The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-15
WARM WORDS EXCHANGED
A Show Of Bitterness by Committee
men in the Idaho Enquiry.
A Controversy Between Chairman
Hull md Mr.. Lentx-Mr. Sulzer's
Charges Resented-More Evidence
of Outrages by the Soldiers in the
Occur d'AIene Mining Region.

Bitterness was manifested and angry
words were exchanged during the Occur
d'Alene enquiry by the Committee on Mil
itary Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives yesterday. Verbal conflicts took
place between Representatives Hull, Sui
ger, Lentz. Dick, and Stevens. Mr.. Sulzer
declared that the committee was con-
trolled by the Standard Oil Trust and
Lord Pauncefote.
The reason for Mr.. Suffers allusion to
the British Ambassador was due to the fact
that the Committee on Military Affairs in
executive session yesterday decided TO in
definitely postpone consideration of Mr..
Suffers resolution calling for information
as to the building of British Notifications
on the northern frontier of the United
States, particularly on Puget Sound.
The first witness was George Cornell, OF
Burke, Idaho. He told of the horrors or
the bull pen, and of the needless confine
ment of men in that place. He recalled
one instance of a man who wanted to go
Into the open air for a brief spell.
Il raped on the door," said the witness.
and called to the sergeant OF the guard.
Receiving no answer. l kicked against the
door. The colured soldier who stood guard
or ---- you l will shoot through it
said. 1 don't care if you do shoot as
might as well die that way as in here /
told the guard at the outside of the door
that l wanted TO see the sergeant of the
guard. That officer finally came. l said to
him, For Gods sake, why don't you let
this man out of this bull pen for a few
minutes? Don't you see him rolling In the
dirt in agony?' The coiored sergeant re-
piled, I don't care If he's rolling in hell;
he can't come out The result of the order
keeping men in that old barn. called the
bull pen, while the men were suffering
from stomach trouble and other complaint
brought on by the food that was given us,
was that the place became intentionally
filthy. l told a colored soldier that /
wanted to see General Merriam. You
don't want much, do you?' said the SOL
der You can see the lieutenant Il
don't want TO see the lieutenant | want TO
see the general Finally got to see Gem
eral Merriam. l reported to him the con-
dition in the barn. He called up the ser
geant Of the guard and asked him. How
about this? The colored sergeant said,
My orders was to close the doors at 10
o'clock
The general said something to the SOL
der which / did not hear. General Mer-
RAM then turned his back upon me and
gave me no answer to my plea. l was
then led back TO the bull pen.
The witness told of a Grand Army
veteran who though not charged with any
crime. was taken into custody by col
ored soldier. The veteran was lame from
wounds received in the civil war. He could
not walk fast enough to please his captor,
who prodded him with his bayonet. The
old man demonstrated and said:
That's right, stick your bayonet in a
man who fought four years to free you"
The soldier replied: "Oh, go along, you
old white - -; you new
er fought TO free anybody.
The veteran, when he reached the bull
pen, sat down on the ground. threw his
Grand Army button away. and wept.
The witness said he had written the |
veterans name on a memorandum book
which Sinclair. a Bunker Hill mine officer,
had taken from him. Sinclair being pres
ent, Mr.. Lentz said:
Mr.. Chairman. Mr. Sinclair is in the |
room" Turning to the man named, Mr. |
Lentz said: Mr.. Sinclair. / serve notice |
upon you TO produce here the book belong |
ing TO MIR. Cornell
There was at this point little colloquy |
between Mr.. Lentz and Mr.. Sinclair, when |
Chairman Hull said This is out OF or |
der The gentleman from Ohio is not the |
Neither is the chairman"
Mr. Lentz.
Mr.. Hull, continuing: THE gentleman |
from Ohio is only a member of this com |
mittee, and as such he has 10 right TO !