Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-12-07
ASKS
.INFOR INA TON.
Up Dismis safOf the Negro
Infanhymen Morgan Talks
About Panama Canal.

WASHINGTON, De2 THE sem
ate adopted the Penrosf. resolution re,
curing the president to send in infor-
nation regarding the disc barge of the
negro troops of the Twenty fifth infan-
try and also the Foraker resolution dl-
recting the secretary of war to trans
init all information in the possession
of his department on the game sub
ject. Both resolutions carry ytn identi-
cal amendment by Mr.. Culbet'son ask
ing specifically for the order to Major
Penrose. commanding the trool q, which
directed him not to turn over to the
Texas authorities certain of the, troops
demanded.
This action. following Il deb ate Of
two hours, was taken without 81 roll
call or opposing vote. The debate de-
veloped along two distinct lines. II
as TO the propriety Of asking the It'csi-
dent for the information or of di..ect-
ing the secretary of war to furnish it
and the other an indulgence by "a itFw
senator's in oil the Merits rof
the case.
Mr.. SpooDer. who opened the dis
c~usslon. took the ground that in mat
tiers where congress had an absolute
right TO information in the posscssioia
of the executive it had always been,
customary 10 direct Il cabinet officer to
furnish it. In matters where ii had not
this right and in which there was
some doubt about the ACCESSIBILITY of
publicity, congress usually made a re
quest upon the president if it desired
the information, with the understand
ing that it should be furnished IF not
incompatible with the public interest,"
This view was supported also by Mr.
Foraker. while Mr.. Lodge quoted prec-
edents to the contrary.
Mr.. Foraker read at length the tes-
timOny furnished by the war depart
ment. He said it appeared that muir
der, misprison of felony and perjury
had been committed by some one
three crimes. for the punishment of
any II of which the constitution Sc
before punishment. He did not regard
1t from the standpoint of race question.
The right of the president to dismiss
q man from the army was also involv-
ed. If he could dismiss Il man he
could dismiss a company. a regiment,
a brigade and, in fact, on the same
theory, the whole army. Mr.. Foraker
admitted, at the suggestion of MI.
Warren. that the president under the
law had the right to increase or de-
crease the army within certain maxi
mum and minimum limits.
Senator Morgan (Ala.) devoted two
hours to the discussion of his resolu-
ton to ecure the control of the Pana-
ma railroad by the isthmian canal
commission. No action was taken,
a term of six years for the president
and the vice president of the United
States was proposed by Senator Cul-
lon in a joint resolution introduced in
the senate and house providing for an
amendment to the constitution. The
resolution declares also that the presi-
dent and vice president shall not be
eligible for reelection.
The Littlefeld pilotage bill to re-
move discrimination against American
sailing vessels in the coasting trade
was defeated in the house-11O to 1914.
Mr.. Humphrey Wash) supported the
bill. Mr.. Mann Gid asked if the bill
was not selfish TO a degree, and Mr..
Humphrey replied it was selfish in IA
vor of American vessels and that the
middle west seemed to want nc. legis-
lation except that which affects the
cornfields.
The result of the vote was u surprise
to the friends of the measure. who
openly charged its defeat to the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.