The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-21
Nav Meet This Month.


When the court will meet is still
| call the members together as soon as
the quarters are ready.
1t is promised that the building will
be ready in about two weeks. In that
event the opening session will be held
during the last week of this month or
the first week in May.
All other preliminaries are being ar
ranged. 1t is expected that the court
will soon be able to proceed with its
business without further delay.
1t is already apparent that the in
vestigation will cost considerable mon
ey outside of the salaries of the Of
ficers of the court Gen. Young has
had several conferences with Judge
Advocate General Davis at the war
department in regard to the matter
and a tentative course Of procedure
has been practically agreed upon.
The principal point established is
that the court will make a complete
and thorough investigation of the raid
at Brownsville in order to determine
whether or not it was committed by
members of the 25th infantry or by
other individuals. 1t is understood
that the court will go into the case
from the very beginning and examine
everybody able to throw any light on
the .rr''~ disputed question as to what
individuals committed the outrage.
To do this it will probably be nee
essary for the court to visit Fort
Brown and hold sessions in Browns
Vile Many material witnesses are
located there.
Individual Cases to Be Heard.
After having established the main
facts regarding the raid, the court will
then probably consider the cases of all
those members of the 25th infantry
who were discharged for alleged COM
plicity in the ARRAY and who now de-
sire to re-enlist in the army under the
terms of the Foraker act providing for
the military investigation of their
cases. There are about $50 men affect
ed by the legislation.
It is expected that many of them
will desire to take advantage of the
provisions of the act. All reported by
the court as qualified will receive back
pay and allowances and be restored to
their former place in the army.
To receive these benefits it will be
necessary, however, for them to prove
their entire innocence of the midnight
raid and ignorance of the identity Of
the raiders. From all accounts there
were less than dozen or fifteen mem>
bers in the raiding party.
It is said at the war department that
,,Jt
the Brownsville ARRAY so far as the
federal government is concerned. All
the discharged soldiers are now ex-
empt from military laws and discipline
and do not have to appear before the
court unless they choose to do So
Consequently only those confident
of their ability to snow clean record
are likely to appeal to the court for
re- enlistment.
Heavy Travelling Bills.
It is admitted that the army court
has no power to compel the attendance
of witnesses who do not wish to tes
tify, and that it will have to defray the
expenses of witnesses summoned by it.
AS these witnesses are scattered all
over the country their bills for travel
ing expenses will undoubtedly prove
a considerable item.
The war department will give the
court every facility and assistance in
the prosecution of the inquiry. 1t will
undoubtedly be necessary to hire a
force of competent stenographers.
Capt. Rowland will represent the
war department in the matter, and will
look out for the interests of the gov
eminent. When necessary he will con-
suit with Judge Advocate General
Davis or other officers of the army
law department. 1t is possible that it
may become necessary to detail an
other officer to assist him.