New-York tribune., 1912-02-22
MISSING DOCUMENTS IN
MAJOR RAY CASE FOUND
Names Of Taft, Roosevelt,
Bell and Bliss Figure
in Them.
REAR ON POLITICAL CHARGE
Paw Used Taft's Name in Recon-
mendation-0rdered to Phil
ippines by Roosevelt and
to U. s. by Bell.

washington. Feb. 21.-Some Of the
,,o,roents in the case of Major Beecher
= pav which were said to be missing
tron, the War Department tles' were
found to-day and sent to the Helm COM
..i,tee nv Secretary Stimson, who SAID
,be papers had been found in some per-
.oraI effects Of General ]. Franklin Bell
,orrer chief of staff Of the army. The
committee had already subpenaed Cen
sraI Tasker II. Bliss, who was SAID d
have copies Of the documents.
Major Ray, whois an army paymaster'
,ss been under fire before the COM
uittee on charges of political activity
particularly about the time the Chicago
convention Of 1908 nominated Mr.. Taft
for President
The records sent TO the committee to-
dev show that Major Ray. when under
Investigation in the Philippines on
charges Of signing a false certihcate'
used a character recommendation from
MIR. Taft, then President elect; that on
another occasion Ray was ordered to the
Philippines at his own expense by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, and later was ordered
hack to the United States at his own
expense by General Bell, who cabled that
the order was "by direction" BY whose
direction is not disclosed in the record,
and the committee considers calling
General Bell.
After Ray had been on leave from the
a Philippines before the convention Of
1905 General Bell, ordering him back
to the islands, wrote General Funston
nj San Francisco that President Roose-
Welt had directed him General BelD to
authorize Ray TO sail on Pacific liner.
Plans Were Changed.
The record indicates that something
changed the plan and that Ray had ap-
Piled for an extension of leave.
Soon after Ray returned to the Philip
mines charges against him resulted in
no court martial, and the following in-
terchanSe Of messages is shown in the
papers turned over to the committee:
Washington, December ls, 1905.
Bliss. Manila.
VIII send Monday confidential message.
Please decipher personally. BELL.
Washington, December q, 1903.
Personal and confidential. If possible
please meet requirements OF discipline in
Beecher b, Ray case without reference to
court or War Department. VIII support
your action. BELL.
The following evidently was a reply:
Manila. January 2 1908
Staff, War, Washington.
Referring to your personal and conf-
Dental telegram of December q, ! have
no doubt matter will be adjusted salts
factorily, as suggested by you. To prevent
.1uriher embarrassment / shall in due time
recommend transfer from the division OF
officer concerned BLISS.
t,s On January 10. 1908, General Bliss
Cabled to General Bell further stating
that Major Ray was under orders and
about to sail to Honolulu. The dispatch
reads in part:
Paymaster general charges Beecher B.
Ray knowingly slgnedsfalse vouchers. Rec
ommends appropriate action. Judge ad-
NoCate general recommends disciplinary
measures, The Secretary OF War directs
such disciplinary measures as may be
deemed bert. Bcecher b. Ray under orders
10 proceed TO Honolulu. About TO sail on
commercial liner january ID at MS OWN eA-
penSe. Orders Of War Department referred
10 necesstate another Investigation, prob
able trial general court martial. VIII re-
stain Beecher b. Ray accordingly.
ID General Bell answered the dispatch
the same day, saying:
Bend to me. personally. papers all relating
10 three cases mentioned in your telegram.
Further investigation unnecessary at pres
ent Beecher B. Ray to proceed to Homo
lrlu pursuant to orders.
At Unknown Direction"
This communication, it appears from
the correspondence, did not reach Cen
eral Bliss for some days, and on January
20 General Bell sent the following dis.
patch, in which he referred to "direc-
tion" in the case from some source:
., Washington, January 20. 1909.
:, Colonel Stephen G. Mills, Manila.
4. II Tssker II. Bliss absent communicate
Immediately with him and say my cable
, message 10 him January 13. relating to in
Beecher b. Ray, was not personal. but was
sent by direction, and IL IL has not been
complied with ii should be at once.
BELL.
On February l Colonel Mills cabled
that General Bliss had not received the
dispatch dated January 13 and asked
that it be repeated.
Then followed this interchange of mes
sages:
February J. 1909.
Colonel Stephen Mills. Manila.
The following is message OF 18th referred
10 10 IN message 10 you (quotes messages TO
Bliss OF January l3). Take necessary ac-
uOn 20 get above message complied with.
sending all evidence taken with papers TO
M Tor further action here Ray should
proceed Honolulu without delay. BELL.
go Manila. February g. 1909.
sian War Washington.
ihsu actions In your telegram OF February
iiave been carried out. Beecher Is. Ray
sals February on commercial liner at his
Ssh expense, reaching Honolulu about
Merch Z. MILLS.
Major Ray did return to Honolulu and
iater 10 the United States, where he mas