The times., 1898-02-11
MAJOR j. W. WHAMS CASE.
The House Military Committee De-
cides- in His Favor.

The House Military Committee De.
cides- in His Favor.
The House Military Committee, which
has had under consideration bill to en-
able the President to set aside, annul or
| eXpunge the proceedings of court
martial, which found Major Joseph W.
Wham guilty of refusing to pay debt.
which he stoutly insisted he did not owe
| and never owed and restore him to his
former status in the United States
Army, was reported favorably yester-
| day
| The report concludes as follows:
/ Finally, to pile PeIon on Ossa: Put
on one end Of the scales of justice the
| complainant's wholly unsupported and
/ contradictory testimony, and on the
| other the testimony of Hon. Otto
| Gramm, State treasurer of Wyoming.
| and lessee of the Laramie Rolling Mills,
| a most reliab BILE and responsible bust
! ness man, and the testimony of Hon. "
| c. Jahren. city attorney OF Laramie.
! Wyo.. and Major Whaul, who had cor
rectiy accounted for millions Of public
| funds. Now, add to this the abroga-
| ton on both trials of the rule of law re-
| quiring a fact to be proven by the best
| evidence, which, in this case, is the ex-
| press receipt on record. registered re-
| ceipt or letter, or check, which would
| necessarily bear Major Wham's indOrse-
| ment, and we are unable to see how any
| earthly power could make Major
| Wham's vindication clearer. II certain
| ly has been automatically proven If not
demonstrated, that Major Wham did
| not owe this money.
THAT this fearful injustice to a gal
liant soldier of the great republic may
be speedily corrected and a great wrong
righted, the committee concur in the
recommendation OF the Secretary of War
for the passage of the bill. The Secre-
tary's report hereto attached after
stating that he had devoted consider
able time to the consideration OF the
case continues as follows:
. 1T is true that the unexpired portion
of the sentence could be remitted by
the President, and he could be restored
TO duty, but in my opinion this would
not be full measure of relief TO him,
and L therefore recommend legislation
for his relief.
THE Secretary of War in his report
also says that Major Whams record
during the war was brilliant one
and judging from the following teSti-
moniaIs his record during peace as a
paymaster has been no less brilliant:
Major Wham, while serving under
me in the department Of the Atlantic.
performed his duties in courteous and
satisfactory manner, promptly and
most excellently: there were none
better Very truly yours.
(Signed) DANIEL MCCLURE.
Colonel Retired
" During the period Of Major Wbams
service under my command in the de-
partment Of Arizona he performed his
duties in a prompt, courteous and sat
isfactory manner.
(Signed)
ALEX. MCDOWELL McCOOK,
Major General Retired
Major Wham. Paymaster L. s. A.
while stationed AT my headquarters in
1892 attended promptly, courteously
and satisfactorily TO his duties.
(Signed) w P. CARLIN.
'Brigadier General and Brevet Major
General, U. S. A, Retired
''Brigadier General E s. Otis, now
commanding department of Colorado.
and the last department commander
under whom Major Wham served. at
the conclusion of an extended letter
says:
:" His CNajor Wham's) services were
promptly and satisfactOr-
lily
ATTACHED is a recommendation for
the Congressional mccall of honor on
Major Wham's division COM I
mander during the war. and by Major /;
General D. K. Stanley. United States !
Army. for bounding over the works at |
Franklin and going to the rescue of |
fallen comrade, and a few days later. |
at Nashville Tenn. planting the colors !
Of Grants old regiment first on Mont 1
Hill, the apex of the Confed- |
crate position. Also a recommendation |
for promotion to Paymaster General. |
signed by the entire Illinois delegation, !
irrespective of party, and c. T. Chris |
tiansen, manager for DrexeI Morgan /
& Co.; Rev. William Hayes Ward. ed |
tOr of the Independent, and Gen. Hor-
ace Porter.
Major Wham's trial by cOurt-martial
was held at Vancouver Barracks. State
IF Washington, in 1895. The sentence 1
was dismissal. but the President COM
nuted the sentence To suspension from
all rank on half pay until January Is.
S0i. at which time Major Wham will |
De retired He was a soldier in
Grants old regiment. The last act of
Grant before leaving the White House
m March 3. 1871. was the appointment
If Major Wham to be paymaster.