The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-20

lar Tuesday session, that he had de-
cided to order a court-martia to try
Commissary General Eagan for the
abusive and violent language he had
used respecting Major General Miles
while on the witness stand before the
war Investigating commission last
Thursday. Ever since the sensational
even the president has been carefully
debating over the matter and has
had frequent consultations with army |
officers and others regarding the steps
that should be taken, for he was con-
WINGED at the outset that the question
for consideration was what action
should be taken and not whether any
disciplinary measures at all should be
had. A determination to take some
action was vigorously expressed at the
last cabinet meeting, but the presi-
dent reserved final decision. Today just
before the cabinet session he held a
conference with the secretary Of war
and Adjutant General Corbin. It was
long in duration, but the action to fol-
low General Eagan's utterances was
decided and when the cabinet met the
president announced that he had reach
Nu 4IAS NCSIo1oI1 III LllC 1lldlIC Lie Sdld
he had determined that there was only
one course to adopt and that was to
order a court-martial to be convened
at once to try Genera Eagan. The
decision which was reached only this
morning, Notwithstanding reports that
a court-martial had been decided on
yesterday, met the unanimous approval
of the members of the bin Three
Of the presidents official advisers,
Secretary Alger, Secretary Wilson and
"-~ cL
sent, but in each instance their views
are known to coincide thoroughly with
the presidents decision.
The details of the action were left
to the secretary of war, who had with
drawn just prior to the session to re-
turn to the war department, to put in
motion the mact4Iery for the conven-
ing of the court. While it was not def
initely stated after the cabinet meet
ing what specifications would be made
against General Eagan, it is under
stood that the specific charge on which
he will be tried will be conduct unbe-
coming an officer n a gentleman.
The personnel of the court was not
taken up, that phase Of the action
being held to be not a cabinet mat
ter, but one that rested between the
president and the secretary of war,
General Wesley r. Merritt, former
commander-in-chief of the Philippines,
has been mentioned as likely to pre-
side over the court and a cabinet Of
fetal said today he would not be sur
prised at General Merritt's designa-
ton.
THE COURT NOT ANNOUNCED.
Contrary to general expectation, nc
announcement of the personnel of the
court was made at the war depart
ment up to the close of business this
afternoon. Adjutant General Corbin
at the last moment, in reply to a ques'
ton, said that he had nothing what.
ever to make public touching tbs
Eagan case. Secretary Alger was alb.
sent from the war department all O.
the afternoon and just before the Close
telephoned that he would not return
to his office during the day. He pen
the morning at the White house and
leaving there just before the cabine
convened, went to his house with AID
jutant General Corbin and RENAME
there. 1t was supposed that he wa
perhaps some Of the detail
of the court, but this was only a guess
The secretary is going to New York a
midnight, SO that unless he acts upol
this matter before his departure Their
may be a delay until his return.
RUMORS OF CABINET DISSEN-
SIONS.
The fact that Secretary Alger wa
not present at the cabinet meeting wa
seized at once as a sign of troubl
in the cabinet and soon the usual ru
NOR of diSSensionS and an intention o.
the part of the secretary to resign wa
af1oat. There was no foundation 70
these in fact, n Secretary Alger'
colleagues promptly and emphaticall
denied them as soon as their attentio
was drawn to them.
In the absence of the
of the detail for the court-martis
there was a good deal of speculatio
as to it's composition. General practic
is for a majority of the court to cor
sist of the peers or superiors in ran
of the This would max
the task of selecting a court a har
one, because it is not easy to find
sufficient number of general officer
ranking with a brigadier general t
make up a desirable quota; but lat.
tude is permitted the appointing al
thority in such selections, as the mint
article of war reads: mo officer shall
when it can be avoided, be tried b
officers inferior in rank" 1t will b
noticed that the phrase, eff it a /
avoided" leave opportunity for til
appointment of junior officers. TT
mention of Genera Merritt's name &
president of the court was due to tn
fact that he is the only available me
jor general of the regular army, tt
others being General Brooke, in Cub;
and General Miles here, neither re
garded as available. The friends
1eIleI oil leIIll dIe uOpllIS TIA Lc WI
not be selected, fearing that he wi
be accused of prejudice by one or pc
haps both sides. The penalty for til
offense on which general Eagan prof.
ably will be tried-conduct unbecon
ing an officer and a gentleman-it
one of the most severe known in tt
army, being dismissal. Article 81 reaC
as follows: ANY officer who is cor
victed Of conduct unbecoming an off
Ger and a gentleman shall be dismisse
from the service"
If the court shall find General Eaga
guilty, even with ~extenuating circun
stances, they must attach this ser
tence, and then the only hope for tt
officer would be in the exercise