The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-06
Col. Crowder's Report on the Chal-
mctte Inquiry Sent TO Congress
by the President.
MR.. HAYS LETTER TO HEARD
SHOWING THE NEUTRALITY LAWS
HAD NOT BEEN VIOLATED.
Alleged British Camp Was Merely a
Shipping Station for Mules and
Horseshoe EnIistments

| to-day sent TO the House the report of Col.
! Crowder, who made the investigation Of
the charges of Governor Heard. of Louisi-
ana, that the neutrality laws were being
violated at Chalmette, La. In transmitting
the report the President sent the following
message:
In response to the resolution of the House
! or Representatives Of June 2, requesting
/ the President to send to the House of Rep
! resentatives, If not Incompatible with the
! interests of the public service, full informa-
! ton of the investigation recently made by
| his order as TO the alleged supply camp in
/ the State of Louisiana for the collection
and shipment to South Africa Of military
supplies including horses and mules. 1
transmit herewith a copy OF the report
/ from Colonel Crowder, the officer who made
! the investigation referred TO, and copy of
| his letter, which, by my direction, the sec
rotary of state addressed on the Sd Of this
month TO the Governor Of Louisiana, being
| an answer TO a communication from Gov
ernor Heard in which he charged certain
violations of the neutrality laws OF the
| United States at the port Of Chalmette,
| La, which communication. with its in
closures, has already been laid before the
House of Representatives, in compliance
with its resolution of April 10. and is print
ed In House document No. SOS, Fifty-sev-
| enth Congress- first session"
Secretary Hay. in letter TO the Gov
ernor of Louisiana, dated June 3, sums up
the main facts as found by Colonel Crow
der and also gives the rules of international
| usage respecting the sale of goods to parties
at war. Mr.. Hay says the serious point in
the charges submitted by Mr.. Pearson and
| by the Boer legislative committee of Phil
| adelphia was that the British authorities
had enlisted men in this country for service
in South Africa. The government made
| particular efforts to find out if there was
! any basis for this charge, but Mr.. Hay says
| that Colonel Crowders report shows that
| not a single instance could be discovered by
him. Moreover. the attorney general. on
May II, requested the Boer legislative COM
mittee for evidence which would substan-
| tiate this charge, but received no informa-
ton from him on this point. Mr.. Hay says
/ that this charge must be considered not
| only improved, but as having been made
| without the slightest pretense OF tuStitica-
| ton or proof.
WHAT WAS FOUND.
Continuing, he says: What has been
found is that certain officers of the British
army, acting in the character of purchas-
ing agents and inspectors, have been en-
gagged in the work of buying. collecting and
| inspecting horses and mules at different
places in the United States and shipping
them from Chalmette to South Africa.
! There have been thirteen of these officers
4 The British government some time since
ordered the recall of all of them. The men
employed under them have all been Ameri-
cans The shipments of mules and horses
have been continuous month after month
since the outbreak of the war. The YES
sells in which they were shipped were of
private ownership and not under the con-
troll of the British government, and have
not the character of military or naval
transports. Chalmette was not a military
camp or post nor a base of military sup
plies as the terms are defined by standard
military authorities, nor in any sense save
such as would make a Touring mill or a
packing house a base of military supplies
if flour or canned meat were shipped from
either through a series of months to any
belligerent power. Chalmette was simply
shipping station for the loading and ship
ping of mules. Physically the station con-
sisted of half of set Of buildings which
did not differ from the other half of the
same set which was not hired by the Brit
ish authorities, the buildings of this unhired
half being continued in their former use"
Mr.. Hay next addresses himself TO the
law in the matter and says our duty has
been laid down again and again. He quotes
from the declaration of Thomas Jefferson
when secretary of state at the time OF the
hostilities between England and France:
Our citizens have always been free 10
make, vend and export To suppress their
callings because a war exists in foreign
and distant countries in which we have no
concern hardly would be expected. Sim
liar declarations by Alexander Hamilton,
President Pierce, Chief Justice Chase and
President Grant are cited.
"As for the treaty of Washington" Mr..
Hay says, those who allege that ii has any
bearing upon the present situation have
not taken the trouble to read the published
dispatches of Secretary Fish on behalf OF
President Grant to Minister Schenk, at
London at the time of the ratification OF
the treaty" The dispatch of June 10. 1871,
states that 1.-The President understands and
insists that the second rule of Article 6
does not prevent the open sale of arms or
other military supplies" etc.
In conclusion Mr.. Hay says: The Presi-
dent regards ii as evident in view of the
quotations given above, that what was
asked by Mr.. Pearson was the reversal OF
the consistent policy of the United States
since the formation of our government.
The right of our citizens 10 sell horses and
mules and to ship them from New Orleans
to any other port is as undoubted as their
right to ship flour and meat, whether for
the use of civilians or soldiers of the coun-
try of either belligerent. There is no shad-
ow of excuse for the claim that there has
been any violation of the duties and obli-
cations OF neutrality on the part or TINS
Nation"
Colonel Crowders report is an elaborate
presentation of the conditions existing at
Chalmette. He sums up his findings OF
fact under six heads which are substantial
| ly follows:
"First-The British remount commission,
officers of which are operating and direct
ing purchases and shipments of supplies in
the United States, is a bureau of the Eng
lish army administration.
''Second-As organized by these officers
Chalmette station Is a governmental ship
| ping agency for but one class of military
supplies and ii has not the character OF
a base of military supplies nor that of
military camp or post
saThird-No attempts TO recruit for the
British army have been made at Chalmette
station. nor does the evidence disclose any
such attempts at other points in the United
States. \ few mueteers were recruited
but this against the orders OF the
! British government.
"Fourth-An shipments have been from
the port of New Orleans TO South African
ports upon vessels chartered by the Brit
ish Admiralty. under ordinary commercial
"Fifth-The transactions of the commits
sion aggregate ST.. $50 $50 from October, 1899
to March. 1902. with an average monthly
value of s597.97s. The total shipments are
given at @, 6S7 horses and IS los mules. six
ty-fve different vessels being engaged in
the trade, making 166 voyages.
"Sixth-All supplies have been for the use
of the English army in South Africa. the
trade having no existence prior TO the
war"
Colonel Crowder adds that the port of
| New Orleans extensively used in 1867
TO supply the Spanish army then engaged
in prosecuting hostilites in Cuba.
Face Beautifer Held without Bail.
CHICAGO. June 5.-Jurymen at the cor
nner's inquest to-day heard the story OF
| q Thor -