The times., 1901-03-15
THE ENQUIRY POSTPONED.
4 Delay i'm the Hemp Investigation
Until May 1.

Tho Senate Committee on Military Af-
fairs yesterday decided to postpone the in
vostigation of the charges made against
Lieutenant Colonel iIeistaud, Adjutant
General Corbin. and other officials. by
Major +. l.. Hawks. until May J.
The reason given for the delay is that
all the witnesses cannot reach Washing
ton before that tine. The date has been
| set six weeks ahead so that a half dozen
witnesses now in the Philippines and who
| have been cabled for can arrive.
The absence OF Senator Proctor IS said
TO have nothing to do with the postpone
ment of the hearing. Messrs. Harris and
Cockrell claim that the committee is will
ing TO go ahead as soon as the witnesses
arrive.
There viii be no whitewash,' said
Senator Harris Yesterday. Il have heard
comments of this kind. but l can assure
YOU that the truth viii be known and all
guilty parties punished
The committee has all the letters and
documents in the case and these viii be
used. The hearings are to be secret. as it
is not proposed to let any evidence be
/ come public until the report of the mi
nority is published
Mr.. Proctor is expected TO return to the
city in ample time to attend the hearings.
The charges which brought about the
investigation were brought TO the fore by
Mr. Pettigrew, who produced prospec-
tus and described the company as fol-
lows:
Last year company was organized
for the purpose Of exploiting the Phil
ippine Islands 1t was called the Philip
pines Lumber and Development Company.
il issued an elaborate prospectus and
srl IN eff i'm I m
allude TO the matter if it were not for the
fact that prominent officers of the Gov
ernmcnt were connected with it's organi-
9atiou ana were members OF its board of
directors. According to the prospectus
this company had a capital of $50oo,oo0,
and was going to engage in the purchase
and sale Of lumber in the Philippine ISL
ands and assist in the general develop
ment OF that country. Their prospectus
says:
'' Negotiations are pending for timber
rights, and some valuable timber rights
have already been secured, and negotia-
tions for others are rapidly approaching
completion. No other company can COM
pete with this one in getting a first foot
hold in the islands, and for several years
at least this company viii be ahead of all
competitors.
80 Unlike most tropical countries, the Ia
Dor problem is easily solved by the Chi
nese labor, which is plentiful and fairly
good.
The Office Of the company is in the
Merchants Loan and Trust Company
Building. corner of Adams and Clark
Streets, Chicago, and upon the glass door
of the office is printed the following:
Philippines Lumber and Development
Company. J. A r. Hull. President.
Mr. Hull, the president of this Philip
pine company. is Chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs Of the present
House of Representatives. The attorney
Of this company is Hon. 3. y. Dovener,
a member of Congress from West Vir-
ginia- The company is organized in West
Virginia. It's treasurer is John Gibson,
a banker at Creston, Iowa. Its secre-
tary is Stewart Spalding, of Chicago. Mr..
Spaldiug is also Secretary of the Cal
umet and Chicago Canal and Dock Com
pany and is financially interested In 9TH
er concerns. The officers of the company
said last fall. when interviewed by re-
porter. that the son of Congressman Hull
and a former major of volunteers was at
that time in the islands in the interest of
the company"
Among the letters in the possession Of
the committee are the following:
Washington. D. c., July 10, 1899.
To whom it may concern:
''Erastus l. Hawks, late major, Tenth
United States Volunteer Infantry, and now
organizing a company for the purpose of
manufacturing rope and coTdage from ma
Mia hemp at Manila. p. l., has our full
confidence and earnest good wishes. be-
ueving his representations and business
methods viii be correct.
The enterprise. We believe. affords a
good opportunity for the safe investment
of capital. and the Government will look
with favor on same.
H. O. 5. HEISTAND.
Assistant Adjutant-General.
JAMES A. BOYD
Assistant Attorney General.
GEO. I. MEIKLEJOHN,
Assistant Secretary of War"
War Department.
"Adiutant Generals Ohice,
washington, July q, 1899
My Dear Major Hawks: [ did not get
10 see General Corbin before you left the
other day. / was kept busy at the White
House all afternoon. and only chanced to
meet NeikIejohn as ne was leaving the Of
fee. He is much pleased with the work
done We are expecting cable now any
time in re the site.
You are assured Of assistance IN max,
ing your project "A success. and indeed IL
looks as If YOU could even in spite Of as If
We were not your friends Yours sin
cerelT. II o. 5. HEISTAND."
Washington. =. G.. July 81 1899
Ny Dear Major Hawks: Your note of
the ZGth To hand. and ] note with grauhca-
tiou what you say of our prospects and
progress