Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-13

mander.in chief of the army was un
der the control Of Congress and had
no right to infiict punishment
Mr. Rayner discussed from legal
point OF view precedents for Congress
ordering courts Of inquir, -par,icn
larry the cases Of General Howard
and Admiral Schley. The senator
said the authorities were all against
the Presiden, having the slightest
right TO punish an officer without n
court. and no commanding general
had such right. He declared iha,
the President was determin, d TO keep
Colonel Stewart in exile tor tire"
wears, when he would be retired on
account of age. and he added: 9TH"
President says TO him: Stay there
or surrender aud retire No such
.dict was ever contemplate in tn"
imperial armies Of continental
Europe
He declared that abroad army Of
ficcrs lose their identity bur III the
United States the constitution guar
an,ees every man life. liberty and
PROPERTY unless taken from him by
que pioCeSS VI law.
The Pocked Schiey Court.
Now what Is court CT inquiry
the senator asked. and answering his
own question he said: Il know all
about them. had four months cx-
p. rience with one (Referrins to the
Schley court in which he was counsel
for Schley.i ! am sorry to say 1t
was packed. but 1t was court.
Mr.. Rayner brought out the fact
tina: Colonel Stewards wife was the
cousin OF the late Senator Pinckney
White and the great granddaughter OF
William Pinckney OF Maryland.
1t makes my blood boil TO fever
heat to hear the President announce
such an outrage against any man. II
the man Il: guilty. he should be- con
victed: If innocent. he should he ac-
Quilted: in any event he should be
tried
And VIII Is he treated in this man
mere Because he got into a Quarre!
with a plumber. Quarrel with plum
Der. indeed-How many quarrels do
you suppose the President has had
with plumbers and everybody else?
Suppose the President should be sent
to a place like that for every quarrel
he gets into? Why, this man has
initiated the President and he is be,
ing punished for IT, l suppose he
had some advice on the subject. The
attorney generaf-niAy 1ATs whispsred-
into the Presidents ear that he had
no right to infiict punishment on this
officer. Hardly that. though. for
suppose the attorney general and all
the rest of his advisors say to the
President just what he wants them
10 say"
Mr.. Ravner then read letter from
Colonel Stewart. in which he declar-
ed that for four months he had had
no companionship except that OF a
caretaker and a teamSter and the FOR
mer was an invilad: that the building
in which he lived was not heated pro-
perly: that snow and sleet found their
way through cracks. and TIA, there
was no sanitary conveniences.
President is Wrong Says Rayner.
"The President says he is above the
law in this matter" continuer Mr..
Ravner. Il say that he is mistaken
and that he is subject to every law
and regulation Consrs SIS can pass.
He proceeded TO quote large mum.
her Of authorities drawing from them
the inference that Colonel Stewart
was entitled to a trial even though In
the army.
Mr.. Rsyner's remarks were applaud
ed ~ the galleries.
Mr.. Rayner agreed TO call his reso
luton up tomorrow for action by the
Senate.
President Calls Stewart . Nuisance
Mr.. Warren indicated that he de-
sired to have i; referred 10 the com
mittee on military affairs in order
that the Presidents letter might be
regarded as before the Senate II was
read in full.
II covers nine typewritten pages
and for the nfCst part Is a review
of Colonel Stewards quarrel with OF
fcers under him and with citizens in
the neighborhocd Of posts where ne
has been assigned His conduct Is
BY the President in the
severes. language as uniting him for
anv command particularly for the
rank Of brigadier general which the
President declares :, b. Stewarts
aim. The President calls Stewar;
"A nuisance The letter also deals
with the legal auf stions involved ana
with the various matters quoted W
part by Mr.. Rayner.
T,f< Gail. from Panama.