Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-19
Is the Penalty For the Crime
With Which General
Egan is Charged.
WILL BE COURT MARTIALED
President Mckinley Announced This De-
termination at the Cabinet Meeting
Personnel of the Court as Yet I'm
announced-Gen. Miles Visits
Members of the abinet.

Washington. Jan. 17.-Presidcnt McKin-
ley announced to the cabinet at its regu-
lar meeting to-day that he had determine
ed to court martial General tgan. Secre-
tary Alger was not present at the Cabinet
meeting but with Adjutant- General Cor
bin, at the White House was in conference
with the President on the subject prior to
the cabinet session.
Just prior to the cabinet meeting, Cen
Miles made a rather unusual call upon
two of the members of the cabinet Score
taries Hay and Long. He had just return
ed from New York and when spoken to
with reference to the Egan case adhered
to his original declaration that this was
not time for him to act, If at ALL leaving
implication that If the commission did not
act, or the administrations it would then
he time for him to take some tseps The
CommisSary General was on duty as usual
at his office and business was apparently
going along in the usual way, although
it was noticed there were more callers
upon Gen. Egan of the official class,
namely officers of his own COPS than is
usually the case. Prior to the cabinet
meeting he said he was prepared to ac-
cept loyalty whatever action the Presi-
dent might take.
Contrary to general expectation no an
nouncement of the personnel of the Egan
court martial was made at the war "e-
afternoon. Adjutant-Gen. Corbin at the
last moment in reply to a question. said
that he had nothing whatever to make
public touching the Egan case. Secretary
Alger was absent from the war depart-
ment all the afternoon and just before the
close telephoned that he would not return
to his office during the dav. He spent the
morning at the White House and leaving
there lust before the cabinet convened
went to his house with Adiutant-Gen Corr
bin and remained there. II was s,pnos7d
that he was arranging some of the details
of the court hut This was only e,isss
The secretary is going 70 New Work. ar
midnight. 50 that unless he acts unon the
matter before his departure there rnav
be n delav until his return Tho fact MT
Secretary Alger was not present at the
cabinet meeting was seized al once as y
sign of trouble in the cabinet ana soon
the usual rumor of dissensions and an
Intention on tho mart of the uar socrotar,,
to resign were afoat There was no fo,,nJ,
alton for these in fact and Secrotar. Al
gers colleagues promptly and emnbatic-
ally denied them as soon a. thar atlantic,
was drawn to them
In the absence of the announcement of
the detail for the court marital there was
n good deal Of snacuIat;on &C 70 ;,s oo,,,1
position. General practice is for majority
of the court to consist Of tho neers mr. en-.
periors in rank of the defendant. This
would make the tn ak Of Soliciting a court
a hard one because II is NOT easv to hpd
n sufficient number of general officers
ranking with a brigadier general 70 make
UP desirable quota, The friends of Gen.
Merritt are hoping that he will NOT he So
ected fearing that he will be accused of
prejudice by ono or perhaps both sides
The penalty for the offence with which
Gen Egan probably will be tried Is con-
duct unbecoming an officer and a gentle
man. is one of the, most severe. known n,
he army. being dismissed Article Il reads
as follows:
Any officer Who Is convicted Of conduct
an officer and n rentletnan
shall he dismissed from the serIicn
If the court shall find Gen. Eran rui,tv
even with rxtenuatinp circumstances thcv