New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-12
PROMOTION REFUSED
PE4RT NOT TO BE Il
REAR ADMIRAL.
Bill Aduersely Reported by
House Sub-Com mittee-Sec-
retary Meyers Comment,
l From The Trihnne Rureaul

iFrom Ine Tribune Bureau
Washington. Feb. ia medal OF
honor instead of promotion to rear ad-
miral for Civil Engineer Robert 4.
Peary is proposed by a subcommittee
of the House Naval Affairs Committee
This subcommittee of seven members,
headed by Representative Roberts, or
Massachusetts, unanimously agreed to
at adverse renort on the Allen bill pro-
Viding that Peary be retired a rear
admiral Mr. Roberts is confident that
the action Of the subcommittee will be
sustained by the full committee, but it
is said that a fight may be forced on the
floor by those who believe Peary should
be thus honored
so far as We are able to see, said
Mr.. Roberts there was nothing in the
record of Mr.. Peary, SO far as his ser
vice to the navy was concerned, which
made him worthy to receive a salary of
$1,000 from Congress for the rest of his
life It is absurd to propose that a
civilian should be made a senior ad-
nliral of the navy when he is not even
q naval constructor. but a civil ensl-
neer During his service in the navy he
has been a absent a total Of thirteen years
and one month and during the last three
wears he has received the full pay of the
rank of commander in the navy, which
is more than the government has ever
done for any other explorer in a hnan-
cial way. Under the legislation now pro
posed he would receive more money than
Rear Admiral Evans and other officers of
the line
His discovery Of the North Pole has
been absolutely of no benefit to the
United States. to civilization or to the
naval service. as far as | can see. He
has been absent from duty in the Navy
DEPARTMENT most of the time he has
been connected with it. and has done
nothing to entitle him to this honor.
Il think probably Congress might look
with favor on giving him some other
kind of recognition. For instance. if his
friends wanted him to receive a gold
medal or something of that sort. would
be in favor of #. But I am not in favor
Of giving Mr.. Peary a pension for what
he has done. l don't think he is en-
titled to it."
Secretary Never suggested to the com
nittee that Peary be retired as a civil
engineer with the rank Of rear admiral
and the highest retired pay of that
grade under existing law. but the sub
committee also reported adversely on
this suggestion.
1T would appear" said Mr.. Meyer in
a letter to the committee that the bill
in question is framed for the purpose of
rewarding Civil Engineer Peary for haV-
ing reached the North Pole. and while
his having successfully accomplished
this self-imposed task is most commend
able, and reflects great credit not only
on him but also on the entire nation, his
various expeditions cannot be regarded
as having been conducted for strictly
military or naval purpose, and for this
reason it seems to me inappropriate TO
confer upon him a title for which his
previous education. training and ser
vices have not fitted him 1t Is there
fore recommended that in the title of the
bill and in the bill itself the word Com
mander' be changed to Civil Engineer,
the latter being Mr.. Peary's official des-
ignation; and further. that instead of
appointing him a rear admiral, and plac-
ing him Oh the retired list such. that
he be retired as civil engineer with
the rank of rear admiral and with the
highest retired pay of that grade under
existing law"
The Subcommittee making the report
consists OF Representatives, Roberts.
Butler and Bates, Of Pennsylvania;
Fnglebrigl7t. of California: Gregg, of
Texas, and Macon, OF Arkansas.