Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-20
Presidents order. Members of the House
committee especially are resentful.
Opinion Not Wanted.

1t seems that at recent hearing before
the committee the question was raised as
to the ACCESSIBILITY of the committee s
cabling these officers and requesting their
opinions. After some discussion the con-
clusion was reached that this would not
be fair procedure: first, because the Of
ficerS could not be cross-examlned TO as
certain the reasoning for their opinion,
and, secondly that 1t would be exceeding
ly embarrassing to such officers II they
expressed an opinion not favorable to the
Presidents order.
This conclusion of the committee was
reached after IT had been shown in the ex-
animation of number Of witnesses that
while they regarded the Presidents order
a wise and proper one they had not one
single rea son for entertaining such views.
Members Of the committee claimed that II
this was the rule In such cases IT would
probably be the same rule with officers
serving afloat.
The further fact was developed that in
some private letters officers from the two
fleets referred to stated that they regard
ed the Presidents order and the effect on
the naval service as most unfortunate
bad, in other words-for efficiency Men,
bers of the committee, therefore, rea-
soned that their position in the matter
was sound. and because Of this they have
since resented the act of the Navy De-
partment in procuring the opinions of the
officers at sea.
One fact Of which a member Of the
committee spoke today was that. while
the committee was discussing the advis-
ability of procuring these opinions from
sea-going officers, and concluded not to
do SO, two officers Of the navy, Com
mander Fullam and Commander Sims,
were present They assumed that one or
both these officers subsequently recon-
mended that, notwithstanding the action
of the committee on the subject, 1t was
good policy to obtain these opinions.
Criticism of Action.
Members of the committee agree that
the action Of the naval officers was, under
the circumstances, not dignified. Com
mander Sims, it seems. comes in here for
much blame. There is also censure for
Rear Admiral Pillsbury at having cabled
distant officers who were not available
as witnesses. Even Secretary Newberry
is blamed for not preventing such alleged
summary proceeding.
There Is one serious consideration con-
nected with the controversy about the
marines which does not seem to be fully
appreciated by officers of the navy. 1t
appears upon inquiry among members Of
the House also, and particularly members
of the Senate, that if marines are de-
tached from naval vessels the abolition
OF the corps will surely result.
This point was brought out frequently
during The recent investigation Dy the
House committee. During the hearing
members of that committee declared with
much emphasis and many times that If
the marines did not serve afioat they
would not be justified In providing for
their maintenance as a land force.
Abolition Would Be Certain.
One member of the committee voiced
the sentiment on one accession In the fol-
lowing words:
Congress will never consent to the
country having two armies, the regular
establishment and a smaller body, even
though the latter body Is on duty at
navy yards and occasionally put at1oat
on transports. Better than that, abolish
the Marine Corps, save five or six mil
lions of dollars a year, and utilize de-
tachments OF the army when such de-
tachments are needed for transport serv-
ice and subsequently, as landing force.
A number of senators have said, In
effect. the same as this representative.
Senator Hale's views on the question
are well known. He regards the Marine
Corps as a valuable, highly efficient and
economically administered branch of the
service. He thinks II necessary for the
efficiency of the naval service. and his
opinion is that marines should continue
afloat as heretofore, thereby adding to
the efficiency of the naval service.
1t is known. however. that II the ma
rines leave the vessels of war with the
idea that they are to be maintain on
shore for occasional use afloat the carry
ing out OF such Q program will result in