Senator Foraker's query much the same treatment as ho had awarded that of Senator Tillman and without definitely admitting that the whole naval controversy should be opened up in the Naval Committee in of the bill, he gave it as his belief the probability that the Com mittee would go to certain extent inc to the subject.
 The subject was then dropped for the time.