Show RAY CASE AGAIN ACAIN IN LIMELIGHT Text of Presidents President's Letter Construed as AsRin AsKing Leniency DESIRED TO AVOID SCANDAL I IN ARMY b Offending Officers Officer's Stati Station n Changed Eighteen Times in Thirteen Years WASHINGTON Feb 12 The 12 The alleged alleged alleged al al- al- al political influence of Major Beecher B. B Ray the army paymaster declared to h have ve enjoyed frequent changes of station and immunity from troubles because of tho the influence of President Taft again gain was a a. subject of investigation today before Defore the house committee on expenditures in the war department Paymaster General Whipple test testified that Major Ray had bad established a a. record record record rec rec- ord for frequent changes in station In thirteen years he lic had been successively successive successive- ly stationed at eighteen points whereas where where- as the average assignment of a paymaster ter at any station is between three and andI I four years Chairman Helm asked General Gen Gem eral cral Whipple if any of the tho assignments had been made at the direction of President President Pres Pres- ident Taft Yes res ho answered In 1009 1109 the president asked that Major Ka Ua Ray be bo besent sent tent to Atlanta and in November JOI loll J. J that he ho be sent to New York At whose request was it if that Major Major Ma Ma- jor Ray was sent to Chicago from Atlanta At At- Junta lanta rather than to New I I I got flot ot orders from front tho the chi chief of staffs staff's office to tomake make th the chan change c to Chica Chicago o. o Time Tho chief of staff said that Mrs Ha Ray Kay was waa ill and a surgical operation operation opera opera- operation tion wa was to bo be performed in iii Chica Chicago o General Carter paid saki this ehan change o was ut made de at the tho request of the white house house- One of ot letters of or Pre President Taft to Paymaster General Whipple put III In evidence evi o deuce dence in the thc case and made public today follows Presidents President's Letter Lett S Beverly July 5 5 1910 1 O personal a and d c con COli mi S J c. C Whipple I have hae read I tub leU leTte leUr r pf m re regarding gardIng Pa Pay Pay- fia Ray which you jou ou have o shown me mc before In times lilies P past Ut I had hud had bad a I personal per pcr- r- r I Interest In the welfare of ot Major Ray I have no r relations with Major Ray Hay I that prevent m my directing you 1 0 to take the same disciplinary action In respect to lo him as In the case of or an any of ot your subordinates It lt seems to m me that it would be wise to send General ton or a assistant to inspect Rays flays accounts and those of or his lug clerk as well as at the char charges es 1 makes that If IC the tho facts turn put cut to tobe tobe tobe be as as stat stated d to separate from rein ra Ray ra- at once While hil na Rays flays conduct of charges are arc tru true could subject him to the tile severest IC condemnation there theme se ms from rein I language Je and Sand telegrams to be such a a. condonation by him and his wife that It would be e well ell to avert ert the tho demoralizing scandal for tor the army arm armIn In Involved Involved In- In voh d in the time coui proceedings which would o place pines a stigma on and aits which they could never never nev nev- er Cr recover reco from jRay RaI could be told lold th that t his superiors knew his fault and havn hav provided pro against it and in the interest of ot his his' victims and amid the time army aimy IT If it Il wa wan waa deemed best belt not to present It to the board on th time the condition that he lie avoid such conduct conduct conduct con con- duct in the future Would Injure Army These suggestions are ale on tho assumption tion lion that charges are aie tru true and amid that General Garlington knows them to be so I do not favor 01 com proceedings pio- pio In such cases where there la is condonation III in order to prevent scandal The lie army suffers buffers the parties suffer and only the tIm t readers readI of or Such uch trials receive an any advantage Time The discipline In- In dos does not nol outweigh in Iii Its benefit for the arm army tho the injuries 3 to th the of oC tho tIm army and the demoralization It it 11 l'-HUI l' causes causes' CS You can show how this I letter to G General ral ton and General Oliver Oll but I would prefer r that It does docs not nol go 0 on your your- official file tiles flies The course I l Is th thone one it seems to me Ine Is best beat under tho the circumstances Major Ray Ra- did me fome sonie service sei of a apolitical apolitical i political character chaN years ar ago uJO at Ill the time In Instance Instance instance In- In stance of or m my brother and he lie hen n j disposed to assume much too mu flinch murli h. h on that score I wish him hUn as all any aimy other officer officer- hi in the s service Ice n-Ice and 1 I would make the time same t suggestion I aa as to any uw army aimy officer in m ma a similar ca case ii yours vours t II U. T TAFT TATT Yr |