Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-28
Resolution Regarding Courts
Martial Called Up.
THE AUGUSTIN CASE
HIS DEATH CHARACTERIZED AS
"CoLD FLOODED MURDER"
Capt. Brownen Defended by Senator
Observation-Disclosures in the House
Regarding Arizona Bonds.

In the Senate today the resolution offered
yesterday by Mr.. Rawlins calling upon the
Secretary of War for information regarding
certain trials by court-martial in the Phil
ippines was called up.
Mr.. Lodge protested that the resolution
called for the printing of proceedings of a
voluminouS nature.
Mr. Rawlins urged that the resolution he
adopted because neighbors and relatives
of the persons concerned had demanded the
facts. He referred to the death OF rather
Augustin. who he said, had been murdered
in cold blood. I'VE have reason to infer,
said he that a foul crime has been COM
mitted and that the criminal is within our
borders, and under the present condition OF
the law cannot be reached.
Mr. Beveridge said he had hoped an end
had been reached Of the policy of insinua-
ton and badger about American soldiers.
Replying Mr.. Rawlins said he had not
specifically charged any person with nav
ing committed cold FLOODED murder, but his
statement was based on atfidavitS on file in
the War Department 1T is the old
charge said he. that we have called at
tention to tortures and thereby have been
arraigning the American army. 1t is
false and infamous charge and viii cram
it down the teeth of the men who have
falsely given it utterance. l brand the
statement as infamous. If not cowardly 1t
is simply attempt to put me in false
position which l will not occupy.
MI. Beveridge Advises Silence.
IF that is the best explanation the sena-
tor can give" remarked Mr.. Beveridge,
for his remarkable language here think
the best friend the senator has would adj
wise him to accept the alternative of
silence" He then entered upon defense
had given the best argument why the res
olution should not be adopted.
MIR. Hoar interrupted and asked If it was
fair to impute to anybody a desire to at
tack the American army when the govern
ment of the United States itself, through
its military authority, has made such
charges.
Mr. Beverdge reverted to the use of the
words ''cold-blooded murder" and said that
Mr.. Rawlins would not undertake the re-
Sponbility of saying it.
Mr. Carmack charterized the charge that
the democrats were assailinS the army
the ''meanest and dirtiest" of all that
had been made. 1T has been the very
vermin, he said, "of this debate, and 1
am little surprised to find it crawling
in the hair of the honorable senator from
Indiana
Whoever made the charge, he said, con-
sciously took falsehood upon his lips
when he spoke it. He declared that The
Senate committee the Philippines had
ItIu5tu 10 investigate the IdCtS OF the
murder of Father Augustin. There had
been a policy of suppression, he asserted
and In the case of one witness, who. he
said, had testified falsely before the COM
mittee he had been allowed to go unpun-
ished- He insisted that whatever action
had been taken by the President and War
Department had been because they were
driven to it by the minority of the Senate
and that even then no single fact was
brought to light.
Replying. Mr.. Beveridge said Mr.. Car
mack had made his charge because the
investigation did not result as he Gar
mack had hoped it would. TT did not re-
suit In putting on the American army The
brand which the senator had thought
would be put there. but which resulted IN
complete and brilliant vindication."
Mr. Carmack again reverted to the in
vestigatlon by the committee on Philip
pines as to the conduct of the army in the
Philippines; said that it occupied but four
days of seven hours each, although the
Secretary of War, with his usual loose
and lavish unveracity, had said it occupied
five MONTHS
Capt. Brownell Defended.
Mr.. Proctor said that Capt. Cornelius NJ
Browner. who is charged in the Rawlins'
resolution with being responsible for the
death OF Father Augustin, was Vermont
man, and that there was no better sreci-
men of the volunteer soldier in Vermont
or any other state. He had read a state
ment by Capt. Brownen detailing the cir
cumstances of plot to massacre his COM
pany and the methods adopted to orer-
come II.
Mr.. Proctor declared that Father Au-
gIstin was the head and front of the in
surrection In his district From his stand
ing in the church, he said, Father Angus
tin was able to divert contrary to the
canons of the church, its revenues from
their legitimate purpose and use them to
1urtner the fnSurrpption He Lot
ter by Father Augustin addressed to the
priests of the islands calling for contribu-
tiCns 10 aid the Filipino cause.
Mr.. Proctor replying to Mr.. Tillman. said
that Captain Brownell had been mustered
out Of service. and that the judge advocate
general had held that he could not now be
court-martialed.
Mr.. Tillman interrupted and said that II
captain Brownell is innocent Of murder he
ought to be able to prove it, but that those
VINO desired to do so should be allowed to
produce evidence showing that he Is not
innocent
Continuing his defense of Captain Brown
ell. Mr.. Proctor said that he was Justified
In taking the steps he did He had he said,
seen a man hung for much less serious
violation of the rules of war than Father
Augustfn was guilty Of
Mr.. Ttilman declared that 'for the honor
OF the American army / would to God Fa-
Their Augustin had been shot by a drum
mead court-martial instead of tortured to
death. "
Mr.. Lodge Opposes Statehood Bill.
Mr. Quay cut the debate short by de-
handing the regular order. Discussion of
the statehood bill thereupon was resumed.
and Mr. Lodge addressed the Senate In op-
position to the omnibus measure
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Soon after the House convened today a
motion was made TO concur in the Senate
amendments to the bankruptcy bin, and
after some debate was agreed to-124 to 81
The House then resumed consideration of
the indian appropriation bill
The Arizona Bends.
While the bill was ben; considered Mr.
Smit n. the delegate from Arizona took the