The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-01-15

necessarily sealed. Before he resigned
he put into the Presidents hands a
long statement setting forth his side
of the case, and to that the President
wrote tart letter. For Admiral
Brownson to give out either Of them
would have been a eourtmartiaI Of
Tense His only way to get those state
ments before the public, If the Presi-
dent viii not give them out, would be
to resign from the Navy. Then he
could talk as much as he pleased. He
is very wealthy, with a sufficient COM
petence for his support. and there have
been reports that he had that course in
mind.
Soon, however, there was another
rather important development. SEN
ator Eugene Hale OF Maine, chairman
Of the Committee on Naval Affairs,
and the foremost authority in Con-
gress on navy questions, is a personal
friend Of Admiral Brownson. II was
due to senator Hale's suggestion 10
the President at White House din
ner last winter that Admiral Brown
son was selected as Chief Of Nayiga-
ton. Senator Hale has long been
known as friend of staff officers Of
the Navy. and would give them certain
privileges that they do not now enjoy.
He would allow them, for instance, 10
use the actual titles Of their rank, a
privilege now refused them. But he
thinks Admiral Brownson did just the
right thing. for he believes that med
icaI officers should not have the com
mand Of hospital ships.
The senator came out in ar author
ICED. dictated interview, taking A6-
miraf Brownson's side, all of which
added nightly TO the gayety. He said
that his sympathies were largely with
the staff Of the Navy in their conten-
tions, but that Admiral Rixey was
wrong IN saying that hospital ships
had been in command Of staff officers
The Senator thought such q thing
would be "subversiye Of order and dis
ciplIne" and should not BE-. He praIs-
ed Admiral Br0wnson's courage and
Independence" II resigning, said II was
something refreshing" and ventured
10 say that Admiral Browuson, whom
he had not seen nor heard from since
the episode, will lose nothing with
his associates or with the country by
his self-respecring course.
This was a veritable bombsheu IN
the ROOSEVELT ixey camp No mans
views in public life are so much re-
sr,ecyed with reference TO the Navy as
are the views Of Senator Hale. His
statement put Admiral Br0wnson's
case before the country to advantage,
in sri1e Of the Presld failure 70
allow Admiral Brownsou 70 say any
thing II also assured the aeteTUi-
nation Of Congress, to take z hand
Resolutions Of inquiry will be offered
as soon as Congress convenes, January
& and the correspondence in the con-
troxersy win be called for. The Pres
5Fert can hardly refuse Congress any
Of the papers, although he has the
authority % do 50. How
ever when Congress asks for suca
documents. il usually gets them. When
the President returns 10 town he may
roresraIz such q request by giving the
papers 70 the newspapers.
The quarrel comes AZ an o1Dortu1e
-i-1e. IN way because OF charges
made b- Henry EeutsrIaEL, 2 writer
on Navy topics. t1at The bureau svs-
tern IN The Navy Department IS de-
feerfve and does not promote thu best
Interests IT the service because Of -Ee
-ugl1g aaf hauling % ambitious b1-I