Evening star., 1898-02-11
MAJOR wHAM's RECORD.
The Bill to Restore Him to His Status
in the Army.

The House military committees report or
the bill to enable the President to set aside
annul or expunge the proceedings of g
court-martial which found Major JOSEPH
W. Wham guilty of refusing to pay a debt
which he insisted he did not owe and never
had and to restore him to his former
status in the United States army, was
made today by Mr.. Mcdonald. 1t concludes
as follows:
Finally. to pile Pelion on Ossa. Put on
one end of the scales of justice the COM
plainant's wholly unsupported and contra
dictory testimony and on The other the tes-
timony of Hon. Otto Gramm, state treas
urer of Wyoming and lessee of the Lara
me rolling mills, a most reliable and re-
sponsible business man, and the testimony
of Hon. NJ. c. Jahren, city attorney OF
Laramie, Wyo.. and Major Wham, who had
correctly accounted for millions of public
funds. Now, add 20 this the abrogation on
both trials of the rule of law requiring a
fact to be proven by the best evidence.
which, in this case, is the express receipt
or record, registered receipt or letter, or
check. which would necessarily bear Major
Whams Endorsement and we are unable
to see how any earthly power could make
Major Wham's vindcation clearer. 1t GER
tainiy has been automatically proven, If
not demonstrated. that Major Wham did
not owe this money.
That this fearful injustice to gallant
soldier of the great republic may be speed
lily corrected and a great wrong rtghted
the committee concur in the recommenda-
tiOn of the Secretary of War for the pass
age of the bill. The Secretary's report,
hereto attached. after stating that he de-
voted considerable time to the considera-
tion of the case concludes as follows:
1T is true that the unexpired portion of
the sentence could be RENTED by the Pres
ident. and he could be restored to duty, but
In, .infn ion lie hn mi
measure of relief to him, and l therefore
recommend legislation for his relief
The Secretary of War, in his report,
also says that Major Wham's record dur
ing the war was a brilliant one and, judg-
ing from the following testimonials, his
record during peace as paymaster has
been no less brilliant:
Major Wham, while serving under me
in the Department of the Atlantic per-
formed his duties in courteous and salts
factory manner, promptly and most excel
lently. There were none better.
Very truly yours,
During the period of Major Wham's
service under my command in the Depart
ment of Arizona he performed his Guties
in prompt, courteous and satisfactory
manner
(Signed).
ALEXANDER MCDOWELL McCOOK,
Major General, Retired
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. 8. A, Retired
''Brigadier General E. 8. Otis. now COM
manding Department Of Colorado. and the
last department commander under whom
Major Wham served, at the conclusion of
en- extended letter. says:
His major Wham's) services were dis
charged promptly and satisfactorily
Attached is a recommendation for the
congressional medal of honor on two dis
tinct occasions by Major General Kimball.
Major Wham's division commander dur
ing the war. and by Major General D. X.
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
Montgomery 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. Christensen, manager
Drexel, Morgan & Co.: Rev. VIM Hayes
Ward, editor of the Independent, and Cen
eral Horace Porter