Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-12-13
TO KNOW ABOUT IT
Senate Passed Penrose and Foraker
Resolutions Asking IRfOrma-
tiOA About Negro Troops.
DOUBTED the PROPRIETY
Secretary Of war IL Directed and
President IL Asked to Furnish
All Information Regarding
the Brownsville Incident

washington, OcC. Tine NeuAIo
Thursday adopted the Penrose reso-
luton asking the President for infor-
nation regarding the discharge of the
negro troops Of the 25th 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 speci-
fically for the order to Major Pen
rose commanding the troops, which
directed him not to turn over to the
Texas authorities certain of the troops
demanded. ...
This action followed two hours de-
bate on the propriety Of asking the
president for the information or of d.
recting the Secretary Of War to fur
nish 1t.
Mr.. Spooner urged that In matters
where Congress- had an absolute right
to information In the possession Of
the executive, 1t had always been GUS
tomary to direct cabinet officer to
furnish 1t. In matters where 1t had
not this right and In which there
was some doubt about the advisability
Of publicity, congress usually made a
request on the president If 1t desired
the information with the understand
ing that 1t should be furnished IF
not incompatible with the public In.
terest." This view was supported also
by Mr.. Foraker, while Mr.. Lodge
quoted precedents 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 brough Mr..
Foraker to his feet with an emphatic
disclaimer.
"Well," continued Mr.. Carter" 1t
has been alleged and not denied thai
there was disturbance participated
in by troops"
"That, too, has been denied" assert
ed Mr.. Foraker.
Mr.. Tillman interrupted to say that
he had read In the morning papers
"an alleged report" from the Secretary
Of 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
VILE" Mr.. Foraker here produced a
printed copy Of testimony in the case
which he had obtained at the War de-
partment, extracts of which he read
to show as he said, that 1t was "un-
satisfactory, incomplete and OF
flimsy character"
Mr.. Culberson took the opposite
view of the testimony, but botn
agreed that with the unsatisfactory
information" at hand II was useless
t. discuss the case.
Mr.. Penrose said he had introduced
his resolutions in the interest of
large negro constituency in PennsyF
vania, and had addressed 1t to the
President because the action had been
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-
tjmony furnished by the war depart
ment. He said 1t appeared that muir
der, misprision Of felony and perjury
had teen committed by some one
Il rec crimes, for the punishment Of any
one of which the constitution secured
to every man the right Of trial. He
did not regard 1t from the standpoint
Of race question. The right OF the
president to dismiss a man from the
army was also involved. II he could
dismiss a man he could dismiss
company, q regiment, a brigade, and
in fact. on the same theory, the whole
army Mr.. Foraker admitted, 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 mini
mum limits. During the debate the
report was current among senators
that the president felt 1t would be
matter of courtesy II the resolution
should be addressed to himself and SO
strong, II was said, was this feeling
on his part that he had intmated that
unless this course was taken there
would be no response.