Evening star., 1900-03-23
NO ATTEMPT TO DODGE
Gov steunenberg Assumes Responsibility
for Arrests Made.
Spirited Controversy Among Member,
of the Hous>sMilitary Al
fairs Committee.

Governor Steunenberg Of Idaho continued
his testimony before the Coeur d'Alene in
vestigation today, being cross-examined by
F. Z. Robertson, attorney for those prose-
cutting the charges.
The governor stated that if any arrests
were made prior to the issuance of his
proclamation, it with his authorize
ton and approval, and because of his gen
eral authority as chief executive of the
state Before General Merriam went to the
scene OF disorder, the governor had a talk
with him and told him to take such steps
as were necessary to maintain order.
When further questioned as to Just who
was responsible for arrests, Governor
Steunenberg said: 'T assume responsibility
for every arrest in Shoshone county by
General Merriam or any one else"
He was asked If he assumed this respon-
sibility in the case of a man brought from
kidnapping"
Governor Steunenberg answered that if
1t amounted to that, he assumed respon
Sibility for It,
Chairman Hull at this point stated that
he had received letter from General Cor
bin, saying that the War Department was
not In possession of the official rolls of
prisoners.
The governor went on to testify that he
assumed responsibility for any arrests made
by deputies outside of the state, although
he did not claim authority beyond the
state. He did not know that his state dep
utles made these arrests, but IL they did
he was the responsible official.
Mr.. Robertson asked if the regular prison
in which federal prisoners were confined
was not at Moscow, Idaho.
The governor did not know of this: the
use of the stockade, or bull PEN was not
the result of any specific order, but was
due to the requirements Of the occasion.
A Spirited Controversy.
A spirited controversy among members
of the committee occurred wien Mr.
Cheney, an attorney for the defense, inter-
posed an objection to one of Mr. Robert
sons questions.
Representative Sulzer interposed vigor-
Gus protest against objections from private
counsel. He added that it had become ap-
parent that the majority of the committee,
through an attorney, was trying to shift
responsibility" He declared that this was
an Outrage the minority"
Chairman Hull replied that he resented
the fnsinuatfon that the majority repre-
sented one side or the other, and tie denied
that the majority had taken any such atti-
tude as that suggested by Mr.. Sulzer.
Certain Miners Excluded.
When asked if he was consulted as to
instituting the permit system" Governor
Steunenberg said that Attorney General
3ie]s lSEol teu 10 lIldl dIter consulting
with mine owners and citizens in the Occur
d d'Aiene district he had found evidence of
conspiracy dating back several years, and
that he had accordingly written out a
proclamation forbidding mine owners from
employing men belonging to organizations
believed to be criminal
The previous testimony had shown that
the governor approved the course of Lieu
tenant Lyons in putting union men to work
at the I1ger-Poorman mine. The governor
said he did not consider this a violation of
his own proclamation as the case was ex-
ceptonal and the mine was in danger of
being flooded He reserved the right to act
as circums tances required.
At noon the committee took recess until
2 o'clock.
The Afternoon Session.
At the afternoon session Gen. Steunen-
berg was questioned his extension of
the proclamation on the permit system so
as to include men above ground as well
as the underground men. When asked if
he gave blanket authority to make ar
rests, he said the authority went to the
extent OF making arrests of all persons dis
turblng peace and order and violating mar
tial law.
coroner, had made arrests because the per
nit system had not been observed. But
whatever DR.. France did, the governor
said, Il stand by He stated that no war
rants Were issued The issuance of writs
of habeas corpus would have been a great
hindrance to the military authority
When asked If he wanted the writ to is
sue, long controversy occurred and the
committee finally ruled out the question