The Washington times., 1901-09-24
AN INVESTIGATION PROBABLE.
Army Officers Blamed for the Crush
Mt the Cunitnl.


The persistent rumors concerning the
manage ment OF the ceremonies attending
| the obseanies of the late President Nc
/ kinney in this city, which eliminated in
direct charge OF mismanagement
against the army officers who were in
| charge of the ceremonies. VIII result in
an Immediate investigation of the cir
| cunstances. Assistant Secretary Sanger
last evening stated that he had called
| upon the interested parties for a detailed
report of all that transpired and that this
| Gction would be followed by formal in
vestigation if it was found that there was
| the necessity of it.
1t is stated in Congressional circles and
elsewhere that even this viii not close
the incident and that there will most
probably follow Congressional investi-
| CATION. which will eventuAte in such leg
| islation as will prohibit army officers from
| ever again having charge of a public
| function at the National Capitol
| The arrange ments would properly have
been in the hands of Sergeant-at-Arms
| Ransdell, of the Senate, and Major Rich
ard Sylvester. the Chief of Police OF this
city. both of whom are thoroughly expert
enced in the handling of large crowds on
similar occasions, and both of whom have
| creditably acquitted themselves whenever
| they have been called upon to act. In the
present instance, it is claimed that the
members of the army usurped the duties
of these officers and assumed entire
| charge of the arrangements. not even
consulting those who. to prevent trouble
and out of difference to the memory OF
the dead Executive. refrained from max
ing the protest that under ordinary cir
cumstances they would undoubtedly have
lodged
AS a consequence. nothing but disorder
seems to have resulted, with accompany
ing scenes so disgraceful as to bring the
| blush of shame to the cheeks of those ac-
quainted with the circumstances. Sena-
tors were denied admission to the build
| ing in which they are supposed to exer-
else complete control, ana were finally
admitted only after Colonel Ransdeil
threatened to oust the members of the
army detail should his orders not be re-
spected. During the ceremonies within
the Rotunda, many Senators were COM
PEELED to stand. while petty officers of the
army occupied more than half of the
| available seats. Similar indignities were
experienced by members of the House and
their families, and an atten:Is was made
to exclude the families of the justices of
the Supreme Court, who met in the Su-
prerne Court room. and went in body
to the Rotunda, expecting to. find seats
| reserved for them along with the JUS
tees themselves.
In the ceremonies at the Capitol the
I W
rangements and the view is generally ex-
pressed that they maintained their repu,
tation for poor management. Generai
Randolph, who was In charge of the ar
rangements for his comrades, was seen
| yesterday and asked for a statement re-
garding the trouble. He Immediately ex-
pressed great indignation. and declared
| that the publications regarding him and
| his management of affairs were scurrilous
| and unwarranfed. He declared that he
| would make no statement. as he was
countable alone to the officers of the War
Department, and would discuss the matter
| with no one else. When informed that
Congressional investigation was not an
| improbability. he Gained down somewhat,
| but reiterated that he was accountable to
! the War Department Alone
After the death of the well-beloved
President, it was formally announced that
the state funeral in this city would be in
charge of the army. General Gillespie,
head of the Engineer Corps. and at that
time acting Secretary of War, being per-
! official delegated his work to General Ran
| dolph who took direct charge of the ar
raIgements at the Capitol. The custodian
of the building, Sergeant-at-Arms Rams
| dell, held himself in readiness to cooper
ate with the army in every way in his
power. and expected to be called into con-
| sultation After having arranged the in
auguration plans at the Capitol and hav-
| ing at his command an experienced force
! of Capitol police, Mr.. Ransdell supposed
| that his assistance would be required by
| the War Department officials. He heard
nothing from them. however. until Mon
| day mcrning. when General Gillespie,
| General Randolph. and the latter's aide.
Captain Chamberlain called upon him at
| his Office in the Senate wing of the Capt.
| tol- He was then informed that the Off
| GERS standing before him were in full
q