The Washington herald., 1906-12-16
TO RESTORE NEGRO TROOPS
Bill introduced to Make them Eligi.
BILE for Military Service.
Representative Roberts, Of MHssa-
Their Former status.

There has been a good deal of impa-
tience at both ends of the Capitol at the
delay in getting at the facts about the
discharge of the negro troops Of the
Twenty-ffth Infantry. In the Senate
there has been no alternative but TO wait
until the information requested from the
President and the Secretary Of War is
forthcoming. II is now promised for next
Wednesday. 4 day or two will be taken
10 print II, according as the Presidents
message is long or short. AS the data
called for under the Foraker resolution
embraces the record Of each man dis
charged, the document that is being pre-
pared at the War Department and at the
White House will doubtless be bulky.
At the House end Of the Capitol numer-
Gus members have been aching to get a
chance to start the ball rolling for the ne
gro soldiers. Representative Roberts. Of
Massachusetts. has finally introduced a
bill which throws down the gauntlet to
the President and distinctly proposes his
being rebuked before the country Mr..
Roberts bill. If passed. would make all
the discharged men of the TWenty-hfth
eligible for re-enlistment IN the army and
navy, and also for any civil position 70
which they might otherwise be eligible.
The Roberts bill is as follows: THAT
( the noncOmmissioned officers and men OF
/ Companies p, G, and d, Twenty-ffth In
| fantry, recently discharged under or by
virtue of an order bearing date Novem-
Der D. 1906, be eligible to re-enlist in the
military or naval forces Of the United
States. with the same standing rights
and privileges TO which they were entitled
Al the time Of their discharge; and shall
be eligible 10 any civil employment under
the United States for which they may
otherwise respectively, be qualified. not
withstanding the terms Of the order dis
charging them; and they shall incur no
/ loss of pay or other right or privilege by
reason Of such order or orders"
There was good deal Of comment OF
this bin among members Of the House
yesterday. Few men in either branch
Of Congress would have the nerve to pro-
/ pose TO undo the work Of an Executive
order. No matter how general the de
sire might be 10 support such a measure
there would always be a formidable num-
Der who would shrink from rebukng the
/ President The Democrats In this issue
would make defeat dOubly sure by vOt-
ing solidly against any bill that would
make negroes eligible to service in tbs
army or navy. The Roberts bill is gen
/ orally regarded as not likely to be brought
[ before the House. If it should be passed
( there is grave doubt whether It woulc
/ be allowed to become law In case tht
| President should veto such a bill the
| necessary twO-thirds TO pass it over
/ the veto could hardly be mustered in its
! support. The majority Of Senators anC
/ Members believe that the controversy
will be settled by the voluntary offer o
/ the President to consent to the resembling
Of his order.
/ Much will depend on the result Of tn,
/ inquiry that Will be made in the court
martial Of Maj PenrOse and Capt. Mack
/ lin. who were in command when the trOU
! bic occurred
/ If, as the friends Of the enlisted mer
| claim, the men were in quarters wheI
the shooting occurred at Brownsville, ans
! could not within the ten minutes betweel
/ the shooting and rOll-call have got int
! quarters and responded to their names
the aspect Of the whole case will be radi
! cally changed. Then there will be TIT
new evidence on which the President said
while in Porto Rico, he might mOdif!
his action.