Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1900-02-23

| could not be said anything was smotl
l cred"
Chairman Hull did not think the con
mit,se could abdicate its functions
Lentz
). Marsh resented this remark as a mi
representation OF his position and HUI
disavowed any such purpose. A resolutio
> by Hay Of Virginia, that the eomplainin
, witness be first examined, vas debate
, at length.
Z TIE committee adjourned until Iuesda
morning when its exact line OF procedur
viii he adopted and the examination Q
witnesses begun.
The hearing Of wiinesse, in the investi
ga'ion of alleged improper action BY Ia
military authorize, at Wardner, Idaho
began Tuesday before the house committee
ON military ufIaiis The room was crowd
ell ana among those present were Genera
Merriam and Governor Steunenberg
The committee adopted the form of pro
cedu.e offered by Hay Of Virginia that
he witnesses Tor the eomplainanis be frs,
heard with opportunities for response iron.
| the other side.
| The first witness, A. A. Frazer, a lawyer
Of Shoshone county, where the trouble oc-
CURED testified that the civil courts were
busy at the time martial law Is said to
have been IN operation.
kepres, NATIVE LENT, who conducted The
inquiry, explained that thiss Was the
ground work Tor Judging the need Of mar
tial law
Fred G. Robertson, u lawyer OF Spokane,
told Of his visits to the scene Of the riots,
including what he termed the bull pen,
and gave Il detailed description Of the
mines where the trouble occurred. lie cx'
planned the friction growing ont OF the
employment OF non union miners by The
Bunker Hill mine, the gathering OF 1000
miners on April - and the destruction
caused by the dynamiting Of The Bunker
Hill plant.
Governor Steuncnberg had proclaimed
that a state Of in.urrs'tion existed and
several men were arrested and put into The
bull pen
Robertson applied for writs OF habeas
corpus for the arrested men, but the courts
held that they would not interfere with
the action Of the governor, which in effect,
said the witness, was a suspension Of the
writ OF habea- corpus.
Robertson was continuing his recital
when the committee adjourned.
The Investigation OF the mining irouble,
and I'M conduct Il TN. | ipI States
forces IN Idaho la-l summer continued
Wednesday before the house committee
on military affairs. Frederick G. Robert.
.on resumed his narrative, beginning with
the legal proceedings he made i'll behalf
al the imprisoned miners and the diilicul'
les he claims TO have encountered from
the military authorities, state officials
and courts. lie said he was refused per
mission to be present al the inquest ot
those killed during the outbreak and was
unable to communicate with the accused
miners M to their rights, although repre-.
scntptiNes Of the INNING company were
present. He protested To the attorney
MED the rights OF counsel Throughout
these proceedings the Witness said the
military authorities Mere IN control oi
affairs. United States soldiers guarded
the imprisoned mon, bringing them to and
from the court. Witness said that Gen.
cral Merriam was in charge Of the ''bul
PEN which consisted of old buildings and
box cars surrounded by wire fence Rob.
crtson expressed the opinion that the
United States forces should have been
used 10 preserve order and uphold the civ,
il authorities. but IN fact. he declared.
they superseded the civil anthoritie. aud
IN some instances. which were not detail
3D. arrested men in no way connected with
the outbreak. He said there We're no
and none Of the usual forms Of
law. but when the man was wanted he
was stopped on the street and sent to
the bull pen. This was done by deputies
Who acted under the state officials and
military authorities. Messrs. Morrow and
lmsnrth OF the American Federation OF
Labor We're present during the hearing and
President Gompers is expected to attend
when he arrives.
The answer Of the state department to
the house resolution calling Ion informa.
lion regarding certain charges made by
late Consul Maerum WAS transmitted H.
the house by the president. The state
ment Is signed by Secretary Hay, who
states that nj no time has M,crum IL.
ported Ia the department an instance II
The violation, by opening OF otherwise, Of
his official mail by the British censor at
Durham or elsewhere. Continuing. the
secretary ii state said there il no truth
IN the charge that a secret alliance exists
between the United States aud Great
Hhitnn o. any other nation.
y" r"isgamist Need Apply.