Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-09
Especial Correspondence

| lSPSCld1 SO12 SS PSAANSAANS'S
Washington. Dec. "a row OF large
proportions threatens to be kicked up
! in congress over the course pursued by
Secretary of Navy Meyer as to two
eminent officers of the navy depart
ment, Rear Admiral Capps. former
chief Of the bureau of construction and
Former Paymaster General Rogers.
! Already, the house naval affairs COM
mittee has taken the matter up. ~
f, was discussed in the committee the
| opening day Of the session. Members
| of the committee are wrathful because
they consider that Secretary Meyer has
punished these two officers for appear
ing before II and giving testimony.
The committee has been advised that
Rear Admiral Capps has been sent to
the Philippines. ostensibIy on tour OF
! Inspection AS to Rogers, he has been
retired The feeling is strong in the
committee that because these officers
opposed Secretary Meyers plan OF re-
organization before the cor. !,tffeee the
secretary has used his influence to
force them down and out.
Especial feeling seems to be stirred
because Rear Admiral Capps has
been sent 70 the Philippines. One OF
the members Of the committee declared
at meeting Of that body that Capps
was being made martyr of because
he had declared himself opposed to the
reorganization plan favored by Nh
Meyer.
Congress Wants 10 Know.
The position taken by the committee,
az in, lie
that Secretary Meyer IS practically
shutting the doors in the face Of con-
sress when il seeks for Information.
What members Of the committee want
, to know Is whether a cabinet officer
can prevent congress from getting In
formation by visiting punishment on
subordinates who appear before COM
! mittee and testify. In the case OF
Rogers and Caps, both asked the COM
mittee to excuse them from giving
statements, knowing that they would
anita onize Secretary Meyer. But the
conn ittee was insistent and so they
presented their views.
1t was last session that the first
trouble broke out over the matter OF
the appeara nee of Caps and Rogers
before the house committee on naval
affairs. Secretary Meyer wanted to get
authority to put into effect plan OF
naval reorganization. One feature or
this plan was to lessen the authority
OF the bureau Of construction OF which
Capps was head. After at first de-
murring, Cappa and Rogers appeared
and spoke strongly against Secretary
Meyers plan. This caused acrimony
between the secretary and the two Of
ficers and the feeling terminated in
80 L4 ~
struction and Paymaster General
Rogers being shorn of their powers.
Now if subordinates can be pun
ished for giving information demanded
by a committee. then. say some of the
members of the naval committee the
avenues Of Information for congress In
the departments are closed. Congress
is helpless at the hands Of the depart
ments as some Of the committee men,
bers look at IL.
Will Show Meyer.
1t is talked now that the committee
is going to proceed to show Secretary
Meyer that he is on the wrong track
when he acts as he has in the case OF
Capps and Rogers. OF course. say the
friends Of Rogers and Caps in the
committee, Secretary Meyer disc!aims
that he has sought to punish these
officers In any way for their testimony.
Among other things, he wrote letter
to Rear Admiral Caps in which he
said he considered him the best officer
to make the inspection trip he is now
going on The friends of Capps and
Rogers in the committee say this was
for effect.
One plan talked Of is to call Rear
Admiral Capps back and insist on him
appearing before the committee again.
This course may perhaps be taken.
Another plan is to provide for sub
committee of the house naval COM
mittee which shall investigate the ques-
tons Of naval reorganization, especial
" the conduct of the navy yards. AT
the same time, there is talk that the
whole Meyer reorganization plan so
far as it is statutory. will be kicked
out by the committee. In the last
naval appropriation bill there was
provision to abolish the bureau OF
equipment for one year and in the de-
ficiency bill provision was made for
the consolidation OF store accounts for
two years Some Of the committee want