Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-19
MR.. TAFT'S RESPONSE
HIS REPLY TO THE SENATE
RESOLUTION.

Secretary Taft's response to the Senate
inquiries is embodied in printed document
of over 400 pages. AS stated in the letter
of transmttal the accompanying exhibit
contains copies of all official letters, tele-
grams, reports, orders, etc, that have been
found on file in the War Department and
that are connected with the recent dis
charge of the enlisted men of companies 3,
and D. 25th United States Infantry, in
Guiding the form of discharge. together with
a complete list showing the names of the
men discharged and the record of each.
The exhibit sets forth report by the
Judge advocate general of the army upon
the subject of discharges without honor,
and a statement by that officer of the law
with respect to retained pay; also state
ment as to the effect of the discharge of an
enlisted man in the case in question upon
his right to re-enlist. his right to retire on
three-fourths pay with an allowance for
subsistence and clothing, his right to enter
a national soldiers home his right to be
buried in a national cemetery and his right
to receive transportation and subsistence
from the place of discharge to his home.
The exhibit sets forth the official record
of the 25th Regiment United States Infan-
try, from the time of its organization to
the date of the discharge of companies b,
c and D.
The exhibit contains copies of all orders
that have been found of record in the War
Department and that were issued to Maj.
C. w. Penrose. 18th Regiment. with respect
Texas of certain men of his command
charged with assault to murder and murder
al Brownsville. Tex.
Secretary Taft refers to other exhibits
accompanying his report and proceeds as
follows:
Included in the Exhibit.
There has been included in the exhibit, in
answer to the resolution of December 10.
1906 copy of everything that has been
found of record in the War Department
bearing upon the question Of whether Com
panies B, and d, 18th United States In
fantry. or either OF them. were. prior to
August 13. 1905 involved in any riot raid or
other disturbance with citizens. As the re-
ports do not always disclose the companies
whose members were involved In the ais
turbances of which a record has been found.
and to avoid question. there has been In
cluded in the exhibit statement of this de-
scription with rspect to all companies OF the
25th United States Infantry.
In proper response to the resolution OF De-
cember 6. calling for full information bear
ing upon the order OF discharge. there have
been included In the exhibit copies Of docu-
ments that have been found on file In the
War Department and that relate to in
stances of extraordinary misconduct or acts
of violence committed prior to the ARRAY at
Brownsville Tex. by soldiers of regiments
other than the 25th United States Infantry:
also various other documents that throw
light upon the occurrence in question or the
practice of the War Department and the
army in similar cases. Among those doc
uments Is included a memorandum by the
Judge advocate general OF the army as to
the practice In the navy and the civil serv-
ice in respect to re-enistment and re-em-
ployment
The exhibit also contains, in further re-
Spouse to the call for full Information bear
ing upon the order Of discharge, an excerpt
from my annual report to you as Secretary
Of War. In respect to the matter. Since that
report was made there has been filed with
hu fra Cd tn bo
Department, a statement. accompanied with
effidavits, submitted by Mr. Andrew b.
Humphrey as secretary OF the Constitution
League of the United States That state
ment and the accompanying afidavits are
set forth in the exhibit that transmit
herewith.
/ haye examined the new evidence with
care and I do not find that there is any
thing contained in 1t which should lead to a
different conclusion of fact from that stated
in my annual report. The affidavits contain !.
in substance the same denials OF completely :
or knowledge by the enlisted men that were
Continued on Fourteenth Page.)