The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
TO PROBE THE HEMP DEAL
A Committee of Enquiry Appointed
by the Senate.
A Determination to Probe the Scan
dai Involving the Names of Colonel
Hetstund and other OHcinis-The
Herring to Begin Wednesday.

Hearing to Begin edhcsuhH
The Senate Committee on Military AT
fairs, at a meeting yesterday morning
decided to investigate the charges agains
Lieut. Col II. O. S. Heistand. under tn
Pettigrew resolution adopted by the Sen
ate on March l.
The resolution is as follows;
Whereas it has been charged in the
public print that Lieut.. Col II. O. 5
Heistand. assistant ad1utant general
was. I'm the summer Of 1883. engaged IN
forming a combination for the purpose
OF controlling the hemp output OF the
Philippine Islands; and
Whereas it is further stated that on
various occasions he represented as
associated with him in the progress
OF such enterprise George ID. Melkle-
john. Assistant Secretary of War;
James +. Boyd, Assistant Attorney
General; Charles ii. Allen. then AS
sIstant Secretary of the Navy, and
ii. c. Corbin, Adjutant General; ana
whereas 1t is further stated that in
connection with the formation of such
company said Lieut.. Col II. o. 5.
Heistaud, intending to indicate that
the tariff duties of the Philippine Isl
ands would be adjusted for its benefit.
when formed, wrote the following let
Washington, d. c..
July 81, 1899.
MY Dear Major Hawks:
Your note of the 26th to hand, and
/ note with qualification what you say
of our prospects and progress. / have
sent you a pamphlet showing export
duties, and so forth, as at present ar
ranged. of course. the needs of the
future will be met as Developments re-
p"i'e III o. 5, HEIsTAND.
and
Whereas it is alleged that because
. 10. l,,-A a Hawks mon
Lieutenant Colonel Heistand for com
pensation for his services in connec-
ton With the formation Of such CON-
pany and in part settlement theTeoL
George d. MeikleJohn, Assistant sec
5etary of War, guaranteed to Major
Hawks a substantial position IN thc
Government service, ana dld appoilI
him to the position of customs IN
2pector in the Philippine Islands ana
Shereas shortly after his entry upon
service as such inspector by an oruer
dated before the commencement OF
said service said Major HAWKS was
summarily removed from such posi-
.Resolved by the Senate of the
United States of America, That the
Committee on Military Affairs pe. anu
It is hereby, directed to investigate
and report to the Senate whether the
foregoing statements are true, ana
particularly if Lieutenant Cololei
Heistand was engaged in such conpl7
nation. and was or was not authorized
to represent that other Government
officials were so engaged with him,
and that tariff duties would he al
justed for their benefit; and also
whether the Assistant Secretary OF
War has used Government positions
for the purpose of paying private
debts of any officer of the Govern
ment and whether the salary OF such
position was charged against tuhus
arising from the Philippine ISLANDS,
Ill. -In.a--S to
n1ittee to summon witnesses, admin
lister oaths. and employ stenog-
rapher.
A subcommittee was appointed TO con-
duct the enquiry. Senator Proctor OF
Vermont will be chairman, and associated
with him are Senators Hawley, Burrows,
Cockrell. and Harris.
The investigation promises to bring to
light some interesting information as to
the connection of high Government Off
Gals with the franchise grabbing indulS-
ed in in the Philippines and it is pre-
dicted that important results Will be had.
The committee has on file all Of the cor
in the case and this will be
used.
The committee will begin the hearings
on Wednesday morning and will sit
through The recess. Among the witnesses
whose names have been filed and who will
be called to testify are Secretary Root,
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn, Adjutant
General Corbin, Governor Allen of Porto
Rico, formerly Assistant Secretary of the
Navy; Assistant Attorney General Boyd,
Lieutenant General Miles, and -ong ar
raw of staff officers.
The principal witness for the prosecu-
tion is Major L. L. Hawks, who claims to
have been employed by those named
above. with the exception of General
Miles. TO float two big syndicates in the
I5biIippines. The hearings Will probably
over A month.