New-York tribune., 1909-04-20
MR.. MEYER MAYNOT ACT
Officers in Panther Conspir0cy' Not
Likelv TO Be Disciplined.

Washington. April l9-One Of the first SUBJECTS 10
engage the attention Of the Secretary OF the Navy
when he returns 10 Washington on Wednesday VIII
be the Panther pamphlet. so-called because it was
arranged for and compiled board the Panther at
the Philadelphia Navy Yard, which is substantalIy
a protest against the Newberry midnight orders
Secretary Meyer will also find awaiting him the ap-
pIicatfon Of the officers of Philadelphia YARD Tor
permission TO organize association 10 ala ue
Navy Department in its investigation OF the New
berry system Of reorganizing the navy yards.
Many officers believe Secretary Meyer missed
great opportunity enforce naval discipline Wheh
he did detach from duty the officers VINO TOOK
part in the meeting the Panther and to dis
cpline those who signed the pamphlet. otherS IN
sst that had the publication Of the pamplet
been made known through these dispatches 10 Ihe
Tribune April Il. no harm would have come OF
it, Others say that such a publication could not
have been printed without the fact OF its existence
finding its way into the public prints sooner OF
later.
Great Interes; attaches 10 the course when sec
retary Never will pursue and opinion IN the ue
partment varied that subject i IS j saIe
prediction. however. that he viii take no dlsclph-
na1v steps OF course the difficulty which con
fronts him in such policy is that Paragraph -
Of the naval regulations specifically forblus any
combination of officers for the purpose OF illlu-
encng legislation demonstrating against orders
etc" The Panther pamphlet the coterie resI'oHS'-
tle for IT, and even the proposed association many
officers say. be construed as anything but
combination OF officers for the purpose OF
demonstrating against orders" This will be duly
impressed or the Secretary on his return oF the
officers who believe he should take steps 70 disci-
pine those responsible for what they term the
Panther conspiracy'
The prediction that Mr.. Meyer VIII take no az
ton however. Is based the knowledge mat 'he
navy general board and The chief Of the bureau Of
navigation have prepared recommendations, in
which hey counsel him To take no action Inc
general board strongly advises that the pamphlet
he suppressed. although, OF course. such an order
would be difficult to enforce now that 1t Is IN
printed form
one serious obstacle To drastic course at mis-
late day is that the bureau % navigation advised
Secretary of the Navy that the subject was lol
a proper one for disciplinary action in the first
place. and thus prevented his acting At the proper
time.
The more violent antagonists Of the line viii en-
deavor 10 suggest to the Secretary that despite
his earlier inaction il is not too late 70 pursue
course which VIII demonstrate hts courage and firm
ness, but It Is probable that more conservative
counseIs viii prevail Presumably Mr Meyer Will
make it clear the officers at Philadelphia that
they must not pursue their purpose Of organizing
the proposed association. The Secretary Of the
Navy cannot afford to have it appear that it is
necessary officers Of the line. at their personal
expense. to organize an association to advise him
: the best policy to pursue with regard TO the
Newberry plans for reorganization.
The Panther pamphlet is now before the sperry
board for consideration and the prospects are that
il a also ad recommendation 10 those Of the
general board and the bureau of navigation that no
disciplinary action be taken in the case OF Captain
A. G. Berry or other officers OF the Philadelphia
yard: 50 that, beyond forbiddng the formation Of
the proposed association and the further crcuia-
tion Of the offending pamphlet. Mr.. Meyer will
probably do nothing in the premises
The arrival in Washington to-day Of Lieutenant
Commander James S. Mexican and Lieutenant e.
H. Deany, two Of the officers who attended the
meeting gave rise a report that they had been
ordered here in connection with the affair.
Lieutenant Delany Is here 20 take examination
for promotion. and Lieutenant Commander Mexican
is on a three DAYS leave.
Assistant Secretary Winthrop said TO-DAY that
tEe pdlnpnlet was not 'iJecnondble 10 me Depart
ment, but the Secretary considered that the ne
cessity for which II designed had been obviated
by the appointment Of a board 10 revise the regu-
lations.