Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-12-10

Washington, Dec. THE senate
yesterday adopted the Penrose reso-
luton requesting the president to
send information regarding the dis
charge of the negro troops, and also
the Foraker resolution directing the
secretary Of war to transmit all in
formation in the possession OF his de-
partment on the same subject. Both
resolutions carried an Identical
amendment by Senator Culberson,
asking specifically for the order OF
Major Penrose commanding the
troops which directed him not to turn
over to the Texas authorities certain
troops demanded.
This action followed a debate OF
two hours, and was taken without
roll call or opposing vote. The de
bate developed along TWO distinct
lines, one as to the propriety of ask
ing the president for the information
or directing the secretary Of war to
furnish it, and the other an indul-
gence by few senators in comment
on the merits of the case.
Senator Spooner took the ground
that in a matter where congress had
an absolute right to information in
the possession of the executive it
had always been customary to direct
the cabinet officer to furnish it. In
matters where it had not this right,
and in which there was some doubt
about the ACCESSIBILITY of publicity,
congress usually made the request
upon the president if it desired the
information with the understanding
that it should be furnished If not in
compatible with the public interest.
This view was supported also by
Senator Foraker, while Senator
Lodge quoted precedents to the con
trary
To lay the foundation for the dis
cussion of this point, Senator Carter
observed that 1T had been alleged
and not denied that the troops in
question had committed murder in
Texas. This brought Senator Fora.
ker to his feet with an emphatic dis
claimer. This allegation had been
denied, he said and much evidence
had been adduced to support the de-
NAL.
Well" continued Carter, 1T has
been alleged and not denied that
there was a disturbance participated
in by troops
THAT, too, has been Denied as
serted Foraker.
Well again began Carter, sit has
been alleged and not denied that
there was disturbance"
Foraker Champions Blacks.
Tillman interrupted to say he had
read in the papers IAN alleged re-
port" from the secretary Of war in
which that Official had alleged that
there was a disturbance and that 10
or 20 of the troops had shot up the
town of Brownsville, Texas" Fora
ker here produced a printed copy of
the testimony in the case, which he
had obtained at the war department,
extracts of which he read to show as
he said 1T was unsatisfactory, in
complete and of fimsy character"
and that no jury in christendom"
would convict under it.
Foraker read at length testimony
furnished by the war department.
He said ii appeared that murder. mis-
prison of felony and perjury had been
committed by some one-three
crimes. for the punishment of any
one of which the constitution secured
to every man the right of trial before
punishment He did not regard it
from the standpoint of the race ques-
ton The right of the president to
dismiss a man from the army was
also involved. If he could dismiss a
man he could dismiss a company,
regiment, brigade, and in fact, on the
same theory. the whole army. For
aker admitted, al the suggestion OF
Warren. that the president, under
the law, had the right to increase OF
decrease the army within certain
maximum AID minimum limits.
During the debate report was cur
rent among the senators that the pres
ident felt it would be a matter OF
courtesy if the resolution should be
addressed to himself. and so strong,
it was said was this feeling on his