Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-14
DECIDES TO PERMIT
OFFICER TO RESIGN
Secretary Daniels to Let Naval
Constructor Ferguson Quit
United States Service.

In line with the action Of Secretary
Garrison yesterday. Secretary Daniels
announced today he had decided to ac-
cept the resignation OF William B. Fer
guson, jr., naval constructor at the
navy yard here, who has been offered
lucrative private employment.
The matter has been pending for some
weeks. and Secretary Daniels said he
had obtained the opinion of the present
Judge advocate general of the navy and
his predecessor, both Of whom held
that the right to reject designations
lay with the President. regardless of
the agreement signed by midshipmen
when they enter the Naval Academy
that they will serve at least eight
years.
Mr.. Daniels said Mr.. Ferguson had
told him the private concern with
which he would be connected had no
government contracts and that he
would not have any part in such work.
The constructor is from North Caro-
lima and is brother of Homer L. FER
guson OF the Newport News Shipbuild-
ing Company.
otterson Case Pending.
The case Of John E. otterson. naval
constructor at the New York navy
yard. who offered his resignation for
similar reasons. still Is pending.
Mr.. Daniels said he felt that oficers
who had received special training al
the expense Of the government should
remain in the government service.
Each case would be considered on ftt
merits, however, he said, and he init
mated that in general he would follow
the precedent of the department. and
accept the designations Of officers who
have given eight years or more OF
service after graduation.
Ferguson Member Of Board.
Constructor Ferguson has been act
lively at work for the government FOL
thirteen years since his appointment
to the Construction Corps. During that
period he was given a special training
in technical subjects from 1901 to 1904
He is a member Of the board recently
created by Secretary Daniels to devise
ways of improving the system OF navy
yard management.
Constructor Otterson has served
eight years since his graduation, anc
Secretary Daniels would not indicate
whether or not he intended to accep,
that resignation also.
Attorney General Gives No Opinion
In view of the fact that Secretary
Of War Garrison has acted on thu
| resignation Of an officer of the army
which constituted the specific case OF
| which he asked opinion of the Attorne.
General, Attorney General Gregory will
now deliver no opinion as to the power
of the Secretary Of War to refuse tt
accept the resignation of an army
officer. This was made clear at the
Department of Justice this morning.
1t was explained that the Attorney
General does not feel authorized tt
deliver an opinion on the general right
| of the Secretary Of War to refuse
| designations of army officers. As thu
| case has been acted upon which wal
| referred for opinion to the Attorney
General. there is now no question be
fore him. He, therefore, will not de.
liver any opinion.
The question arose over the number
or resignation Of army Joficers ten.
| dered to permit them to engage in the
manufacture of war materials in pri-
waite enterprises. The Secretary OF
War referred to the Attorney General
| the case Of Mai Otis + Horney, whose
| resignation was pending. Maj. Hor-
ney's resignation. with that of Anothe,
army ofhcer. was accepted yesterday
by Secretary Garrison.