Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-06-11
From Washington.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, d. c., June IL.

w doHluBlObs ~ O'j "NN
Attorneys for Paymaster II. f. Biscoe.
q. S. NJ, have filed with Secretary
Moody an appeal from the sentence OF
the general c0urtmartial in that officers
case which in language is almost as bit
ter against Rear Admiral Evans as it
alleges his language was against Biscoe.
1t quotes from "Alice in Wonderland"
with application to the Admiral this
verse
I'll be Judge, I'll be jury,
Said cunning old Fury:
III try the whole cause, and condemn you
to death.
Biscoe, it will be remembered, was a
member of a courtmartial which several
months ago tried brother officer and
found him guiltless. Evans, in review
ing the findings of the court, reflected
severely upon the court and in effect
said that by their verdict they had vio-
lated their oaths as naval officers. Bis
coe and one other Of the court protested
to the secretary who found that while
Evans language was extreme he was
still within his rights as reviewing au-
thority. Shortly thereafter Evans pre-
ferred charges against Biscoe, alleging
irregularities and carelessness in his ac-
counts. Biscoe was found guilty of this
and sentenced to the loss OF several
numbers. On another count, that Of
falsehood, he was acquitted. Evans
scored this court likewise fol. dereliction
in duty. The appeal is based upon
three grounds |. 1t was impossible
for accused to have a fair trial because
of the prejudice of the converting and
reviewing authority, Admiral Evans.
2 The findings and sentence are con-
trary to the evidence and to law. 3. The
sentence is excessive. The appeal al
leges that Admiral Evans tried the case
in advance and even before the court of
inquiry had concluded its work he had
prepared the charges and specifications
and makes other argument tending to
show that officers bitter personal
feeling against the accused which made
it impossible to find among Evans sub
ordinates a fair-minded court 1t also
asserts that the admiral hurried the trial
and even refused pOstpOnement until
two important witnesses for the defence
could be brought from a ship then on
target practice and comparatively but a
short distance away.
At the session of the joint Army and
Navy Board held yesterday further dis
cussion was had of the problem Of wire
less telegraphy and the army opposition
to the Navy Departments plan to assume
exclusive control of coast defence stations
took the concrete form of a memo
randum from the Signal Corps giving
the reasons, political, legal and practi-
cal, why the government should not at
this time follow the recommendation of
the Navy Department. One of the prac-
teal reasons given was that any attempt
to secure legislation in furtherance of
the scheme would provoke discussion in
Congress which in all likelihood would
end 10 obstruction to the experiments
the services are now conducting with
wireless instruments. The question of
interference with the stations the army
he has already established was also
brought up and the board expressed it.
self as favorable to the continuance of
army control of such stations. This
was the only decision reached at the
session and the subject will come up for
further consideration at later meetings.
Meanwhile the navy has eighteen shore
stations and hopes to have four more
working within a short time. Ulti-
mately it proposes to have at least one
hundred stations operated by corps
of specially trained men, numbering
four or five hundred, covering both con-
tinental and insular United States.
President Roosevelt is not likely to
hurry in the selection of a successor to
Attorney General Knox. The newly
chosen Senator from Pennsylvania will
not take his seat in Congress until next
December. Until then it is said that he
will continue at the head of the Depart
ment of Justice. In the meantime the
election will have been fought out and
the President will know whether or not
he is to succeed himself. If the country
decides to give him four more years in
the White House, the man whom he
will appoint as the new Attorney Gen.
eral will be selected with view of serv-
ing throughout the next administration.
In case the democrats should win in the
elections it is probable that Solicitor
General Hoyt would be promoted for the
few months remaining of the present adj
ministration because of his familiarity
with the routine of the department and
his knowledge of the policy of the pres
ent Attorney General. There is no foun--
datiou to thestory that the President has
decided to ask Joseph II. ChOate, Am
bassador to England, to become the sue
cessor of Mr.. Knox. A number of other
names have been suggested In connection
with the appointment. Among them
are those of William Nelson Cromwell,
who has just concluded the negotiations
for the transfer Of the Panama canal to
the United States; John G.. Johnson,
of Philadelphia, who was at one timein-
vited by President Mckinley to take the
position of Attorney General; Senator
John G. Spooney, of Wisconsin; ex-
Senator McComas, of Maryland; ex-
Gov. Frank S. Black, of New York, and
Secretary Moody, OF the navy, who is
said by his friends ~ prefer the Depart
ment of Justice to his present position.
President Roosevelt has received a
telegram from Secretary w. II. Hay