New-York tribune., 1912-02-20
CHAS. P. TAFT TO TESTIFY
Presidents Brother viii Be
Summoned in Ray Case.
HOUSE SENSATION FAILS
Documents Alleged Missing in
War Department Inquiry
Found in Wrong File.
From The Triours Rur.au


Washington. Feb. ls-Charles P Taft,
of Cincinnati. brohter OF President Taft,
will be subpenaed to appear before the
House Committee on Expenditures in the
War Department to testify in the invesd-
gadon Of the case Of Major Beecher B.
Ray. the army officer who Is virtually be.
ing investigated on charge OF political
activity.
An attempt TO keep secret the fact that
Charles P. Taft would be subpRnaed was
made BY the committee when II met in ex-
ecutive session tonight to decide on this
latest move.
Chairman Helm OF the committee has
tracked another mares nest to It's lair.
After receiving inside" information from
some one in the department Representative
Helm decided that he had been sadly de-
ceived in connection with the case OF Major
Ray and announced that he purposed to in
stitute a sensational investigation Of the
Bureau OF Insular Affairs to discover, II
possible, the whereabouts OF important
missing documents" in the Ray case.
No sooner was this announcement made
however, than some Democrat, more alert
than the chairman, discovered that with a
few minor exceptions, all OF these missing
documents had been furnished TO Congress
a year ago and had been printed In House
document No 80 OF the first session or the
62d Congress. For time Mr.. Helm was
decidedly blue, but this forenoon Major
General Ainsworth, the retired adjutant
general, appeared at the committee room
and had a brief conference with the chair
10
eral Ainsworth had been subp9naed ana
was to have been put on the witness stand
but by his advice his appearance was at
least deferred, and the committee went INTO
executive session
Then Mr.. Helm made IL known to his
Democratic colleagues that some docu-
ments were still missing. and although
these were not of great Importance III
view Of the complete statement made 10
Congress q year ago, 1t was decided 10
summon General Clarence r. EDWARDS
chief of the Bureau Of Insular Aftairs
and a friend of the President OF long
standing.
Again. the sensation seeker at the head
Of the committee confided to certain news
paper men the fact that he expected some
Sensational Developments when General Ed
wards appeared, although he also admit
ted that the committee would hold another
executive session before Issuing SUBJ
ponna for General Edwards. Meantime,
however, the news that the record SUBJ
mltted TO the committee was incomplete
in some details had reached the war De-
partment and clerks were set to work 10
discover the missing documents III was
then discovered that some papers which
bore on the Ray case had been overlooked,
having been accidentally fled under the
mama of former chief Of staff without
the proper cross references, and steps
were taken Immediately to prepare copies
These will reach the Helm committee to-
morrow or next day.
Whether General Ainsworth Is having
fun with the committee, which Is so aVlo
for publicity that II has not hesitated to
risk a woman's reputation In its determi-
nation 10 discover something which could
be used TO injure the President, OF whether
he Is actuated by some other motive IS not
known In any event, the PRESIDENT 3
orders from the first have been TO place be-
fore the committee everything In connec-
ton with the Ray case and thus leave II TO
Chairman Helm and his Democratic. COL
leagues to decide whether by any possioil-
fly they can justify the risk of running
womans good name.
There is a possibility that, on the sug-
restion OF General Ainsworth. General
Tssker Bliss, who is now at Fort Totten,
hut who was In command at Manila when
charges were first brought against Major
Raw. will be summoned before the commit
tee. II is now said that General Ainsworth
"a NOT likely TO be called before public
meeting OF the committee.
President Taft has a difieult problem
before him in the pending promotion OF
Nstor RAY TO be a colonel In the pay
master generals department Of the army
TIL. President has Majo- Rays nonlina-
ton before him.
II Is thought that the Senate would re-
tus. 10 confirm his nomination. and the
ensuing delay would block promotions OF
many deserving officers.
Brieadier General William P. Hall auto
ratically assumed the ONCE OF adlutant
general on the retirement Of Major Cen
sraI Ainsworth in the opinion OF the off,
GERS Of that department. General Hall AT
nrssent is somewhere in either Italy or
Egypt, engaged In missionary work he
,s expected to return to Washington In
April. After General Halls retirement IN
I,ne. a selection will be made by Presl-
al n q a.