Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-14
War Secretary Quizzed by
Committee on Ray Case.
COURSE HIGHLY IRREGULAR
So Describes Action of High Officers
in Withholding Papers.
POLITICAL INFLUENCE LIMITED
Secretary and Committee Bandy
Charges of "Airing Scandal"
Documents Still Missing.

| Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
| described the actions of Mai Gen ].
| Franklin Bell, commanding general of
| the Philippines, and Brig. Gen. Clar-
| ence Edwards. chief of the insular
bureau, in dealing with the papers re-
lating to charges involving the conduct
| of Maj. Beecher B. Ray. paymaster,
L. S. A. as individuals instead of Off
Gals, as highly irregular" to a COM
mittee of the House of Representatives
| today.
| This opinion was expressed after the
Secretary had been on the witness
stand for two hours before the COM
mittee on expenditures in the War De-
partment
What disciplinary action have you
taken in view of this" asked Represent
alive Martin of Colorado, who ELECTED
the Secretary's reply.
Il am waiting for your committee to
report" answered Secretary Stimson.
The Secretary also informed the COM
mlttee that Maj. Rays promotion is be-
ing held up by President Taft waiting
the action of the committee. The pay
| master is eligible for promotion to a lieu
tenant colonelcy. The law compels his
appointment unless good reasons can be
lodged against it, Secretary Stimson in
formed him that Maj Ray was the senior
officer eligible for promotion and that
under the law he would have to be pro-
noted He called the Presidents atten-
which have been aired during the House
investigation of the War Department.
Promotion Held Up.
President Taft replied that he would
hold up the Ray appointment waiting
for the committees report. If there is
no report or adverse recommendation,
the President wrote, he would send the
nomination of Maj. Ray to the Senate
a few days before the adjournment Of
Congress. and later give the major a
recess appointment.
The hearing of the committee was a
tug of war between Secretary Stimson
and the committee. The Secretary
criticised the committee because news
paper reports of the Ray case had aired
a scandal. Representative Buckley of
Ohio replied that the committee hav-
ing been denied papers in the Ray case
because woman was involved. had been
supplied with letters which involved
the moral conduct of the daughter of a
civil war hero.
This woman was not protected by
the department; the committee protect
scandalous in the War Department
things are in pretty bad shape" COM
mented Mr.. Buckley.
Secretary Bubbles.
Secretary Stimson denied the right of
Congress to try to get through him let
terss and papers Of a personal nature
He resisted the effort of the members to
pin him down to admission that he or
some one in his department had "heId
back" from Congress the papers in the
Ray case.
did it occur to You that the resolu-
ton OF Congress was addressed to the
Secretary of War-not to Henry L. Slim
son. asked Mr. Stimson. DO you not
see that there is a difference"
The committee was a little vague on
son pointed out.
Committee Rebuked.
Mr. Stimson rebuked the committee for
giving publicity to the relations OF Maj
Ray with the wife Of a subordinate in
the War Department. The committee dis
claimed any share in the publicity, but
Mr.. Buckley wanted to know what action
il any. Mr.. Stimson had taken against
Maj. Ray.
II am waiting for your recommends
tons, gentlemen said the Secretary
do you want our committee to give
you instructions on how to keep your files
and run your department? asked Chair
man Helm.
relations Of the houses of Congress and
the executive departments a comfy that
would be to the best interests of the
whole government" answered Mr. .,tiIn.
son.
Ray "Only an Incident"
Il would like to correct your view of
rritt {c
suggested Representative Buckley. This
committee is not trying charges against
Maj. Ray. He is but an incident 1t Is
the department We are investigating, not
the conduct of one of it's officers"
Representative Martin said the impor-
tant thing to learn was whether the con-
duct of the War Department was guided
by a hint" from somebody outside the
department. Mr.. Stimson said nothing
had been found during his administra ton
which warranted disciplinary action"
THE hint might have come from some
one whom you could not discipline"
commented Mr. Buckley.
The committee is still on the trail of
the missing papers. They are sup
posed to be in the custody Of Mai Gen.
Bell in Manila Judge Advocate Gen
eral Crowder. a. witness this morning.
gave the committee no more light on
the missing papers. He also told the
committee that he did not know the
committee wanted the papers. or at
least that 1t had not asked him to cable
to Gen. Bell for them.
To Score War Department.
The committee has been investigating
the political activity Of Maj Ray in the
campaign Of 1908. 1t is asserted that he
helped the republican party by work
among railway trainmen in Chicago. In
this investigation the committee discov-
cred that serious charges had been lodged
against Maj. Ray. and he had escaped a
court-martial. The committee thinks 1t
has not been given all Of the documentary
evidence concerning Maj Rays record
and the investigation has simmered down
to a congressional quest "for the papers"
A report on the affair will be submitted
to the House before the adjournment and
the War Department will come in for
| severe criticism from the democratic