The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-29
TIE ORDER REVOKED.
Reason Why the In4fed States Gov
ornament Hesitates tn S~nd Sell
dfgrA tn Alaska.


T'hs order directing Capt Ray. Z. s. A..
TO proceed 10 Circle city, Alaska. with
five ofs5ee~s ard Hfty-faTs nzep, hAs becn
countsrrzasae6 and ffse shipment Of aup-
plies from Philadelphia ard fan Fran
cisco 10 Seattle frosn which point tho
troops were 20 sail August on the
steamer Cleveland. ordered withheld.
II can - stated with almost positive
ASSURANCE that tns Cause Of this sGdd0
move Oh the part ef the FEDERAL aa-
storit!es ss that there is serious qnss-
ton as 10 the efficacy OF this troops after
they arrive OF the Alaskan bordsr.
Surprising Capt Ray and bia troops
had soas 10 Alaska. and a case arose IN
which IL VAS necessary 10 QGen a uis-
t9r5ance. VITO would have the authority
TO call out the troops? Gould the judge
OF court or marshal be clothed WITH
authority TO Dispatch the soldiers to the
srsfss of the tr0uoiss Even IL this power
rested wlSh the governor of Alaska. and
tnsrs Is little question THAI IL does not.
is wanld take q Tong time for him TO b
informed Of what was going on In the
aola asggtugs. and as mach time TO return
his order.
The president os the United States I'M
doubtedIy has che power 20 station troops
In Alaska and under certain conditions
he could o.dsT them 70 sct, but even the
powers OF lae presgdeat are In this partlc-
authorized by the Constitution and the
acts Of congress. Ii IL should become
necessary for the troops 10 act. the harm
would be done before an order could
reach tho ipteEior OF Alaska from Wash
ington. u. c.
III this matter had come W before Gen.
gress adjourned the trouble could have
been remessed By special act. but. as II
IL an awkward state OF affairs certainly
exists.
capt W. W. Robinson. assistant quar-
.arraaster L. s. a, when seen last even
gns by a Po=t-inieiisgencer reporter. said
that IL was true that the order sending
troops to Alaska had been countermand-
ed.
II think this order probably originated
on account OF the restrictions entotned
under the posse comitatus act passed by
congress- June Is 1875. Posse comiiatds
means that powers which marSeal or
other civil officer exercises in cases OF
necessity to cali upon all iaw-abiding
citizens TO assist In making arrests ana
queilsng disorder.
In the days OF the Ku-klux In he
South troops were USED freely TO assist
rait.xi States narshais In the arrest OF
suspected members OF the ku-kiux Khan
After the colorsd people were given the
right OF suffrage there were frequent
disturbances at the polls. and II was
claimed by sor = that the United States
troops were being Improperly used 20
control the elections. This resulted
faally in the passage OF the act which
probably caused the couniermandng or
The order seat out Tuesday ordering
troops to the Yukon. The law Is as foi-
lows:
From and after the passage OF this act
Il shall not he lawful to employ any part
Of thu army OF the United states, as a
POSSE uoInitatus, or otaerwis for the par-
pose Of executing this laws. except In such
asss and unde- such circumstances as
asicn employment OF said force may be ex@
prssaiv authorized 10y the constitution. or
hY assf Of congress. aud no money appro-
priated by tnss act shall be used TO pay
Aay Ct the expenses incurred IN the en-
uioymeut o. any troops ia violation OF this
section. Act Of June Is. !sss."
ii had an disqualification Of this law
about ISIS or Use. ! was stationed at Fort
Meade S. u. The commanding officer
Was Lieut.. Col Josepa Tlford. Of the
Seventh cavalry murder was COM
United in the little town OF sturgis. near
the fort. and the circunxfantiai evidence
al pointed 10 the guilt OF a negro corporal
Of the twenty -fsfth Infantry After action
hy the coroners jury he was arrested.
The citizens of the town became greatly
excited ard. without waiting far trial.
made preparations 20 Resort 10 mob vio-
!enoe. Thi. was reported 10 Cot. Tiifo-d.
ARD he Immediately ordered an officer 90
proceed 10 the town with a detachment Of
man and - guard the jail that no violence
should he done 70 the prisoner.
II vas Il star officer with Col. Tiifora a.
this time aud Was usually taken into coun-
al with hirn or oecastons Of this nature.
] saaea him if be was certain about his
right 60 use military force whilc the civil,
functions ct tae town were In foil op.rn
ton, car supposed 20 be- He replied 10 ma
emphatic -. Z don't care q d-~~n about
my right, have right 30 interpose a
mob AGAINST 3 mob. especially as INV nsoh
Is trying 20 preserve human life and their
rso0 Ia destroy Il without warrant o.
law
The reply came like shot fired harb