The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-06-21
.0US7lNG Of WOOD
now Up 70 TAFT |
sTARTLlNe CHARGES OF IN.
TRIGuE AGAINST CHIEF
Barred IN HOUSE.
MANY NEW SENSATIONS.
Vain Fight Against Army elll.-say
Procedure Will overturn Mill.
tary Organize.
ton.

Washington, d. G. - Startling
charges of an intrigue against Major
General Leonard Wood, chief of stan
of the army, begun by the late Sena.
tor Marcus A. Hanna and kept alive
by his friends, were only part of a
series of sensations which attended
the adoption by the house of the
army appropriation bill conference re.
port.
Reference to a Western senator,
whose son-in-law, Brigadier General
Pershing, would be one of the first Of
ficers in line for appointment to Cen
eral Woods Office If President Taft
signs the bill which carries an amend
ment to depose the chief Of staff, allu-
sions to Major General Charles f.
Humphrey, as "the agent Of the pow.
der trust" and to Senator Dupont's
connection with the powder business
furnished other incidents in what per-
haps was as stormy an afternoon as
the house had seen in many a day.
House Adopts the Report.
Nevertheless, in spite of a vain
fight led by Representatives Prince,
Cooper and Martin, the house adopted
the report which had been approved
by its conferees and accepted by the
senate and if President Taft signs
the bill, as it is said he will, General
Wood will be removed from his Office
on March 4, 1913. and the retention
or disposal of many army posts, which
the war department has characterized
as useless, will be left to q commits.
sion.
Representative Prince began the
fight against the report by character
izing it as ian insult to the army, the
house and the country" and in the
debate which followed, Representative
Cooper brought in the name of Sen
ator Hanna. In all my public ca
reer," Mr.. Cooper said, Il know of no
officer who has been so Indignantly
misrepresented as General Wood. I
was told on the very best authority
that when General Wood was in
charge of affairs in Cuba. a certain
senator asked him what he proposed
to do about Major Rathbone, director
of posts of Cuba, then involved in
the postal frauds.
Senator responded Wood. I pro
pose to prosecute him.
"'Do that. Wood replied the sen
ator, and ] will see to it that you
never rise higher than captain in the
SERVICE
"Since that time" continued Mr.
Cooper, that senator and his power
full friends have bounded him."
The interchange which followed
brought in the name of Senator Han
ma.
The report carrying all the so.callet
anti-administration amendments wal
finally accepted. 121 to 80. 1t nov
goes to the president. War depart
ment officials maintain it would dis
rupt the general staff and overturl
the army organization.
There are hints that it's constitu
tionality may be tested If it become,
law. Many members Of both house,
hold that the disputed amendment,
are not proper in an appropriation bill
Washington, D. c. = The right o
congress to recall" the judges o
the commerce court by legislating t,
reduce the number of circuit judge
| by five as contemplated by the sen
ate, presents a fine question Of Law
which may reach the supreme cour
Of the United States according to OF
ficials of the department of justice.
A high official of the department
declared that congress would not leg
islate the five judges out of office
in view of the constitutional prov
sion that federal judges shall hol,
Office during good behavior.
In establishing the commerce court
! congress increased the number of cir
cult Judges by five and stipulated tina
that number should periodically b
assigned to the commerce court. Tn
right of congress to abolish the cour
is not questioned, but many official
strongly hold to the view that thes
five circuit judges once appointed car
| not be deposed unless the circuit cour
of appeals where they serve. in add
ton to their duties on the commerc
court, are abandoned.
Officials Of the department of Jul
tice point out that in case congress
succeeds in abolishing the commerc
4 court judges they may continue thei
4 duties as circuit judges and sue TO
their salaries through the court Q
claims and II necessary appeal to til
supreme court. where the intricat
/ problem would be determined.
Charging that President Taft ha
4 REP. WICKLIFFE KILLED