Sunday Washington globe., 1902-01-12

lnRa III the HelStau0- hawkes. Manila hemp
Company Thursday last. 1t is an extra
ordinary document, for while it specifically
admits every charge made by Major Hawkes.
it acquits the military officers named in the
enterprise OF cornering the hemp output Of
the Philippine Islands That our readers
may see for themselves we reproduce
condensed summary of the findings OF the
committee:
The reports cites the charge quoted in the
resolution of inquiry that Colonel Heistand
was in 1899 engaged in forming a combina
ton for the purpose Of controlling the
hemp product Of the Philippine Islands
and that the names Of Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn, Assistant Attorney General
Boyd, Assistant Secretary Allen, and Ad-
iutant General Corbin had frequently been
mentioned by him as associated with him
in the enterprise
The committee finds that the charges
made in the FIRST paragraph of the pre-.
amble to the resolution are not true, the
facts in that connection being that Colonel
then Major, Heistand, about May 1900
proposed to Mai. Z. l.. Hawkes., who had
been major Of the Tenth Volunteer Infantry.
a scheme for establishing manufacturing
plant in Manila for the manufacture Of the
hemp product in those islands and suggested
to Major Hawkes. to take charge of it, which
offer the latter accepted The company
then prepared prospectus and blank for
the names of subscribers, but the incorpora.
tion Of the company was never consum-
mated and no subscriptions secured
With regard to the second charge involv-
ing Government officials the committee
finds that Heistand and Hawkes. canvassed
the possibility of interesting those whose
names are mentioned in the resolution. II
is found that Heistand wrote to Hawkes. in
1899 as charged, sending documents and
making suggestions about the Philippine
tariff, but the committee says that these
suggestions are capable of different CON
structions. 1T is, " says the report, inn
possible for the committee to divine Col
Heistand's intention when he said, OF
course the needs of the future will be met
as they require referring to the Philippine
tariff"
The committee also finds that Hawkes.
made a claim upon Heistand for compensa.
ton for services but the charge that AS
sistant Secretary Meiklejohn guaranteed to
Hawkes. a position in the government ser
vice in part settlement Of this claim is NOT
sustained by the committee, but it is found
that Meiklejohn did in March, 1900, ap-
point Hawkes. to the position of inspector
of the customs service in the Philippines,
but that this appointment was revoked by
Secretary Root in the May following
Other findings are That while Heistand
was the protector Of the hemp company he
was not authorized to represent the other
government officials who were engaged with
him and that tariff duties would be ad-
justed for their benefit.
That the matter of the adjustment Of the
tariff was never mentioned directly or in
directly by Col Heistand to Gen. Corbin,
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn Assistant
Attorney General Boyd or Assistant Secre.
tary Allen
That Heistand asked General Corbin to
take stock and that the latter first assented
and then declined.
The testimony concerning the charge that
Heistand had promises from Assistant
Secretary Allen and Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn is repeate without comment,
but the following is added Your committee
further finds that the assistant secretary Of
war Hon g. d. Meiklejohn, has not used
government positions for the purpose of
paying private debts of any officer of the
government" "
The committee finds that the letter of
commendaton of Hawkes. of date July 8,
1899, signed jointly by Colonel Heistand,
Assistant Attorney General Boyd and AS
sistant Secretary Meiklejohn, was not
signed officially by these officers, and also
that the words The government will look
with favor on the same meaning the en-.
terprise, were not in the correct copy of
the letter
Amy unbiased person vino has followed
this hemp scandal in these columns will per
celve that every allegation Of a main fact
made by Major Hawkes. has been sus-
tanned by the committee which strangely
exonerates the accused military and Gov
ernment officials
Heistand, a Northumberland in the
army, is found fin violation of military law)
to have organized a commercial venture and
intended monopoly with the aid of the
military government of the islands) with
Major Hawkes. For this ne is acquitted by
the committee. Heistand is found to have
induced or solicited other military officers
higher in rank to join the enterprise
For this he is acquitted by the committee
Heistand is found to have signed his
name and induced officers Of higher rank to
do likewise TO a letter of credit or recon-.
mendation for Major Hawkes. to enable him
to promote the enterprise.
For this he is acquitted by the committee.
By palpable bargain sale and convey
ance Heistaud is found to have given
Hawkes. a sum of money in liquidation Of
his CHeistand's) indebtedness to him
(Hawkes) for services performed by the
latter in furthering this hemp monopoly
business.
For this Heistand is acquitted by the com.
mittee
BY another bargain, sale and conveyance
Hawkes. is given Federal position by
Heistand's eo-partner or fellow stockholder,
Assistant Secretary Of War Meiklejohn
The committee admits that Hawkes. re.
ceived such an appointment and that
Meiklejohn gave II to him
For this Heistand and Meikleiohn are
both acquitted by this extraordinary sena-
torial tribunal Of investigation.
But whv proceedP The case Is plau
Il II