Page:United States ex rel. Bryant v. Houston.pdf/3

Rh to show that either Harris or his father authorized or desired this application to be made, or that it is a matter of the slightest concern to either of them whether Harris shall be tried by a Navy court-martial or by a Coast Guard court-martial.

There is nothing in the record to show that the point here considered was called to the attention of the District Court, but the District Court would have been justified in disallowing or dismissing the writ for failure on the part of the petitioner to show why she, and not Harris, signed and verified the complaint, and for failure to show what relationship, if any, existed between Harris and herself, or what was her concern, if any, in the detention of Harris.

We are not to be understood as holding that an outsider may not make the application for a writ of habeas corpus, but the application must set forth facts, which will satisfy the court that the interest of the next friend is appropriate, and that there is good reason why the detained person does not himself sign and verify the complaint, as provided in section 1282, supra.

[2] 2. At the time when the writ was allowed, Harris, it is alleged, was under arrest confined in the brig at the Barge Office of the New York Division of the United States Coast Guard, awaiting trial by a General Coast Guard Court upon charges of desertion, and of violating lawful regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury.

In time of peace, the United States Coast Guard is under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department; but, in time of war, it is subject to the orders of the Secretary of the Navy. The act of January 28, 1915 (38 Stat. L. 800, 2 Fed. Stat. Ann. [2d Ed.] p. 262, Comp. St. §§ 8459½a[1]), provides in part:

At the date of the entry of the United States into the war with the German Empire, the Coast Guard automatically passed under the control of the Navy Department and so remained until August 28, 1919, when the President signed an order turning it back to the Treasury Department, under whose direction since said date it has been operated and is now operated.

The order directing the trial of Harris on the charges preferred against him was signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury on February 21, 1921, and it is to be presumed that the General Coast Guard Court was duly convened by the same authority pursuant to the provisions of the statute. Act May 26, 1906, 34 Stat. L. 200 (2 Fed. Stat. Ann. [2d Ed.] 304).

The President’s order of August 28, 1919, was as follows:

“By virtue of the authority conferred by ‘An act authorizing the President to coordinate or consolidate executive bureaus, agencies, and offices, and for other purposes, in the interest of economy and the more efficient concentration of the government,’ approved May 20, 1918, I do hereby make and publish the following order: