The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-24

The Governor OF Idaho testified before
the Committee on Military Affairs Of the
House Of Representatives that the procla-
nation putting into effect The labor per-
nit system in Shoshone County was not
written by him and was promulgated with
out consultation with him, but that he ap-
proved it. He said that he was willing to
assume responsibility for every act that
the military authorities or the deputies
did. He said in the early part OF his ex
animation that he did not know that sol
diers or deputies had made arrests in
Montana, but If they did he was response
bic for it and would stand by it," Later
in his testimony he recalled that he had
heard something about arrests being made
outside Of his State and without any pro-
cess OF law for offences alleged to have
been committed in his State. lie claimed
the right to keep Shoshone County under
martial law as long as he thought proper;
10 remove civil officers at will: 10 arrest
men without warrants or without specify
ing charges, and to suspend writs of ha-
beas corpus. When asked il he conformed
his actions 10 the rules which he pre-
fGIANeu LOT others ne EalQs i reserve the
right to do as ] please"
Mr.. Lentz characterized him as a desp1t
and tyrant, and with equlvocating while
on the witness stand and under oath. Mr.
Cox several times expressed Impotence
with the itness for his refusal to answer
pertinent Questions directly Mr.. Hay as
serted ,hat the witness either intentionally
evGded questions or lacked intelligence
and Mr.. Sulzer denounced the Republican
biased and unfair Both MIR. Lentz and
Mr.. Sulzer made sharp attacks on Mr.
CLANCY. who appeared as counsel for the
State officers. having been retained by
Governor Steunenberg, and Mr. Hay en-
tered a vigorous protest against Nj
Chaney suggesting answers to the witness.
The Democratic members OF the committee
generally accused the Republican members
with shielding the witness from a proper
cross examination. because on at least a
dozen occasions during the enquiry. when
the witness. either directly or through at
torney, Ohjested TO making answer to an
embarrassing question, the Republican
members voted solidly that he need not
answer, the Democrats voting that be
should.
The croes-examination OF Governor Steu-
neDberg was conducted in a calm, delib-
crate and incisive manner by r. c. Rob-
eItsoh, u opohahe, WISH counsel Iof the
miners. The examination was opened with
a line OF questions 10 elicit from the Cow
eTnor what powers and authority ne had
delegated TO Bartlett Sinclair. The memory
Of The witness WAS not clear on this. He
recalled that he had telegraphed to him
simply 10 act as his representative in
Shoshone County. He had not a copy Of
the despatch.
II General Merriam had made arrests
without warrants before the Issuance Of
the proclamation that a state OF lnsurTec- |
tion existed, the Governor did not know
o. a.. He said be Old not know how many
men were thrown into the bull pen. how
long they were kept there. how many ere
released, when they were released OF why
lie did not recall ever having seen a list
q the prisoners, though il might be that
he had. At any rate, he had no list now,