Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-04-06 | Page 40 | Courts Martial Probe Ordered

COURTS IRIL PRDBEDHDEHED Baker to Submit Program for Revision of Legal Procedure. WASHINGTON". April 5 Secretary Baker will submit a comprehensive and constructive program for revision of tne army legal procedure covering courts martial mar-tial when congress reconvenes. For this purpose, he said today, he has directed a complete Inquiry into every phase of the military justice system. The results of the study, made by all agencies at work on tho problem, will be combined in a bill to be laid before congress. Bef nrc Major General Crowd er. judge advocate general, left for Cuba, Mr. Baker said, lie had prepared amendments to the regulations governing courts martial mar-tial which he believed would remedy defects de-fects revealed in cases brought before the department for review and in the Crowder-Ansell controversy. Many suggestions sug-gestions arising from discussion, Mr. Baker said, already have been helpful. The recommendations of General Crowder now are being studied by the acting judge advocate general, Brigadier General Gen-eral K,reger, wh also will prepare his vi3ws. The other agencies include the committee of the American Bar association, associa-tion, a special legal officer detailed abroad to study French and British military systems and the secretary himself, who is taking with him to France the articles of war. the court-martial manual and other data for use in personal research. Mr. Baker did not mention the Crowder-Ansell controversy, which he apparently appar-ently regards as properly subject to the investigation being conducted by the Inspector In-spector general, who, it is understood, is inquiring only into theconduct of officers involved.