The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-24
PROBING TIE GOVERNOR
Idaho's Executive Avoids Answer
ing Pointed Questions.
The Enquiry Into the ShoshOne Min
ing Troubles Almost n Farce-The
Witness Shielded by the Republic
can Members of the Committee
Democrats Denounce Proceedings.

The Governor Of Idaho testified before
the Committee on Military Affairs of the
House of Representatives that the procla-
nation putting .nto 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 II. He said that he was wiling 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
BILE 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. He claimed
the right to keep Shoshone County under
martial law as long as he thought proper;
to remove civil officers at will; to arrest
men without warrants or without specify
ing charges, and to suspend writs of ha-
beas corpus. When asked if he conformed
his actions TO the rules which he pre-
scribed for others he said: Il reserve the
right to do as / please"
Mr.. Lentz characterized him as a despot
and a tyrant, and with equlvocating while
on the witness stand and under oath Mr.
Cox several times expressed impatienee
with the witness for his refusal to answer.
pertinent questions directly. Mr.. Hay as
serted that the witness either intentionally
evaded questions or lacked intelligence,
and Mr.. Sulzer denounced the Republican
members of the committee for being
biased and unfair. Both Mr.. Lentz and
Mr.. Sulzer made sharp attacks on Mr.
CLANCY, who appeared as counsel for the
State officers, having been retained by
Governor Steuneuberg, and Mr.. Hay en-
tered a vigorous protest against MI
CLANCY 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, whel,
the Witness either directly or through at
torney, objeSted to making answer to an
embarrassing question, the Republican
members voted solidly that he need not
answer, the Democrats voting that he
should.
The croes-examination of Governor Steu-
neDberg was conducted in a calm DELHI
crate and incisive manner by +. C. Rob-
ertson, of Spokane. Wash, counsel for the
a line of questions to elicit from the Cow
ernor 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 to act as his representative in
Shoshone County. He had not copy of
the despatch.
II General Merriam had made arrests
without warrants before the issuance of
xl-,,
tion existed the Governor did not know
of 1t. He said he did not know how many
men were thrown into the bull pen, how
long they were kept there. how many we're
released, when they were released, or why.
He did not recall ever having seen a list
Of the prisoners, though it might be that
he had. AT any rate, he had no list now,