Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-07
DID JUST RIGHT.
Gen. Bliss Did the Proper Thing in
Case of Jai Aiai Gift.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE Associated
Press has secured IL copy of the testi-
mony given by Brigatlier Gene raj
Taskcr II. Bliss, L. s A. when he was
recalled before the Senate committee
on military affairs to give evidence in
the Wood investigation concerning the
admission of me Jai Alai gift free of
duty. about which Il controversy has
arisen. This testimony covers 10 pages
of printed proceedings before the COM
mitt"c
General Eliss was recalled at the
request Of senator Hanna. who asked
whether the Silv"s service given To
Gen. Wood in 1907. sat the time of it,;
passage through the. custom house was
the property OF s3n officer OF the
United States army. Gen. Bliss ans
wered that he 50 Understood it; that he
had feceived Information on the Sec
ond day before leaving Havana that
q package would arrive there from
New York, Oh the next day for Gen
tral Wood, and that it would have
been returned on tn" steamer on
mich the Eacgage Of the officers and
men w, re being placed.
\ request had been made that the
Package should be FASTENED in its pas
s2go through the custom house.
Senator Hanna inquired from whom
tht, information came and WAS told by
Cen. Bliss that it came Ly t"lei hone
from h.' clerks Office at the palace of
TIE governor general.
Senator Foraker askC if Gen. Wood
had anything 10 DO With the order.
The witness replied
Not in the least"
II thought YOU said that the order
came /" you from tn" palace" remark
& senator Hanna.
General Bliss resented the term
'.ord-r' ana said it WAS; merely Il ms
sage such as he received many times
Il day from persons desiring t" fac IL
it.te tho passage Of articles through
tn" custom house.
Senator Hanna incurred if he was 20
md, rstand thG. u telephone message
purporting to come from the pal@ e
would 30 obey"'i.
Tho answer was negative. General
bliss said:
If anyone sent Il message that 4 pack
age would bc received there for the NIL
i'''I" -'N'i ii''' 4i'''' - iA''i''''' - 'f't
cd employees ana would say: If q IA x
40. arrives do II Il ,i.I,v but ,ii4p;,t, h
that That is what >,,ri would Ii, -,
done"
Senator IIann:t-"I "A" .nt kuuA "hcti 't
would or not, tn r.'t thnk that :'''
have Justification i"r ,t'|nE inr ~ II. %
uU>iti"n.
| General HlS~-" NHNt. " HoUld !dN' ~
Senator Iinnna-''I iIrr had som" rH
lpcriruc, in tnis,nrS. .,I | ~ not tnak
would .in il "a th,.. i r. 81 a clerk
,;"E.r;,I Bill again ~ listed that he Lad
not +. ,.ivrd ..l Order
| senator S.,t, asked what cuur." C".r
bliss would !. r. taken if h" had learned
that the silv.l s"rVi,r wa not thu prop
lcrtv If Gen WOOD. but WAS the property
uf Il trm IN tho | nlt"l States.
t;rn Eliss answered that il would noi
IL.,,, hr.t. admitted flee Of duty
| \tt.u.-.I ,ya,, caIl.d hv Senator Scott
| - ,L :,ip,n,,. NJ NErlIis4 CI.ar,nan il
; III ,'id ia ,,rs.nt ,v.,s srnt ~ /;
M"'H \. Hd'r Hi VIII, ~, ,nuditin,, Thai
~" l'iN y ~ ,i - - ~ "a "n,oht nI th.,
II "nPi 'u " 1,itt"d i,nmadi,teiv in a.
il''i !. va" M. ,n,I;.d tb,t he had II,
-. I II.r ~ III trtnlaction
,;,, III HI Al IN admitting
- ;,t', y,.iIn fron or duty. Gen Bis.
w" S'i\''i 9ci VI
~ b.,,.a no b.s;t1tion in saying; that il
| | had been informed that there was