The Cairo bulletin., 1906-12-07
PROBE DISCHARGE
OF NEGRO TROOPS
SENATE CALLS UPON PRESIDENT
AND SECRETARY OF WAR
FOR INFORMATION.
TALK OVER FOUR HOURS
On Question Of Removing Discrimina.
ton Against American Yes.
sells in the cossting
Trade.

Washington Dec G.--The senate
today adopted the penrose resolution
requiring the president to send 1t in.
formation regarding the discharge Of
negro troops and also the Foraker
resolution directing the secretary of
war to transmit all information in
possession of his department on the
same subject. Both resolutions car
ried an identical amendment by Cul.
bersOn, asking specifically for the or.
der of Major Penrose, commanding
the troops, which directed him to turn
over to the Texas authorities certain
| troops demanded. This action fol-
lowed debate of two hours aud was
taken without a roll call or opposing
vote
The debate developed along two
| dist nst lines one as to the propriety
of a king the president for the intor.
nation or of directing the secretary
of war TO furnish it; anj the athe.
that whore senator's had an absolute
right 70 the information in possession
OF an executive it had always been
customary TO direct cabinet officer |
10 furnish II.
In matters where It had not this |
right, and in which here was some
doubt about adYlsablllty Of publicity |
c1ngec usually mae a request uron
the president If ii d2sirel the infcr
nation. with the understanding II
should be furnished IF not incom
patible with public interest" This
y,ew was supported by Foraker viii
Ledge quo'ed preceiants to the con
trary.
To lay a foundation for the discus
sion Of this point, Carter observed |
ihat N mad been alleged aaSls n9t de.
MED that the troops in question had |
committed murder in Texas This
brought Foraker TO his feet with an
emphatic disclaimer. This allegation
had been denied, he said ana much
evidence adduced to support the d..
nial.
Well continued Carter, ut has
been alleged and not denied that
there was a disturbance participated
in by the troops
That too. has been denied as
serted Foraker
Well" agin. began Carter, 1T has
been alleged and not denied that
there was a disturbance"
Tillman interrupted TO say he had
read in the papers IAN alleged re
~ ~t' tr"o1 the secretary of war in
which that official had alleged |
there was disturbance and that ten
or twenty of the troops hal shot up
the town Of Brownsville, Texas"
Foraker here produced copy of the
testimony in tIe Caae which he had
obtained at the war department. an
extract of which he read to show as ,
he said it was unsatisfactory, incom {
plete and of a flimsy character and I
that no jury in Christcndom would
convict under IT,
Foraker read AT length the tcst' 4,
mony furnished by the war depart ,,
ncn'. He said il appeared that mur-
W. mo ~ lNIu iii lfItlN anu UsFItAiN l..
lad been committed by some one. !,
hrcc crimes. for the punishment Of ,
my one of which the constitution Sc.
'eured to every man the right OF a
rial before punishment He did not ,
gard il from the standpoint Of a race ,
question.
The right Of the president to dis d
Miss from the army was also in u
Owed. II he could dismiss a man '
e could dismiss a company. regi- y
nent. brigade. and IN fact. on the ,
ame theory. the whole army. Foraker ,
omitted. at the suggestion Of War. il
on. that the president under the law ?
al The right TO increase or decrease
b. army within co. tain maximum O.
nj minimum limits. 81
During the debate a report was %
urrent among tho senators that the q
resident fclt it would be- matter Il
{ courtesy If the resolution should q
"a addressed 10 himself. and 20
rOng. IL was said. was this feeling x
n hi part that he had intimaied that
nloss this course vas taken there
.oUll be no response. "a
The hOusc 10y lf0 10 1Gf today de- -
,ated the bill Of Littlefcld. Of Maine. h'
smoving discrim nation against m
me.ican sailing vessels in the coas, vt
.g trade This bill. commonly known =
3 the Anti-Compulsory PilOtage Bill. e
as been the subject at many hear
gs in the committee on merchant
arine and fisheries and has excited
-eat interest throfrou- the lake and
,ean regions Of the country. ~
The debate continued four hours 1'
lc a half score o. more Of repre- IN
.ntatives participating IN the discus la
On. The result % he vote was