Middletown transcript., 1908-01-04
WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON, ~. O.s D6CeInDeT ZOtI3s lOUi
SlIITH President Roosevelt and hi
w family in Virginia and the holiday
spirit still pervading the city, politica
as well as social Washington would in
deed be dull but for the stir caused in
army and navy circles by the resignation
OF Rear Admiral Brownson as chief OF the
Bureau OF Navigation, made necessary by
his difference Of opinion with the Presi.
dent as to the proper commander for the
hospital ship, Relief. Admiral Brownson
preceded his resignation by cold, clear
and logical presentation Of the reasons
why he objected to the assignment of a
physician to command naval ship, even
though that vessel we're exclusively de-
voted to hospital uses. The President
declines to make public this statement,
although Surgeon General Rixey has come
out in print with the viewpoint of the
staff side Of the controversy and the OBJ
yious inference is that there is something
in the letter of Admiral Brownson which
the President prefers not TO see in print,
ct least for the present. This attitude is
the cause of much agitation in military
circles and they can only hope for a
change in the executive mind or for an
investigation by Congress which will de-
velop all the facts.
~
As the controversy, precipitated by the
resignation Of Rear Admiral BrownsoD,
threatens to occupy the attention of the
public for some time to come, it may not
be out Of place to state the difference the
line and the staff. about which the public
mind is more or less confused. To be
brief, a line officer is one whose sole duty
is to fight the ship, while the staff officer
either provides the means for the line
officer to fight or acts under his direction
in carrying out his general orders. For
instance, the engineer when of the staff
looks closely after the machinery and
starts and stops it when called upon to do
80 by the line officer; he has nothing to
say about the destination Of the ship, its
speed or when it sEall move. Likewise,
the surgeons aboard ship look after the
health of the crew in time of peace and
heal their wounds in time of war, having
nothing whatever to do with the move
ments OF the ship to which they are at
tached, and the same rule applies to the
paymaster and to the constructor who
builds the ship nayigated by the line
officer.
~
Secretary Metcalf has repeatedly de-
cIined to enter into any discussion of the
issues which prompted Admiral Brown
sons resignation and declares he knows
nothing about the statement of Surgeon
General Rixey to the effect that the in
ternal administration of the Bureau of
Medicine and Surgery had been inter-
ferred with by the Bureau of Navigation.
Surgeon General Rixey is in Virginia
with President Roosevelt shooting wild
turkeys.
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, who had
been at the White House for two weeks
past, where she went to undergo an
operation for appendicitis, has again taken
possession OF her house on I street. Mrs.
Longworth has almost entirely recovered
from her illness and has taken great in.
terest in the arrangement OF her house in
holiday attire. At each window have
been placed holly wreaths tied with
bright red ribbon, and the interior of the
house, with its quantities of potted plants
and vases filed with flowers, is much like
a conservatory.
81
The romance of Quentin Roosevelt, the
youngest son Of the President and little
Miss Colvin, daughter of Clinton R. Col
vim, q mail carrier, is causing no little
amusement in social circles in Washing
ton. On Christmas morning, bright and
early, the White House carriage stopped
in front Of the Colyin home and deposited
package for the small daughter of the
household, bearing message Of Christ
mas greeting from the most democratic
member of the Presidential family. And
when young Quentin went, on Thurfday
Of this week, to live in the woods of Vir-
ginis for week, with bis father and
mother, there was tucked away in the
inside pocket Of bis jacket note Of
thanks and a wish for merry Christmas
and happy New Year, in childish hand
writing.
Before the Secretary OF War returned
from abroad there was rumor in WASH
ington to the effect that on his return the
Secretary would retire from the cabiuet,
take off his coat and get to work for the
nomination for President. Mr.. Taft,
however, has no such intention, as it is
his opinion that the man best fits himself
for higher honors by performing to the
best Of his ability the duties of the poei-
tion in which be finds himself. At pres
ent Mr.. Taft Is wholly occupied with his
Philippine report which he works on at
his home in order TO avoid constant inter-
ruption by numerous callers. His pros
pectiye speech before the Merchants As
soeiation of Boston, on December 30th,
is,awaited with the keenest interest as it
is expected to treat at length Of several
political issues Of the day, among which
the financial furry win not be the least
of subjects, and politicians in
Washington are anxious for definite po-
litieal prononncement from the pro-
Roosevelt policies candidate.