Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-02-24

He said there was no partisanship in
the investigation and he merely wished to
get at the charges which the labor organ
izations regarded as serious and which
were widely made in the press. Representa-
tive Marsh of Illinois also urged that as
Lentz had formulated the charges he
should proceed in his own way. There
should be a full investigation, $50 that it
could not be said anything was smoth-
cred"
Chairman Hull did not think the COM
Lentz.
! Marsh resented this remark as mis-
representation of his position and Hull
disavowed any such purpose. A resolution
by Hay of Virginia, that the complaining
witness be first examined, was debated
at length.
The committee adjourned until Tuesday
morning when its exact line of procedure
will be adopted and the examination of
witnesses begun.
The hearing of witnesses in the investi-
CATION of alleged improper action by the
military authorities at Wardner, Idaho,
began Tuesday before the house committee
on military affairs. The room was crowd
ed and among those present were General
Merriam and Governor Steunenberg
The committee adopted the form of pro-
cedure offered by Hay of Virginia-that
the witnesses for the compliments be first
heard with opportunities for response from
the other side.
The first witness, A. A. Frazer, lawyer
of Shoshone county, where the trouble &C.
Cured, testified that the civil courts were
busy at the time martial law is said to
have been in operation.
Representative Lentz, who conducted the
inquiry, explained that this was the
ground work for judging the need of mar
tial law.
Fred c. Robertson, a lawyer of Spokane,
told of his visits to the scene of the riots,
including what he termed the bull pen,'
and gave a detailed description OF the
mines where the trouble occurred. He ex-
planned the friction growing out of the
employment of non-union miners by the
Bunker Hill mine, the gathering of 1000
miners on April 20 and the destruction
caused by the dynamiting OF the Bunker
Hill plant.
Governor Steunenberg had proclaimed
that state of instruction 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 suspension of the
writ of habeas corpus.
Robertson was, continuing his recital
when the committee adjourned.
The investigation of the mining troubles
and the conduct of the United States
forces in Idaho last summer continued
Wednesday before the house committee
on military affairs Frederick c. Robert
son resumed his narrative. beginning with
the legal proceedings he made in behalf
Of the imprisoned miners and the difficult
ties he claims to have encountered from
the military authorities. state officials
and courts. He said he was refused per-
mission to be present at the inquest OF
those killed during the outbreak and was
unable to communicate with the accused
miners as to their rights, although repre-
,entatiVes of the mining company were
present. He protested to the attorney
general that the miners were being de-
MED the rights of counsel. Throughout
these proceedings the witness said the
military authorities We're i'll control of
affairs. United States soldiers guarded
the imprisoned men. bringing them to and
from the court Witness said that Gen
eral Merriam was in charge of the "bull
PEN which consisted of old buildings and
box cars surrounded by wire fence. Rob
eltson expressed the opinion that the
United States forces should have been
used To preserve order and uphold the civ
il authorities, but in fact. he declared,
they superseded the civil authorities and
in some instances which were not detail
ed, arrested men in no way connected with
the outbreak. He said there were no
warrants 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
Fursueth 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 for informa-
ton regarding certain charges made by
late Consul Macrum was transmitted TO
the house by the president. The state
ment Is signed by Secretary Hay, who