Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-09
Senator HaIe's Navy Person.
mel Bill Discussed.
TILLMAN WANTS INQUIRY
Desires Facts About Brownson- -Rixey
Controversy.
SUBJECT LIKELY TO BE AIRED
Mr.. Foraker Would Like to Know
More About the Precedents Cited
by the President.

! The introduction by Senator Ha toda Y
of his navy personnel bill proved the oc-
casion for somewhat general discussion
of the navy and recent occurrences in
connection with that branch of the pub
lie service
I In presenting the measure the Maine
! senator entered upon a full explanation
! of its provisions, together with his rea-
sons for it's adoption, but before he pro-
ceeded far he was called upon by Mr..
Tillman, a member of the naval commit
tee, to say whether the consideration of
the bill would probably bring out the
| facts relating to the controversy in the
| Navy Department. Mr.. Tillman added
that he had considered the advisablity of
offering a resolution for such an investi-
CATION.
| Mr.. Hale replied: 81 have been asked a
great many times in view of recent trans
actions in the Navy Department whether
| l did not propose introducing resolu
| ton Of investigation. The subject is un-
| doubtedly worthy of the direct attention
of Congress, but after looking the mat
| ter over as carefully as / have been able
| to do, have selected this method of ac-
tion, which involves the consideration by
| the Senate instead of submitting the de-
partment to an investigation"
Return to Old Methods.
Mr. Hale then proceeded with his ex
planation of the provisions of the bill.
The first proposition, he said. was to see
that the business of tue department shall
be conducted as it had been in former
times of great emergency and great peril
to the country by the bureaus and offices
mot off1cers) of the department.
Every accomplishment of the navy"
he said. has been by the action OF these
bureaus. 1t is only in late years that
boards have been organized. Many of
them are composed of officers whom we
can respect, but have thought that those
boards have created dissension in the
bureaus, where the real work is done,
II have provided in this bill that un-
less boards are to carry out specific law
they shall not be continued OR appointed
in the future. That 1 believe is a wise
thing to do in order that jealousies and
at times unjust insnuations and asper-
sions of bureau officers of the navy should
at least have no rallying point in the de-
partment itself. l have been led to do
this because 1 do not know when the
bureaus of the department have been
hlled with more able and energetic off,
GERS than at the present time ANY cabi-
net officer or President may be glad to
consult with Them
Command of Vessels.
He spoke of the provision concern
ing line and staff officers ara their
duties, saying that it dealt with sub
5ect which had been a battle-ground for
many years. He had, after careful con-
slderation, inserted the provision that
the rank of staff officers should not
carry with it command of any vessel
in the navy
There are two sides to this question"
the senator added, ''and l have simply
incorporated that provision IN the bill
IN order that it may be considered by
the committee and perhaps by the Sem
ate
Mr.. Hale spoke of the Naval Acade-
my and its magnificent equipment. say
ing there are now 1,164 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 small portion of
these midshipmen, who in number are
greater than the officers of the navy
itself. and to permit the balance to go
into civil life.
Senator Gallinger objected TO the prac-
tice of appropriating s10,O00.0O0 or s15,-
100000 for a naval academy, and then
merely giving education to men who are
to enter private life.
I1llman w ants Facts.
Mr.. Tillman again entered the discus
sion and again referred 10 the Brownson
incident. He referred to ma gazine articles
criticising the navy and charging that
naval ships are being built in way ''to
fit them only for the scrap heap" That
assertion, he said, should either be con-
tradicted the construction of such YES
sells should be stopped. He wanted to
know whether the committee would bring
out the facts in respect to those charges.
Will IL find, he asked. why Brown
so1 resigned?' And continuing, said:
The President has given his version of
the controversy, but although he is a
great stickler for square deal he does
not give Admiral Brownson's version of
II. / 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?
Mr.. Hale said in reply that he hoped
there would be no question of minority
or majority in the committee. as it had
always acted one body.
Il simply wanted to know" said Mr.
Tillman whether We would he stopped
from getting Witnesses
Il should certainly hate to be in the
way of the senator when he wants TO call
in Witnesses responded Mr.. Hale smil-
ing. II have no doubt they will be res
ceived.'
whether the precedents cited in the Pres
ident's letter should be given the weight
attached to them in that connection.
They impressed me-. said Mr.. Foraker
"as very important, and as the President
has relied on these precedents | would
like to know just what weight should be
given to them
Subject Likely to Be Aired.
Senator Hale gave Senator Foraker's
query much 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 consideration of
the bill gave II as his belief that the COM
mittee would go TO certain extent into
the subject.
81 realize" he said, that we cannot 60
through this session without a pretty
general airing of these subjects. However
the question OF just how far the investisa-
tion shall proceed should be left 10 the
committee.
Senator Tillman replied by reiterating
his desire to have certain witnesses
brought in and examined in order to
throw light on the Brownson case.
The subject was then dropped for the
time, i