The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-08-31
Committee Reports Findings in
Investigation of Soldiers
Activities.
c0URT-MARTIAL STOPPED
Orders From Higher Up Said to Have
Been cause-Major Ray In
Line for Promotion.

Western Newspaper Union News Servtca.
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 pffenses, never
indicated, and never been disciplin-
ed more than by 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. 1t is believed
the committees report was FASTENED
by President Taft's nomination of
Major Ray for promotion. Ray is In
line for advancement under the law.
II was said the president and Secre-
tary Stimson decided to send his
nomination and leave its confirmation
to the senate.
The committees finding in part is
a. follows:
"Major Ray has been engaged in
political activity in the interest Of
the Republican party, and particularly
In the interest of the president.
I'm connection with one Of the
charges against Major Ray, court-mar-
tial proceedings were stopped by
cablegram from the chief of staff with
out apparent reason.
THE papers in the case were with
held from the offices Of the adjutant
general where they should have been
filed, and were stored away in Sc
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 paymaste-
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 II one officer is allowed
:avors and immunity as result of
political service or influence, 1t must
be pernicious example to all officers.
"The committee states its findings
without intending dfsrespect 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 Ia
not being used for political purposes"
The report quoted from the testi-
mony before the committee by Off
Gals 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"