The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-24
cluslon that such an extension had been

mine should the operators not obey the
! PRECIPITATION?
Il assumed that authority"
| What would you have done with a work
| ingman who did moi obey the permit proc
| lamajion2'
I would have dealt with him as the
/ case demanded"
Governor Steunenberg admitted that he
| had issued orders OF commitment in blank
| that DR.. France and Sinclair might fill in
| the names of the men whom they might
/ desire to commit without the formality Of
/ warrant
The Governor said he knew nothing OF
! the commitment Of Tilford. He answered
| Il do not know" TO many questions and re-
/ fused 10 make direct replies to many more
In the matter of habeas corpus, the wit
ness was finally compelled TO answer that
! the writ did not issue He would not say
! that It had been suspended. Then he was
| asked by Mr. Robertson:
Refused TO Answer.
You did not want it to issue, did YOU
The attorney. Mr.. CLANCY. objected, and
! the Governor said: Il do not think that is
! a proper question 20 ask me"
| Mr.. Cox said: Here is the Governor OF
state who refuses TO say whether he was
I or was not opposed TO the issuance of the
most sacred Of law writs. Why will he not
say yes or no?'
! The roll was called, and by a vote Of
| c to the witness was excused from an
swerinE. the Republican members voting to
| relieve him Of that embarrass menL
The Attorney General OF Idaho. in the
courts OF that State. represented that the
Governor had suspended the writ OF habeas
corpus. The witness denied that he had
suspended the writ. He was asked: DO
you approve or disapprove the act OF
your Attorney General In that particular?
The witness would not answer, and a
long discussion between the members OF
the committee ensued.
Mr.. Hay contended that the witness
should answer. He strongly criticised the
Governor by inference, for evading ire
question.
The witness said: Il never, in any proc
lamation. used the expression suspend the
writ OF habeas corpus
Nor did you expressly use the words
martial law in any of your proclamations,
did you?" asked Mr. Robertson.
We'll. ! sent troops in there"
"Will you answer the question:
Mr.. Parker objected. But the witness.
at length, said that no formal declaration
OF martial law had ever been made.
Then the martial law that 4 exist aud
which still exists in Idaho is simply by an
forth that an Instruction existed?'
Objection was made and Mr.. Lentz said
that if the witness were not compelled to
answer that question. yes or no, he would
consider the investigation a farce.
Mr.. CLANCY argued that the question
ought not 10 be answered He cOntended
that the very act Of calling out troops was
a declaration OF martial law.
Mr. Lentz took issue on this point, and
4f,N1
cago, at Pittsburg or at Hazleton when the
Federal troops we're sent there. He said
this witness is equivocatlng and equivo-
eating" Mr.. Parker interjected that is
not a fair statement" Mr.. Lentz, con-
tinuiug said the record Will show that
my accusation against this witness is just
Republicans stood Together.
The Republican members Of the GQmmit-
tee voted that the question need not be
answered.
When the troops forced men at the
point OF the bayonet to work, did they do
it at your suggestion, or under your au-
thority?"
Il was not present"
But don't you know whether you in
structed the military authorities TO DO
this?"
Well, as / said. was not there
MI COX grew lHpdl ltIl DE reason Of me
evasions OF questions by the witness, and
said it wac clear the Governor did not want
TO answer. Mr.. Cox said he would vote to
make the witness answer in a responsive
manner.
Has the executive OF your State any
authority to continue martial law when the
courts have been re-established and are
performing their functions without inter-
ruption or molestatiOn?
Il don't know"
Mr. Robertson showed that more than
1000 Federal troops are still in the Occur
d'Alene district and that though the
courts are in operation that martial law
prevails there yet. The witness could not
tell how much longer he would seek to
keep the troops there. He said the insur-
rection was not suppressed but he could
point 10 no instance Of lawlessness that
has occurred in the district since April %.
1899 He said the insurrection was not
suppressed and gave as his definition Of
"insurrection" that lit is a conspiracy or
an effort to defy the county authorities
Can you name any insurrectionist in
that district
NO. sir.
III there are insurrectionists there why
don't you arrest them"
"Oh, well. it's all only waiting 10 break
out"
Then because there was 4 riot az one
time in q community and at some other
time there may be another YOU are iusti-
fed in maintaining martial law"
Yes. sir"
do you not maintain martial law to
maintain the permit SYSTEM
oh, no."
Gould you maintain the permit system
without the troops?
Il do not know
Did you ever suggest to the War De
partment that martial law might be with
drawn, and that the troops might be al
lowed 10 remain
Il never did
At one point In the enquiry whore Mr.
CLANCY made an objection, Mr. Hay took
him severely TO task, saying. Il protest
against counsel making objections and re-
peatedly suggesting answers to the Wit
ness"
The Governor was asked II he had au-
thorized Sinclair to issue d proclamation
forbidding the use of certain highway to
citizens Of Wardner. who were on their
way to a cemetery
At first a direct answer could not be
forced from the witness. but after a lapse
Of time the Governor said that the nth
Of July parade was prohibited. because on
previous occasions violent speeches had
been made.
Gould you not have told these people
that they would not be allowed 10 make
speeches, under pain OF dispereal?"
Yes. | could have done that. but I
thought ! would go further"
you thought you would control and rule
those people without warrant Of law or
right, just as your viii dictated?"
Put It that way if you choose