New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-29
MAJOR HOWZE CLEARED.
Secretary Root Finds Him Not
Guilty of Cruelty to Fihpinos.

made public his findings the charges pre-
ferred by Major c.. J. Hunter against MAJOR
Robert L. Howe for alleged cruelties IN tne
PHILIPPINES The Secretary finds that the
charges are not sustained, and that the eVl-
dence is based parte affidavits insteau Vi
oral examinations of those making the charges
He also finds that no beatngs such as were
charged occurred The Secretary does not grant
the request of Major Howe for court of in
quiry because Of the difficulty in assembling
such court and obtaining the evidence me
court would have to be held in the fhl1pPlhes
to obtain Filipino testimony. and officers VINO
have knowledge of the facts would have 10 De
brought from many points The Secretary mas
decided to appoint a board OF officers ID the
Philippines 10 make a further inquiry and 10
ascertain the sources Of the testimony adduced.
and inquire whether any malice was shown in
the action of Major Hunter against Major
Howe.
Secretary Roots findings read. in part as
follows:
strong presumption against the probability OF his
sustained solely by ex-parte afTidavits Of large
of native Filipinos who we're hostile 70 the
which If it is TO be believed. exhibits the, most
revoltng cruelty Major Hunter Wnq f6e inei
dents to which they relate appears by ms own
have entertained bitter personal anmosity toward
M95 Fl It is iaT f Hansr ' Ra s not likely
TO Re capable OF making really n pa vas wat an
unfit person he assigned to that duty: >,
The statements Of these native athdaVlts are o.
How HoWze 6se aId ten Al. oers
stationed at aoag at the tine and + so sit Rn"%
whether the facts described in the inoulpaSTy ann ann
statements of these American officers are false or
the native affdavits produced by Major hunter
are false.
Major Hunter sent the charges to Governor
Taft and not through the regular military
channels. The Secretary says this was De
signed 10 secure Major Howze's removal from
command and was undetermined and most rep
rehensible."
The Secretary quotes from a report Of the
Philippine Commission to the effect that the
crleItfes charged never existed He concludes
follows:
Upon all the papers now produced 1t appears ar
that the charges against Maior howe are lasej
in the afdavits procured by Major Hunter that
subject was true report, and that Major Howze,s
administration Of the affairs at Lfoag at the ' me
am not satisfied. however. to leave the case
here resting upon ex-parte aftdavits. MAJOR
Howe has asked for court OF lhqIi[E; IN u ~
the commanding general. Division OF the Phinp-
ae to pFo'eTfb o SO 6 lanes ap upon the @
davits procured by Major Hunter: and suoJect mem
facts and call all other witnesses whom they may
find to have knowledge of the facts and report me
testimony having special reference TO the foIlo"-
r fsirsfoHow much truth is there in these ai
second-was the investigation made by Major
with the order under which he acted?
Upon the coming in OF their report s1cn tur1h S
order as may seem to be required VIII ne MI, tt
for the oral examination and croSs-e5a
knowledge Of the facts
HUNTERS REPORT ORDERED BY MILES.
Major Hunter. it appears from his report
made the investigation under an order issued by
Lieutenant General Miles, commanding the
army dated d Manila, November %, 1902. This
order is signed by Lieutenant Colonel Marion P
Maus his aide-de-camp, and directs Hunter 10
proceed to Laoag and investigate the death Of
two natives alleged to have been killed by whip
pings and also to other natives alleged to
have been maltreated. On December Il Major
General Davis ordered Hunter to make his re-
port 10 the headquarters at Manila.
In his letter transmitting the papers in the
case Major General Davis is severe on Major
Hunter charging him with "unmIlitaTy con
duct and ''reprehensibIe methods" in making
charges against a brother officer IN a personal
and confidential letter TO Governor Taft. and in
other ways. General Davis further says:
As Major Hunter was detailed by superior mill
tary authority investigate these matters deem
il inappropriate for me 10 discuss Inc proPIIelS
OF his selection for the purpose
General Davis calls attention TO the fact that
several Of the native officials who we're said to
have knowledge of the facts relating TO the
whippines are dead, that other persons, incIud-
ing Major Howe. and other officials, are not
in the Philippines and that two years and a half
had eIapsed between the date Of the alleged oc-
,Urrences and the charges made. He then taxes
VI the matter Of the allegations as 10 the Whp-
pings and says: . liz
Unless all the native witnesses have sworn TO !Ies
Colonel Howe was not justified in making the
statements that he thoroughly investigated the
matter and that none were whipped very So
yere1y and unless witnesses sWore faIselE
HOWE specifically ordered the whipping OF on.
C;asrer also 1 am forced to the conclusion that II
Colonel Howe did specifically authorize me
,.E,j-,oinr Of prisoners he was to certain
extent morally responsible therefor, az he directed
r7rfsoners apparently leaving il TO the presiderte
10 adopt such measures as ne saw III 1or the
purpose.
The reports show that General MacArthuT oe-
sired 10 have Major Hunter court-mart;a!led 1of
addressing private communication TO GOV
ernor Taft on the subject of the alleged crueltes
instead Of fling charges through his army su-
rAr'ore but that he dissuaded by governor
taft In a letter the subject Governor Ian
raTe that General Macarthur set himself Ike
fin+ against all officers guilty Of crueltes ana
that any such complaints 10 the general Al
,I-ays we're investigated carefully and the Evils
remedied. Il true. , ..,.,,,,r-
,zed the brutal and fatal whipping OF hostHe
natives held as prisoners at l1aoas' i-u' "
the spring of 1900.