The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-06-20
OUST|NG OF WOOD
NOW UP TO TAFT
STARTLING CHARGES OF IN
TRIGUE AGAINST CHIEF
Barred IN HOUSE.
MANY NEW
Vain Fight Against Army BiIi.--say
Procedure viii overturn Mill
tary O%rganlza-
ton.

Washington, ID. c. - Startling
charges of al intrigue against Major
General Leonard Wood, chief of staff
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
fcers in line Cor appointment to Gen.
eral Woods Office if President Taft
signs the bill which carries an amend
ment to depose the chief of staff, allu-
sions 10 Major General Charles F..
Humphrey, as 'the agent OF the pow
der trust" and to Senator Dupont's
furnished other incidents in what per-
haps was yas 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
I'M sy department has characterized
y susefess, win be left to a 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, II 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-called
anti-administration amendments was
finally accepted. 121 to so. 1t now
goes TO the president. War depart.
ment officials maintain it would dis
rupt the general staff and overturn
the army organization.
There are hints that It's constitu-
tionality may be tested if it becomes
law. Many members of both houses
hold that the disputed amendments
are not proper in an appropriation bill.
Washington, ID. c. - The right of
congress to recall" the judges Of
the court by iegislating to
reduce the number of circuit judges
by five Is contemplated by the sem
ate, presents a fine question of law
which may reach the supreme court
OF the United States according 70 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 provi-
sion that federal judges shall hold
Office during good behavior.
In establishing the commerce court,
congress increased the number of cir
cult judges by five and stipulated that
that number should periodically be
assigned to the commerce court. The
right of congress to abolish the court
is not questioned, but many officials
strongly hold TO the view that these
five circuit judges once appointed can
not be deposed unless the circuit court
of appeals where they serve. in addi-
ton to their duties on the commerce
court, are abandoned.
Officials Of the department Of JUS
tice point out that In case congress
succeeds in abolishing the commerce
court judges they may continue their
duties as circuit judges and sue for
their salaries through the court of
claims and If necessary appeal to the
supreme court, where the intricate
o~ch,or mould ho deteruined