Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-05
Secretary Nay Ignore The Com
plants Against Dr.. RIxey.
HIS LONG Talk WITH DOCTOR
No Funds TO Equip the Relief. And
Administration Fears Congress
Would Refuse Appropriation-No
Joy in Camp of Staff oHicers.

WASHINGTON. d. c., Jan. 4.-Sec-
rotary of the Navy Metcalf so far has
taken no official action on the formal
notice which was given him by Com
mander Cameron MGR. Winslow. as
acting CHER of the Bureau of Nayi-
CATION. that Surgeon General Rixey.
III his public statement issued last
week relative to tile Brownson Rixey
light. charged the Navigation bureau
with interference with the policy and
work of the Bureau of Medicine an
Surgery. The communication of Can
tain Winslow, which was received by
Secretary Metcalf yesterday, re
NAMED upon Secretary Motcalrs
desk today. but the secretary
refused 10 discuss it in any man
ner 1t has not yet been referref
through the regular military chan
nels to Surgeon General Rrzev- for
answer although Dir. Rixev This
morning spent an hour or NOR, IN
conference with Mr. Meicali on the
subject.
Developments OF today show tho
tendency OF the department to ignore
Saptain Winslow's communication. n
mat snail prove TO be possible. Dir.
iHSey' when seen. stated that the mat
yer mad not yet been brought to his at
tehtlon' and further than this refused
10 discuss the subject. In answer r.
inquiries. however, he declared ma.
ne nag taken iro action at any time
Wi'nout tl6 knowledge and approya,
OF the secretary. This NAV MAINLY
De construed to mean that ,ecref,r,.
Meteaif' If not the Pres lent himseif
approved of the statement issued nv
~ RiXey to the press on Ch,istma /,
pay, defending his policy In as mat
Ter CT placing surgeons IN comman,,
o., naval hospital ships ana oharring
tiat the bureau of navigation ha :
more than once interfered with Inc
work OF the medical department.
Winslow VIII Not Talk.
Commander Winslow wo,iI,7 NOT 90
aay discuss any phase ar IN, s;,vo
ton. 1t Is learned from nrorai. t.
o, 80 ~ oiiioeis. however that the attacK
NiAey upon the navigation bu.
vi VIII was brought to Commander
Minsiows attention in ouch n name,
iiiehos OF admiral Brownson ann
~ ", ,ii mat he could not overlook
~ uHy which fell upon him by Tho
nasaI regulations to formally call Tho
.o.i,sa r.iiehts attention to tlfe Rfx.y>
a.,,s was desired that tnts
hnr,. We taken before Captain pills
ou,y became head of the bureau in
'nat ne might not he embar-
froversy. 'o"-
IN me meanwhile there is vida
speculation in the Navy Denartn',n,
US 10 why the order assigning g.
Eeoh Charles #. Stokes to conn1and
ane hospital ship Relief has nor hsan
sisheu. DIR. RiXey is anxious to hav.,
~. Stokes proceed at once 10 ta,,n
command Of the vessel al the Mora
Island Navy Yard in time for the yasI
SCI 70 meat the Atlantic fleet nt ntas
uaiena bay next March to ta1,a off a,,
me sick before target practice ,,.s
Ems Secretary Metcalf stated toao,
taat the order had NOT VAT haa',
signed and further than that ha co,,a
say nothing. $50 pe couio
me delay is said TO be due 70 mo
lac' mat the navy department. has
no. me funds available To oouip AM
relief; President Roosevelt directnS ted
s .nat the orders be issued ON Deem :
ger oar "a Since that dG7;a Secretary
Me'cali mas made every effort 10 find
an appropriation from which the ne. ne
d ,sy funds can be taken. This
.,,,s,leht is embarrassing TO the
,',t.,. s'ation. which Is confronted
win the alternative OF going to Con
s $50 lor an urgent deficiency apnro-
prln.ion. and they realize fully Wha,
such sten would moan. The rresi-
aent Is also much inc at the
,one Of the letter OF Rear AdniraI
brownson and has practically decided
10 frame reply to this letter. after
which 1t Is believed that both com.
ihuhications will be made public.