The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-09
COMMANDER PEARY
WILL Be MADE .
REAR ADMIRAL
Senate Passes Bill To Grant Him
Highest Pay Accorded Retired
Officer Of This Rank-HOuse
Expected To Concur.
Explorer Gives $4,000 To Assist
South Pole Expedition To Be
Headed by Capt. Bartlett.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-The senate
today passed bill TO make Command
er Robert h. Peary, discoverer of the
North Pole, a rear-admiral on the re-
tired list.
Immediately after the senate con
vened. Senator Hale (Rep., MaineI,
reported the bill favorably from the
committee on naval affairs. An amend
ment was reported providing that
Peary should receive the highest pay
accorded the grade OF read-admiral re-
tired. The measure was then passed
without discussion or comment.
IL Is expected that the house will
take similar action in view of Presi-
dent Taft's expressed desire that
proper recognition OF Peary's achieve
ment be made by congress.
NEW YORK. Feb. 9.-Commander
Robert e. Peary. accepted by sclen-
lists as the only living explorer to
reach the north pole, has presented q
check for $4,000. which was given
TO MIN at a public testimonial here
last night, toward defraying the ex-
penses OF the expedition that is to en-
deavor to find the south pole.
Arrangements are being pushed
rapidly for the completion of details
Tor the great undertaking. The Ma
tional Geographic society has formally
decided to cooperate with the Peary
Arctic club IN the struggle to plant
the Stars and Stripes at the farthest
southern point. Capt. Robert Bartlett.
who was with Peary on his successful
conquest of the Arctic region, will
probably be placed in charge OF the ex-
petition into the Antarctic section.
With the exception of Peary, the mem
bers Of the party will be the same as
those who returned last year from the
frozen north.
The steamer Roosevelt, on which
Peary went to the Arctic regions, will
be used
The check was presented to the
commander by Gov. Hughes OF New
York at this, the first national testi-
monial In the explorers honor, held
In the Metropolitan opera house. Ac-
cepting the gift. Peary said:
Hero is a check for $4,000. This
check will be deposited Immediately
as Joint contribution OF tho members
OF this audience, the officers and COM
mittee of the Civic Forum and myself
toward an American Antarctic expe-
dition for the purpose OF exploration
and scientific investigation; and to
enter the Stars and Stripes in a splen-
did. manly international race for the
south pole with our british cousins,
than whom there are no finer foemen
in the world"
The audience which greeted the
commander last night was representa-
tive and enthusiastic. The gathering
was held under the auspices OF the
Civic Forum. President Taft telegraph
ed that he was sorry that he was I'M
able TO attend, but said he sincerely
hoped that congress will take some
substantial notice of the great achieve
men Of Commander Peary."
Gov. Fernald, Of Maine, also sent his
regrets and the greetings OF 100000
men and women of his (Peary's) own
state
The assemblage adopted a resolu-
tion presented by Seth Low, former
mayor OF New York, setting forth
that this meeting respectfully and
earnestly petitions the congress of the
United States to make some special
appropriate recognition OF the achieve
ment of Commander Peary in reaching
the north pole, and winning for the
United States the prize so earnestly
stTiven for century after century by a
great company OF brave and adven-
turous men"