| Show said to be unable to agree with president washington dec 24 diligent inquire from hear admiral brownson from secretary and at the white house failed to develop the reison for the seemingly sudden retirement ti rement of the rear admiral from the navigation bureau brownton Brow neon takes the position that the subject Is for the discussion of his superior officers which would take the inquiry to secretary Met calt the secretary in turn passed the responsibility of stating the reason of the resignation to president roosevelt secretary loeb speaking jor the president says that no information can bo obtained from that source two theories have been advanced as being sufficient in themselves to bring forth ane letter of resignation which secretary presented to ahe president early this afternoon one of these reasons Is that the admiral finds unable to agree with the ideas of the president regarding certain important policies to be pursued by the bureau of navigation such a disagreement honestly entertained would leave the admiral but one course and that la to take his place on the retired list and relinquish the active management of the bureau over which he has dominated the other reason Is that the rear admiral being on he retired list ot the navy may not be legally confirmed by the senate to an appointment to active duty it Is known that the judge advocates vo department of the navy has beera wrestling with this legal question with special reference to the case of admiral brownton Brow neon for several weeks past it also Js known that an opinion on the question has recently been rendered whal the effect of this opinion is can anly be surmised in view of tho action taken by the admiral today those who believe that it is the reason for his resignation cay that the opinion set forth the law tc be that his confirmation could not be legally executed by the senate such a decision would undoubtedly have the result of causing the admiral to place his resignation in the bands of the secretary admiral Brown sons appointment as chief of the bureau of navigation was made by the president during the recess of congress it Is customary tor the names of recess appointees to go to lae senate on its next convening after the appointments have been made in the present case and because of the uncertainty of the right of a retired naval officer to be assigned to alve duty admiral Brown sons name has been withhold from the senate pending the rendering of the legal opinion in the case the resignation and Us acceptance will obviate the raising of the question between the legislative and executive departments of the government as to the right of retired officers to be appointed to active duty in time of peace since admiral brownson took com of the bureau of navigation that bureau has had to handle the question of the cruise of the atlantic neet to the pacific the greatest practice movement of the navy during its history the resignation of admiral brownson as chief of the bureau ot navigation has the effect of placing him in his tomer position on the retired list ot i the navy commander who has been designated to act as the head of the navigation bureau has for some time past been assistant to admiral brown aon and consequently is familiar with the duties of the bureau however it Is known that commander ainslow yin slow Is anxious to obtain command of the new battleship new hampshire so it Is believed that his present designation Is intended to bridge over an interval during which the president can make a election of another officer among the names mentioned in that connection is that of captain hochard son clover at present head of the board of inspection and survey who wag considered for that place at the time admiral Brown sons term of ac alvo service expired and it was supposed that he was to give way to an on tho active list another name which it Is known has been considered si in diw of ehg vacancy Is that of Lieutenan 1 commander alma who Is one of the presidents aides and who has special eminence in ahe navy on hie expert work in connection with target practice |
