The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-31
GRAYSON WINS
IN COMMITTEE
His Nomination for Medical
Director ApprOved-Five
Republicans Absent.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.--The iInpor-
tance which the President attaches to the
nomination OF his young friend and golf
partner. DIR. Cary T. Grayson, was strik-
ingly shown to-day Every Democratic
member of the Senate Committee on
Naval Affairs was called to the colors
when the committee met to-day, and
the result was that the nomination of
DIR. Grayson to be Medical Director of
the Navy with the rank of Rear Ad-
mlral went through the committee with
a bang.
Two Republican members we're pres
ent-Senators Lodge and Poindexter--
both of whom voted against a favor
able report. Before the vote was taken
Senator Poindexter made a violent pro-
test against such nominations, declaring
the effect would be to destroy the
morale OF the Medical Corps and the
navy generally. The Democratic mem
bers were all present except Senator
Swanson, who arranged to vote by proxy
he being detained at home by illness.
Senator O'Gorman. who has been alb
sent from the Senate much of the pres
ent session, was brought over for the
emergency. and after voting in the COM
m.ttee to report Grayson's nomination
returned to New York by the first con-
venient train. The Republican members
of the committee who were absent were
Fenrose. Page, Clapp. Smith tMichigan)
and Fall.
DR.. Grayson Examined.
DR.. Grayson came before the commit
tee at the invitation of the members
and was questioned on the record of his
service by Senators Lodge and Poin-
dexter. He admitted that he had with
drawn from the first examination for
entrance to the Medical Corps because
the examination was too difficult. He
returned four months later, taking at
the second examination the subjects in
which he had not passed at the first.
He was then recommended by the board
Tor appointment. He also admitted that
he had withdrawn from an examination
for hospital steward
DR.. Grayson was asked about his ne
riod OF sea service and admitted that in
thirteen years service in the Medical
Corps he had spent but two wears at
sea. the rest of the time being passed on
Inc Mayfower, the Presidential yacht.
or in and around Washington on shore
golf links or on travels as the companion
of the President.
He also admitted that his examination
on January II for the promotion TO Rear
Admiral over the heads Of ia other Of
, ficers. was not rigid. consisting of a re-
/ quirement to submit a thesis which the
Presidents friend dug up from an "ef-
fort made along that line some yeare
before. This thesis passed the rigid
scrutiny OF the board over which former
Surgeon General Rixey. DR.. Grayson't
connection by marriage, presided. and
DR.. Grayson got by"
Republicans Overw helmed.
/ The Republicans on the committee
We're so overwhelmed by the absence OF
I their own members and the superior
I numbers of Democrats present that they
had little interest in the proceedings The
/ fight will come in the executive session
OF the Senate. The plan of Chairman
I Tillman was to report the nomination &c
. the first executive session of the Senate
ate consideration. which would send tn.
sion.
The other nominations before the Sen
ate. including that of Paymaster Nc
Gowan, to which some objection had beer
! suggested, went through the committe,
| without objection. The nomination o.
William g. Braisted. Surgeon-Gene
! to be Medical Director with the rank OF
Rear Admiral. was not opposed. Chiel
: Engineer Harris's nomination also wen
/ through without objection in the com
: p,itfae