The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-14
Public Wishes Him Re-
warded for North Pole
Discovery.
HOUSE COMMITTEE
BEING CENSURED
squabble in Navy Held to Blame
for Refusal to Honor Ex-
plorer With Title of Rear
dmiral-L Lodge Be-
lieves Bill Will
Pass.
---------- = ~
l,snecia1 70 The rimes.nisnatch i

tspecia1to The Times-Dispatch.1
Washington. D. c.. February 1a.-
Public men and educators outside OF
Washington are protesting. according
to dispatches received here to-day,
against the action OF the subcommittee
of the House committee in rejecting the
proposal to honor Civil Engineer Peary
by retiring him from the navy with
the rank and highest retired pay of an
admiral Some of the men interviewed
believe as do the members of the SUBJ
committee. But majority OF the dis
patches carry the sentiment that Peary
should get something more from the
country than vote OF thanks or a
gold medal, and that the present is not
the place for any display of the pro-
verbal jealousy between the line and
staff of the navy.
Melville Approves.
Rcar-Admiral Melville. who is ia
miliar both with the hardships of far
northern exploration and the differ
ences between the two branches OF the
naval service, gave the seyerest in
dictment Of the attitude OF the line OF
the navy, which Is declared to have
brought powerful influence to bear to
defeat the Hale and Allen bills in Con-
gress.
The former bill has already passed
the Senate. Admiral Melville to-day
learned of the action of the House Sub.
committee Friday morning. He said
there was no law or technicality which
could bar Peary's retirement as civil
engineer with the relative rank Of rear
admiral. and declared if Mr.. Peary was
not rewarded in some way commensu-
rate with his achievement, 1t would be
matter of regret long after the petty
squabble between the line and the
staff OF the navy had been forgotten
Senator Lodge to-day said that in
sp.fe -thc action 3f Erlda slaae .thsnght
the bill would pass Congress just as
II had already passed the Senate. "I be-
lieYe," he said. as the administration
does, that the disco,ercr OF the North
Pole should be retired with the rank
and pay of a rear-admiral."
BY administration he referred 10
the Recommendation of Secretary
Meyer. who wrote to the naval commit
tee lts belief that Peary should be
kept In his own corps, but retired with
the ,rank of rear-admiral. Secretary
Meyers suggestion was rejected along
with the bill
AIMING others who expressed them
selves as being In favor of the eleya-
ton of Peary are Governor Warner of
Michigan: Senator w. A. Smith. of
Michigan; Governor kitchin, of North
Carolina; Thomas Fell president OF st.
John, at Annapolis. and Professor Hen.
lry T. Gannett. OF the National Geo
graphic Society.
Some Oppose IT.
Governor Draper, of Massachusetts,
said he did not care to enter into The
discussion, and Mayor Howard, OF sa
lem, Mass. said he was not familiar
enough with the nature Of the nro.
posed promotion to discuss it. Mayor
Lathrop. OF Springfield, thought Peary
should receive congressional reco-ni-
tion. but not the rank of rear-adroiral
| Mayor White, of Lawrence, said. 81
| do not think Peary Is any more enti.
tied to the rank AID pension OF a rear.
| admiral than am to a. pension 70,
being Mayor and performing nv duty
| faithfully.''
From the Middle West the action a,
the subcommittee was upheld by Mayor
Haynes, Of Minneapolis. and DR., Mort !.
rup, president OF the University OF
/ Minnesota.