Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-24
UNDUE POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Army Paymaster Said to Have Been
Favored by President.
SUBJECT OF SERIOUS CHARGES
No Vindication. and Court-Martial
Stopped, Says Report-Evil Eff
feet on Army Deplored.

The House committee Oh War Depart
ment expenditures today reported that
Mai. Beecher Il. Ray, L. s. A., whom
the President yesterday nominated to be
deputy paymaster general of the army.
had been engaged in political activity.
particularly in the interest of President
Taft: had been four times charged with
serious offenses, never vindicated, and
never been disciplined more severely than
a reprtmand. The committee findings fol-
low:
''ALaj. Ray has been engaged in political
activity in the interest of tine republican
party and particularly in the interest OF
the President.
"Mai. Ray, on at least four occasions,
has been charged with serious offenses
has never been vindicated, but has been
never disciplined more severely than by a
reprimand
Court-Martial Stopped.
"In connection with one of the charges
made against Maj. Ray. court-martaal
proceedings were stopped by a cabiegranl
from the chief of staff without apparent
reason. The papers in the case were
withheld from the office OF the adjutant
general. where they should have been
place where they were not accessible in
the ordinary business of the department.
and from which they were not produced
when called for hy order of the Secretary
Of War.
Favoritism Charged.
Maj. Ray has been shown more per-
sonal consideration in assignment Of
stations than any other paymaster in the
NJ 1n. ,%n t.
ing every presidential campaign since he
! has been in the service and was sent
there last winter by order originating
from the White House.
''The committee believes that public
attention ought to be called to this case.
because if one army officer is allowed
favors and immunity as result Of politi-
cal services or influence, it must be a
pernicious example to all officers.
IT such practices prevail at all it is
hard to see how the army can resist be-
ing drawn more and more into politics
and becoming political machine. The
committee states its findings without in
tending disrespect to the President Of
the United States and in the hope that
he may see fit to make public such eX-
PLANTATION of the circumstances set forth
as will assure the country that the army
Is not being used for political purposes"
The committees report. following a
long fight conducted before the commit
tee and the military affairs committee
was filed with the House by Representa-
tive Bulkley of Ohio. author OF the reso-
luton calling the Presidents attention
to the investigation of the case.
Papers Refused.
The committee in its report pointed
out that the Secretary of War had de-
termined that the committee should not
be allowed to see certain papers bearing
on the case which are said to have
heen found in the Office Of Gen. Edwards,
then head Of the insular bureau, Febru-
ary II last.
1t also stated that the committee had
considered charges of a personal char
acter affecting the wife Of an employe
of the War Department, on account Of.
which Maj. Ray was severely reprimand-
ed. The committee stated that as to
this there was ample justification for
failure to proceed with the court
martial. that the employe who made
the complaint later effected reconcilia-
alton with his wife, and refused to press
the complaint, and, the committee ad-
ded, the course then directed by the
President and followed by the paw
master general was the only proper one
under all the circumstances.