The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-16
ABOUT COURTS MARTIAL
TIE AUTHORITY THAT APPOINTS
THEM IN CERTAIN CASES.

OF le1ce-COurt& hay he secNFeu
with All Necessary Despatch-Om-
GERS of the Court Receive the GRAFT
flying Information That ParIOT
and Sleeping Car Expenses VIII
BE Paid-NO Cavalry officers on the
Court.
Courts martial are occupying the minds
of the Savannah public just now 10 no
small extent. A military court is some
what Of a mystery to the average citizen,
and yet, in its manner of conduct from
the DISQUALIFICATION now presented,
it appears to be one of The simplest forms
of court.
A court martial may be had on short
notice or the time may be heightened in
the discretion of the appointing power. In
times of conflict it some times becomes
necessary to get court martial together
on short notice. and under the rules pro-
viding for such courts, there is no trouble
in doing this.
military court may be appointed by
the President, through the Secretary OF
War, or il may be appointed by the de-
partment commander. The court before
wnIcn CAPT. Romeyn was tried in Atlanta,
for instance, was appointed by Gen. Mef-
East court cannot consist of more than
ritz, i'm command Of the department OF the
thirteen, nor can there be less than five
members. Where quick action is desired,
and a larger number cannot conveniently
be secured at once five officers may be
secured from a command to act.
The department commander takes up
and reviews the decision of the court He
can pass upon il in certain cases, but he
is not allowed to take an officers commits
sion away from him This can only be
done by the President through the Sec
rotary of War, and If a court decides
upon such a course in any case, the finaI
decision must come in that manner.
The present case being considered an
important one In many aspects, the court
was appointed by the President through
the Secretary OF War, the report VIII be
made to the war department, and the
final decision viii be by the President
through the Secretary of War.
Most of the members of the court here
now have been on courts martial before;
some of them have passed on many
cases. One of the prominent officers on
the present court was asked about former
courts martial on which he had served
and replied
1T is something I had rather not talk
about. 1t is best that the past should be
forgotten. This is the most disagreeable
duty we have to perform"
Such seems to be the sentiment of the
members of the court generally, and yet
such courts, obedient to orders. Col. Has
brouck has served on three courts before,
which tried officers, and Maj. Myrick was
a member of the court before which Capt.
| Romeyn was tried In Atlanta. So it goes.
They have all had this duty placed upon
| them, however. from time to time. and it
is not a question of choice.
The officers of the court were all agree
ably surprised yesterday by the informa-
| ton of a decision by Controller Tracewell
| of the Treasury Department in the case
of Maj W. s. Stanton, light house engin-
eer of the Tenth district to the effect that
| army officers travelling in parlor cars and
| sleeping cars in performance of their Of
| fetal duties may receive allowance from
| the government for this expense beyond
| the ordinary expenses Of travel.
| Maj. Stanton is a member of the court
now sitting in Savannah. His voucher in
Guiding charges for parlor car accommoda-
| lions, was rejected by the disbursing Of
| ficer. The decision reverses a ruling pre-
| viousy made by the auditor for the Treas
| ury Department. Mr.. Tracewell calls atten-
ton to the fact that the army appropra-
! ton act for 1898 did not except parlor car
| and sleeping car expenses from those al
| lowed to officers of the army, as had been
the case in previous acts and it is held
| that the Treasury Department cannot look
beyond the letter of the present law.
| The information was no less gratifying
| to other members of the court than 70
| Maj Stanton. There is one officer on the
court who has done considerable travel
| ing in the performance of his official du-
ties, and now has an account of about
| $3.50 due him for sleeping car and parlor
| car accommodations.
| When ordered anywhere In the perform
ance of official duties the government
| pays the railroad fares of officers and
allows them cents mile, which is ex-
| pected to pay their expenses. When an
| officer travels any distance and remains
| only short time his mileage is general
ly sufficient for the purpose of paying ex-
| penses. In the case of the present court
| however some OF the officers come from
| short distances. and their mileage win
| not count for much. The mileage paid
to those who come from greater distances
| viii not suffice to pay their expenses in
| this instance. because of the length OF
time they Will necessarily be kept here
Ohcers have a certain allowance for
| Communication. but their expenses are CO.
ing on at home all the time, and when
they go away for any period they are gen
orally out of pocket
1t is an interesting fact that only six
members of the present court are grad
| yates of the West Point Military Academy
They are Lieut. Col. Samuel NJ. Mansfield.
Lieut.. Col. II. c. Hasbrouck, Maj William
| $. Stanton, Maj. Charles A. Woodruff
Capt. Daniel NJ. Taylor and Capt Samuel
NJ. Mills. The other officers of the court
have made their way forward without the
| advantages of the West Point training.
Another fact which has been remarked
| upon is that there is not cavalry officer
on the court. Artillery officers predomi-
| nate, perhaps, because the case was con-
| sidered of sufficient Importance to bring
the heavy guns into play. There are five
| artillery officers on the court. Lieut. Col
/ II. c. Hasbrouck of the Fourth Artillery
Mai John r. Myrick Of the Fifth Artillery
| Mai. John l.. Tiernon of the First Artil-
! lery, Capt. Samuel NJ. Mills of the Fifth
| Artillery, and Capt, Richard p. Strong of
| the Fourth Artillery. The infantry
| has two representatives.. Col Jacob
| Kline of the Twenty-first and CAPT
Charles G. Penney of the Sixth regiment
The engineer corps has an equal number
| Lieut.. Col Samuel NJ. Mansfield and
| Maj William $. stanton, the former loca-
ted at Boston and the latter at Oswego
| N. Y. Maj. Charles A. Woodruff is one of
| the majors of the commissary of substst-
ence from Governors Island, N. Y. Maj
/ William 5. Patten is from the quarter