Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-15
ANOTHER PEARY BILL
Provides for Gold Medal and
Thanks of Congress-.
INTRODUCED BY BUTLER
Probably Will Be Endorsed by
Naval Affairs Committee.
SUBCOMMITTEE Is UPHELD
Full Body, at Meeting, Decides That
Action Against Making Explorer
a Rear Admiral Was Proper.
SUBCOMMITTEE is UPHELD


\ bill 10 give Civil Engineer Peary,
discoverer of the north pole, gold
medal and the thanks of Congress was
introduced in the House today by Rep
resentstiye Butler of Pennsylvania,
chairman of the subcommittee on naval
affairs, which the other day reported
adversely OH a measure which had
passed the Senate to retire Peary with
the rank of senior rear admiral. This
action by Mr.. Butler followed a meet
ing Of the full committee On naval af
fairs today. which Endorsed the action
of the subcommittee in declining to rec
ommend the discoverer for the rank Of
rear admiral. but which referred the
whole matter back to the subcommittee
with instructions to consider 1t further.
At the next meeting OF the subcom-
mittee the Butler bill. just introduced,
will receive a favorable report and the
proposition to give Mr.. Peary a gold
medal and the thanks of Congress will
then be approved by the full committee
and go before the House of Representa-
tives for action. 1t is believed 1t will
be approved by that body without ma
terial opposition.
Privilege of the Floor.
1t was pointed out today by members
of the naval committee that even Mr.
Pearys warmest admirers and most in
innate friends should consider the action
proposed by the Butler bill as substan-
tial recognition, inasmuch as the thanks
of Congress carry with it the privilege
of the floor of the House to the recipient
and, In the case of a naval officer. adds
ten years to the period during which
he may receive the pay of an officer on
the active list.
This would permit Mr. Peary to remain
On the active list. so far as his pay is
concerned, until seventy-two years of
age
Representatives Foss of Illinois, chair
man of the committee; Hobson of Ala
oama. who used to be "A constructor in
Peary's principal advocates at todays
meeting of the naval committee. although
no one of them suggested that favorable
action be taken on the Hale or Allen
bill, proposing to retire Mr.. Peary with
he rank of rear admiral. It seemed to
be the consensus of opinion in the COM
mittee that the action proposed by the
Butler bill constituted an adequate re-
gard for Mr.. Peary's achievement in dis
covering the north pole.
A formal motion by Representative
Hobson that Mr.. Peary he called before
the naval committee and asked to tell
why he thinks he should be retired with
the rank of rear admiral was voted down
unanimously.
Honor From Italy.
Mr.. Peary has just had the UNIQUE
experience of being decorated by a
foreign scientific society and vituper-
ated by fellow explorer and country
man. Furthermore. it is announced
that Congress may supply funds with
which the American who has been far
thest north may lead an expedf-'
ton into the antarctic seas to lay
claim to territory discovered nearly one
hundred years ago by another intrepid
American and over which no flag has
yet been flown.
The Italian Geographical Society is
the organization which has conferred
the decoration on Mr.. Peary. A cable
gram received by Mr.. Peary last night
from Marquis Cappelli. president of the
society, says:
Council Italian Geographical So
ciety awarded you King Humbert gold
medal on account your long successful
medal Capt Bartlett. Please wire If
accept invitation lecture Rome May
after London.
Accepts the Decoration,
Mr.. Peary promptly replied that he
was highly honored and that he accepted
the medal. He withheld his acceptance
OF the invitation to speak in Rome, how
ever, for he is in a measure now sub
ject to the orders of the Navy Depart
ment.
Secretary Meyer, on whom the officer
called yesterday, announced that IL 1t Is
decided to have Peary head the expedi-
ton that will lay claim to Wilkes Land
on behalf Of the United States President
Taft probably will ask Congress to pro-
vide sufficient funds to carry out the
expedition.
Wilkes Land lies far down in the Ant
arctic and was discovered early in the
nineteenth century by Charles Wilkes, an
American naval officer. 1t never has been
considered of enough commercial or
strategic Importance to warrant its at
tachment by this government. For like
reasons no other country has cast covet-
Gus eyes upon it. In view of the interest
now attaching to the search for the south
pole. II suddenly has become of impor-
lance.
Neither Secretary Meyer nor Mr.. Peary
would divulge the nature Of their con-
ference, which occupied more than an
hour. 1t is not improbable that the
Secretary explained to his caller the rea-
sons for the failure of the attempt to
have the explorer retired as a rear adj
nlral.
Capt. Osbon Bitter.
The House committee on naval affairs,
which voted down the proposition. has
received number of letters condemna-
tory and otherwise on their action. One
was from Capt. Is. S. Osbon, president
OF the Arctic Club of America, which is
bitter in the extreme. tapt. Osbon, who
championed the cause of DIR. Cook in the
recent Peary-Cook controversy, did not
mince words in denouncing MIR. Peary.