Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-12-07
ASK FOR DATA
ABOUT TROOPS
Senate Calls on President
for What He
Knows

Washington. Dec. 1.-THE senate to-
day adopted the Penrose resolution
asking the president for Information
regarding the discharge OF the negro
troops OF the twenty-fifth infantry and
also the Foraker resolution directing
the secretary Of war to transmit in
formation on the same subject. Both
resolutions carried an identical amend
ment by Mr.. Culberson asking specfi-
cally for the order to Major Penrose.
commanding the troops, which direct
ed him not to turn over to the Texas
authorities certain Oh the troops de-
manded.
This action followed two hours
debate on the proprfety OF asking the
president for the information or Of d.
recting the secretary OF war to fur
nish it.
Question Of Whom to Ask.
Mr.. Spooner urged in matters where
congress had an absolute right !. to
Information in the possession OF the
executive. It had always been custo-
mary to direct cabinet officer to
furnish 1t. In matters where It had
not this right and in which there was
some doubt about the advisability Of
publicity. congress usually made q
request ON the president II It desired
the information with the understand
Ing that II should be furnished, III
not incompatible with the public In
terest." This view was supported also
by Mr.. Foraker, while Mr.. Lodge
quoted presidents to the contrary
Mr.. Carter observed that 1T had
been alleged and not denied" that the
troops in question had committed
murder in Texas.
This brought Mr.. Foraker to his feet
with an emphatic disclaimer.
WELL" continued Mr.. Carter. 1T has
been allegea and not denied that there
was a. disturbance participated in by
the troops.' .g M w M
That. too. has been denied A.
Mr.. Tillman interrupted to say that
he had read In the morning papers.
"al1eged reports" from the secretary
or war IN which that official "had al
legged" that there was disturbance
and that ten or twenty Of the troops
had 'shot up the town OF Browns
ville''
Mr.. Foraker then produced printed
copy OF the testimony in the case.
which he had obtained ct the war de-
partment. extracts q which he read
to show. as he said, shat It was un-
satisfactory. incomplete and OF .
flimsy character"
Agree to Drsp the Matter.
Mr.. Culberson took the opposite view
of the testimony, but both agreed that
with the unsatisfactory" Information
| It was useless to discuss the case.
| Mr.. Penrose said he had introduced
his resolution In the interest OF q large
negro constituency in Pennsylvania
and had addressed 1t to the president
because the action had been taken by
the president and he regarded 1t as a
matter of courtesy to ask him for the
Information.
Mr.. Foraker read at length the tes-
timony furnished by the war depart-
ment. He said 1t appeared that MUIR
der, misprision OF felony and perjury
aad been committed by some one of
che three companies, for the punish
ment of any one OF which the consti-
tuition secured to every man the right
OF trial. He did not regard 1t from the
standpoint of race question. II the
president could dismiss man he could
dismiss company, regiment, bri-
Eade, and in fact on the same theory
the whole army. Mr.. Foraker admit
ted at the suggestion of Mr.. Warren,
that the president under the law had
the right to increase or decrease the
army within certain maximum and
minimum limits.
During the debate the report was
current among senators that the pres
ident felt 1t would be matter OF
courtesy II the resolution should BE-
addressed to himself. and SO strong
it was said, was this feeling on hi.
part that he had intimated that unless
this course was taken there should be
no resolutions introduced.
! Morgan Talks About Canal.
l Senator Morgan today addressed tn.
11senate on his resolution looking Il
rlgiving the Panama canal commission
rIecOntrol of the Panama railroad.
/, Mr.. Morgan spoke of the Panams
road as a legal fiction or an artificial
fehtity to enable this country to avoid
its responsibility as common car
rier.'~ II congress should enact a law
requiring the tearing UP OF the Pan
4t0 f1ilroad, Mr.. Morgan said q
fH&f{} could enjoin such destruction
NM Morgan maintained that Mr.
Cromwell. whose several connections
(ir<phetl& Panama government and the
{cah3l 4omr !ssion he enumerated, wa,
slthe fdn1Vs dh who benefited by this
manner of managing the road.
1 .ssIt gives Cromwell az absolute con.