Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

moral claim on the part of Hawks against
Colonel Heistand was for contribution of
his share of the actual expenses which
Hawks had incurred. As between copro-
moters, this is undoubtedly the law. His
claim for services had no basis whatever
in law or morals. He did not, therefore,
surrender anything when he gave up this
pretended claim. 1t was made, as all SUBJ
seauent claims by this man have been
made, with the hope of securing money
without consideration believing that men
would rather pay than to admit any bust
ness relations with him in connection with
the hemp negotiation. The appointment of
Hawks to a civil position In the Philippine
Islands was made purely out of sympathy
for him occasioned by his being out of en-
ployment, and having been In the mill
tary service of the United States, and with
out any knowledge whatever of his corrupt
bargain to sell private information. Had
this latter fact been known at the time, 1t
would undoubtedly have prevented any
consideration of an appointment, and its
partment, undoubtedly accounts fer his
removal. man with such instincts and
moral standards would be absolutely dam
gerous in the public service.
The Otis Cable.
1.-The evidence is very clear and conclu-
sive that Colonel Heistand sent the Otis
cable private dispatch. 1t made an in
quiry not at all unusual during that period
of time. AS 1t has been stated by one of
the officials, many cables were sent in
quiring about conditions in the Philippines.
The failure to pay for the cable and its
reply was purely an oversight 1t is in evil
dence that during that period the govern
ment did not pay its bills for cables for
several months. They accumulated, and
commission was appointed to examine the
accounts. No monthly accounts were ren-
dered, and therefore the charge for this
cable was not presented until after Col
cnel Hestand had left the country. He
has since paid for the cable and will pay
for the answer as soon as the Treasury
Department can ascertain the amount.
There are grave reasons, to my mind,
why the committee should not go outside
of the resolutions in formulating it's report.
We cannot overlook the fact that this is
a prosecution which was threatened by
Hawks If he was not paid more money.
The evidence shows that these threats
were made in substance to every man
whose name had been mentioned in connec-
ton with this enterprise. 1t was a subject
presented by Hawks at all times whenever
he thought the mention of it would result
in bringing him financial aid. 1t is over
whelmingly proven that the whole purpose
and animus of this prosecution on the part
of the prosecuting witness was for per-
sonal ends and the securing of a money
consideration. Proceedings by such persons
are too common in these days. Public
men in all official situations are subject to
be attacked. 1t is not the guilty always
who pay money on such demands. 1t is
often the sensitive man who feels that his
good name Will be in some way smirched,
not because he has done anything wrong
but because he has had the misfortune
without knowing the true character of
man Of this type, to have been associated
with him in some transaction"
Judge Mackey's Conclusion.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Needham's argu-
ment, Judge Mackey concluded with the
time he had reserved for that purpose. He
argued that many things tended to impli-
cate General Corbin as the principal in the
whole deal. The Otis telegram was one of
these things. If Corbin had not been in
terested, Judge Mackey declared he would
have seen to 1t that Colonel Heistand
should have been rendered bill for the
cable message. The attitude of General
Corbin while on the witness stand before
the committee was also criticised by Judge
Mackey. Corbin also became responsible
when he advised Heistand at the outset
that he had perfect right to engage in a
private enterprise in the Philippines al
though the judge commended the Philippines
was the enemy's country and came under
the seventy-fourth section of the army reg
uiatlons, which provide that an officer of
the army engaging or promoting any pri-
Vate enterprise in the enemy's country shall
be cashiered. This was the verdict which
ought to be rendered by the committee, he
declared.
Judge Mackey commented on the manner
In which the demands of Hawks had been
met both by Heistand and by Assistant
secretary Meiklejohn. These demands, he
SAID, were not made in secret, as would be
the case in blackmail, but We're made OPEN
~ at the War Department, and had both
been acceded to-Heistand had maid hin,
$3.50 and Meiklejohn had given him a posi-
tlon This argued, he declared, that there
was some ground for the demands.
Judge Mackey paid his respects to Major
Duncan B. Harrison, who had testified In
the case at the instance of his client, by
calling him the rowing theatrical witness.
who displayed the venom of the cobra. He
seemed to seek In this investigation the
raw material for some future drama in
which Major Hawks should take the part
of the villain in the play"
1t was stated at the conclusion of the ar
sunaeht by member of the committee that
the report would doubtless be ready within
a week. --