The Washington times., 1901-10-01

Charges and Letters Read by Clerk
of the senate Committee-Lieut.
Col. Hcistand's Statement in De
fence of the Accusations of Hawks.
With comparatively few spectators. not
withstanding the Importance of the mat
ter under investigation. the Senate COM
mittce % which were referred the charges
against Lieut. Col. II. Q. S. Heistaud
convened yesterday morning. starting at
II O'Clock at the Capitol. The court will
continue in session at the Capitol for an
indefinite period in the investigation Of
what is known as the hemp combine
scandal. The members Of the Senate in
vestigating committee. before whom the
matter is being ventilated are Senators
Hawley, Proctor Burrows, Cockrell, and
Harris. Senator Hawley was made chair
man of the committee. The session was
held in the committee room of the Sen
ate Committee on Military Affairs. Lieut..
Col. H. o. S. Heistand, whose conduct is
under investigating is a well known army
officer and Assistant Adjutant General
of the United States Army. Major Hawks
former volunteer officer. and eX-inspec-
tor of customs at Manila, p. J., is the
author of the charges. Both were present
at the sessions.
Promptly at 10 o'clock, the various
members of the subcommittee, together
with the clerks and stenographers, began
to arrive, and by Il O'Clock all was in
readiness for the hearing. Before calling
the session to order, Chairman Hawley
called the committee into executive ses-
sion, with view to determining whether
or not 10 allow the general public admis-
sion into the court room. 1t was finally
hsnHs
terested in the investigation, and men,
bers Of the press. should be entitled to
admission
AT u:3O o'clock Chairman Hawley an
nounced the readiness of the committee
to take up the first days work. Before pro-
ceeding with business, Major Hawks, the
accuser of Lieutenant Colonel H5istand
was asked whether not he desired
counsel. and upon replying in the affirm
ative was given the liberty TO secure the
assistance of an attorney. Major hawks
took advantage of the privilege and pre-
sented as his counsel Crandall Mackey
for whom he telephoned. Lieutenant Gel
onel Heistand, who arrived at the Capi,o
early, was represented by Charles W.
Needham.
The enquiry began formally when Major
Huxford, the clerk to the committee, read
the resolution introduced by Senator Pet
tigrew authorizing the investigation.
Major HuXford then read the various
letters sent the War Department by the
committee asking for all data bearing
upon the subject; the reply of the Secre-
tary of War. together with the sending
of official documents The clerk then read
letters from various high officials
throughout the country endorsing Major
IaNX LEf
major in command of the Tenth volun-
teer Immunes, together with all corre-
spondence relating to his orders in the
Philippines. and the revocation of his ap-
pointment by Secretary Root Among the
papers read by Major Huxford were the
ones containing the charges preferred
against Lieutenant Colonel Heistand by
Major Hawks, in which Major Hawks
charged Colonel Heistand with conduct
unbecomiRg officer and a gentleman
by reason of his having engaged in a
combination TO control the output of hemp
IN Manila, and representing that Messrs
Meiklejohn, Corbin, Boyd and Allen were
engaged with him
In speaking of his accuser in his reply
to the charges, Lieutenant Colonel Hell
stand stated that he first became ac-
quatnted with Major Hawks when he
was an applicant for a position as major
In the volunteer service the latter being
introduced TO him by men OF honor and
integrity The accused officer stated
that shortly after Major Hawks had been
mustered out of the service an effort was
made to incorporate a company for en-
gaglng In the hemp business in the ISL
ands and for the manufacture of hemp
ropes with modern machinery at or near
the city of Manila. In his statement of
defence Lieutenant Colonel Heistand says:
The proposed enterprise was, in my
a hpmnra nd
one, in which any person might engage
j made no secret OF my prospective con-
nection Herewith and frequently spoke of
IT TO my friends in the War Department
Lieutenant Colonel Heistand added that
before long the idea of forming the en-
terprise was abandoned so far as he was
concerned, owing TO the inability to Sc
cure funds, and he went abroad. Upon
Heistand says he received letter from
Major Hawks making a demand upon
him for money He says:
Through an attorney he presented a
bill for 81 SIS, but as he was not an en-
ploye, but an interested party in the con-
cern. / believed he had no right to the
money beyond his actual expenses In
fact, regarded his charge as excessive"
Lieutenant Colonel Heistand said that
the major stated he would bring suit
should he not secure the money, and as
he could not have spared the time nor
loss OF money in attending court he au-
thorized his attorneys to make settle
ment with Major Hawks Lieutenant
Colonel Heistand's statement continues:
He accepted and signed a release in
full Subtraction and discharge OF all
claims and demands whatsoever and
copy of the same is herewith attached
Since the date of that settlement ! have
not communicated with him. but some
time afterward learned that he had been
appointed. entirely without my knowl-