The Green Forest tribune., 1912-08-30
MAJOR RAY ACTIVE
 IN TAFT'S BEHALF
Committee Reports Findings in Investigation of Soldiers
 Activities.
COURT MARTIAL STOPPED
Orders From Higher Up Said to Have Been Cause-Major Ray in
 Line for Promotion.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
 Washington.-The house Committee on War Department Expenditures re- ported that Major Beecher s. Ray, U. s. A, whom the president nominated to be deputy paymaster general of the army, had been engaged in political activities, particularly in the interest of President Taft; had been at times charged with serious offenses, never vindicated, and never been discipln. ed more than by a reprimand
 Investigation of Major Rays case attracted wide attention because of the committees charge that Secretary Stimson was withholding important pa pers bearing upon it. It is believed the committees report was hastened by President Tafts nomination of Major Ray for promotion. Ray is in line for advancement under the law. It was said the president and Secre- tary Stimson decided to send his nomination and leave it's confirmation to the senate.
 The committees finding in part is as follows:
 Major Ray has been engaged in political activity in the interest of the Republican party, and particularly in the interest of the president.
 'In connection with one of the charges against Major Ray, court-mar- tial proceedings were stopped by a cablegram from the chief of staff with out apparent reason.
 "The papers in the case were with. held from the offices of the adiutant general. where they should have been filed, and were stored away in a se- cret place from which they were not produced when called for by order of the secretary of war.
 Major Ray has been shown more personal consideration in assignment of stations than any other paymaster in the army; has been stationed at Chicago during every presidential campaign since he has been in the service and was sent there last win ter by orders originating from the White House.
 "The committee believes that pub lie attention ought to be called to this case, because if one officer is allowed favors and immunity as a result of political service or influence, it must be pernicious example to all officers.
 sThe committee states it's findings without intending dfsrespeet to the president, and in the hope that he may see fit to make public such legislation of the circumstances set forth as will assure the country that the army is not being used for political purposes. ]"
 The report quoted from the testi- mony before the committee by off cials who said Major Ray undertook to impress his political importance upon Chas. H. Taft. Papers transmit ted by the War Department, the re- port stated, showed that Major Ray had been charged with knowingly signing a false certificate, resulting in the payment of a fraudulent claim, and that court martial proceedings against him had been stopped. The papers also showed that Major Ray has been charged with directing his chief clerk to alter vouchers so as to show. that travel pay had been paid to five discharged Philippine scouts and with taking correspondence credit on his accounts, although "he had inten- tionally paid the scouts no travel pay"