The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-10
NAVY BILL
Introduced
SENATOR HALE BRINGS OUT 4
MEASURE TO REMEDY
THE DEFEcrs.
STARTS DISCUSSION

45 i 4 q 8 } x Il
TiIiman Wants to Know IL There vii
Be An Investigation-eill Wouit
Do Away With Jealousles and Bick
erinss, Senator Hale Tells senat,
When Explaining It.
Washington, Jan. 9.The introduc
tion by Senator Hale today Of his
naval personnel bill provided the oc
casion for a general discussion ol
naval affairs and recent occurrences
in connection with that branch Of The
public service. The Maine senator en-
tered upon a full explanation Of the
provisions Of the measure. together
with his reason for its adoption.
He was soon called upon by Mr.
Tillman, member Of the naval com
mittee, to say whether the considera
tion of the bill will probably bring Out
the facts relating to the controversy
in the navy department. Mr.. Tillman
added that he had considered the ad
visibility of offering a resolution fol
such an investigation. Mr.. Hale re.
piled: !.
II have been asked a great many
times, in view Of the recent transac.
tions in the navy department, whether
I did not propose introducing resolu-
tion Of investigation. The subject is
doubtless worthy of the consideration
of congress, but after looking the mat
ter over as carefully as I have been
able to do I have selected this method
Of action, which involves the consid-
GRAFTON by the senate instead Of sub
mitting the department to any inves-
tigation."
His Explanation.
Mr.. Hale then proceeded with the
explanation OF the bill.
The first preparation was to see
that the business Of the department
shall be conducted as it had been in
former times OF great emergency and
great peril to the country by the bu-
reaus and officers Of the department.
Every accomplishment Of the
navy" he said, has been BY the ac-
tion Of these bureaus. It Is only In
late years that boards were organ.
lied. Many Of them are composed Of
oficers whom we can respect, but I
have thought that those boards have
created dissensions in the bureaus,
where the real work is done.
IT have provided in this bill that
unless boards are to carry out specific
laws they shall not be continued or
appointed in the future. That, I be-
Neve, is q wise thing to do, IN order
that jealousies and, at times. unjust
insinuations and the aspirations Of
bureau officers Of the navy should at
least have no rallying point in the de-
partment ITSELF" ,s.
He spoke for the provision concern
ing the line and staff officers and their
duties, saying he inserted the provi-
sion that the rank Of star officers
should not carry with 1t the command
Of any vessel in the navy.
TWO Sides.
"There are two sides to this ques-
tion." the senator added, "and have
simply accepted that provision in the
bill in order that it may be consider
ed by the committee and perhaps by
the senate"
Mr.. Hale spoke Of the naval acad-
emy and It's magnificent equipment,
saying there are now 1.164 midshipmen
at the academy and on practice cruises
and that it would, in his judgment.
soon be necessary to receive in the
higher ranks Of the navy only small
portion of these midshipment. who in
are greater than the officers
Of the navy itself, and to permit the
balance to go into civil life.
Senator Gallinger objected to the
practice Of appropriating $10.000,000
to 316,00o,000 for naval academy
and then merely giving education to
men who are TO enter private life.
Mr.. Tillman again entered the dis
cussion and again referred to the
Brownson incident. He referred to
magazine articles criticizing the navy
and charging that naval ships are be-
ing built in way to eft them only
for the scrap heap"
Wants Other Side.
That assertion, he said, should
either be contradicted or the construc.
ton Of such vessels should be stopped.
OF the Brownson incident he asked:
.Will It fnd why Brownson resigned?
The president has given his version OF
this controversy, but, although he is
great stickler for a square deal. he
does not give Admiral Brownson's YER
sion Of 1t. want to know whether
the minority members Of the commit