Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-22
Copies Of Cablegrams Sent
to House Reveal Or
ders by Direction"
BELL IS TO BE CALLED
Committee Now Seeking to
Ascertain by Whose Authori-
ty Action Was Taken.

Washington, Feb. 22.-Copies of off,
cial records were transmitted to the
house of representatives by the secre-
tary of war, which throw some light
upon the charges that Major Beecher
B. Ray, paymaster, now stationed at
Chicago, was protected from trial by
court martial because of political serv-
ices rendered by him.
The papers, which were said to be
missing, were found in some personal
effects of General Bell, formerly chief
of staff Of the army. Members of the
house committee on expenditures in
the war department, which is investi.
eating the Ray case, assert that these
papers are now sent to congress be
cause it has been discovered by off.
cials of the war department that cop,
les of them are in the possession OF
the committee.
CABLEGRAMS GIVE LIGHT.
The most sensational disclosure in
the voluminous correspondence is con
tained in copies of cablegrams ex
changed between General Bell, while
chief of staff, and General Tasker H
Bliss, in command in Manila, showing
the pressure brought to protect Major
Ray from court martial proceedings.
The records show that Major Ray
when under investigation in the Phil
ippines on charges of signing a falst
certificate, used a character recon
mendation from Mr.. Taft, then presi
dent-elect; that on another occasion
Ray was ordered to the Philippines
at his own expense by Presiden
Roosevelt and that later he was OF
dered back to the United States a
his own expense by General Bell, wh'
cabled that the order was "by direc
ton"
By whose direction is not disclose'
in the record and the committee COZ
siders calling General Bell.
After Ray had been on leave from
the Philippines before the convention
Of 1908, General Bell ordered him bac
/ ~ bhO 4SiohdS anu NIOtC oClISl al L
ston at San Francisco that Presiden
Roosevelt had directed him Genera
BelD to authorize Ray to sail on a Pa
cific liner.
PLANS ARE CHANGED.
The record indicates that somethin
changed the plan and that Ray ha
applied for an extension of leave.
Soon after Ray returned to the Phi
ippines and charges against him r,
suited in no court martial. On De,
10, 1908, General Bell cabled Genera
Bliss:
"Will send Monday confidential me
sage. Please decipher personally"
General Bell on Dec. 81, 1908, cable
General Bliss:
Personal and confidential If po
sible please meet requirements of di
cipline in Beecher B. Ray case withol
reference to court or war departmen
Will support your action
Replying to this message, Gener,
Bell cabled from Manila on Jan.
1909:
referring to your personal and CO
fidential cablegram of Dec. 81, hav
no doubt matter may be adjusted sa
isfactorily, as suggested by you. I
prevent further embarrassment sha
. in due time recommend transfer fro
the division of officers concerned"
ORDERED TO HONOLULU.
On Jan. IL, 1908, General Bliss c
bled to General Bell further statil
that Major Ray was under orders al
about to sail to Honolulu.
, 'Paymaster general charges Beec
er B. Ray knowingly signed fal
: vouchers" the cablegram read in pa
Recommends appropriate actio
: Judge advocate general recommen
, disciplinary measures. The secreta
/ of war directs such disciplinary mes
t ures as may be deemed best. Beech
B. Ray under orders TO proceed
Honolulu. About to sail Commerci
liner Jan. 16 at his own expense. {
ders war department referred to nec'
state another investigation, probat
, trial, general court martial. Will !
tain Beecher B. Ray accordingly"
General Bell upon finding that the
was danger that Major Ray would
4 brought to trial cabled General Bll
g instructions as follows:
n With reference to your cablegrs
of 18th, send direct to me persona
$ all papers relating to three cases m'
. toned in your cablegram. Further
4 yestigation unnecessary at prese
h Beecher B. RAY TO proceed to Hol
: lulu pursuant to orders"
Il WORRIES OVER CABLE.
o General Bell seems to have worri
n however, as to whether his cable
Jan Ii. 1909, was sufficient On j