The Washington herald., 1908-01-10

SHIPS ana tlle dIlluu bt I ltS4utiit lAoooC-
Welt in ordering that surgeons, instead
Of line officers. shall be placed in COM
mand of hospital ships.
Senator Hale chairman Of the Commit
tee on Naval Affairs. furnished the basis
for a full and free discussion of navy
matters by introducing bin ito insure
the efficiency of the personnel of the
navy and Marine Corps Of the United
States"
In its very first clause it strikes
blow at the practice Of delegating au-
thority to boards of officers not sane
toned by statute. by directing that the
business of the Navy Department be
conducted by bureaus, and that 40 perma-
nent board shall be appointed or con-
tinue in operation unless by provisions
of law.
1t gives TO staff officers actual rank and
title as established for staff officers of
the army. but denies staff officers the
right TO command any naval vessel
such command" says the BILL shall
be exercised only by line officers" This
is a recognition Of the principle for which
Admiral Brownson contended in the
controversy with President Roosevelt pre-
ceding Admiral Brownson's resignation
as chief of the Bureau of Navigation.
Limits New Officers.
The bill includes provisions for inereas-
ing the pay of officers and enlisted men;
limiting the number Of appointments
from the grade Of midshipmen in any one
year 10 seventy-fve, and dischaTging the
surplus OF midshipmen over the specified
number.
In presenting the measure Senator Hale
made an explanation of its provisions
which led 10 some discussion of the
navy's troubles. Senator Tiilman wanted
TO know whether tie consideration Of the
bin would bring out the facts relating TO
the naval controversies, and added that
he had thought OF Offering "a resolution
for an investigation.
But" he said. IF the Senator can
assure us that we shall have the benefit
OF all the information I viii withdraw the
resolution"
To this Mr.. Hale responded that he had
been asked frequently, IN view of recent
transactions in the Navy Department
whether he would introduce a resolution
of Investigation The subject Is un-
doubtedly worthy Of the direct attention
of Congress" I" he said. but after think
ing the matter over as carefully as 1
have been able to do. have selected this
method Of action, which involves the con-
= sideration by the Senate instead of sub
mittlng the department to an investiga-
ton
9iIlman Demands All Facts.
A little later BIr. TilIman brought up
again the subject of the naval controver-
sizes He spoke Of the Brownson incident
and the magazine and newspaper articles
charging that naval vessels are being
built in a way 20 "ht them only for the
scrap heap" IF that charge were not con
tradicted. he declared. the construction of
: ships should be stopped, and he asked If
the Naval Committee would bring out
q the facts He wanted 10 know if the
Dtconmittee would find out why Admiral
Brownson resigned. 'The President has
given his version Of the controversy he
said. But, although he is a great stickleI
for square deal he does not give Admi-
raj BrOWnson's version of 1T. I want tC
know whether the minority members OF
the committee viii be given an OppOT-
tunity to have the facts brought out
Mr. Hale responded .smilingly that there
would be no question of minority or ma
jority in the committee, which had acted
always as one body; and to another ques-
tion by Alr. Tillman he said that he had
no doubt that If Mr.. Tillman wanted wit
nessas called they would be invited
Foraker Asks for Probe.
Senator Foraker took part In the de
bate also. to the extent of askine
whether the precedents cited by Presi
dent Roosevelt in regard to placing sur.
geons in command of hospital ship.
would be given due weight, They ap-
peared to him as very important, and hC
would like to know just what weight
should be attached to them. Mr.. Hale. il
reply, said:
Il realize that we cannot go through
this session without a pretty general air
ing of this subject. However, the ques
ton as to just how far the investigation
shall proceed should be left TO the com
mittee"
IN explaining the features Of his bill
Mr. Hale said,
'I have been asked a great many time
by people having most intelligent in
terest IN the navy whether, IN view o
recent transactions in that department
and the great public interest existinl
upon these transactions. I did not pro
pose to introduce a resolution Of invCSti
cation. The subject undoubtedly j
worthy the direct attention of Congress
Looking the matter over, 1 have selecte,
this method of action, involving consid
Grafton and discussion by the Senate, in
stead of submitting the department to al
al 4-
I think we can consider better and wit
as much deliberatiou and dignity all thes
questions as by an inquiry putting tn
department under investigation
Boards Source of Trouble.
Speaking OF the permanent boards whic
the bill seeks to abolish Senator Hal
said:
1T is only of late years that permanen
boards have been organized. I have moth
ing 20 say about the makeup of thes
boards, but the general operation of thes
boards has been 10 create discussion an
to make trouble for the bureaus an
other officers Of the navy, where the rea
work of the department must be done
1t is, I believe, wise thing to do, i
order that the jealousies and the yer
sharp. and at times, unjust insinuation
and aspersions cast upon the bureau Off
GERS should at least have no rallying poin
in the department"
Speaking of the proviso which forbid
staff officers from commanding ships, an
which is a direct Tebuke to the Presiden
for putting a navy surgeon in charge @
the hospital ship Relief over the protes
Of Rear Admiral Brownson, Senator Hal
said:
4 am not going to debate that propo
sition. 1t would be unseemly if I did S
AZ the present time. EVerYbodY has cor