Amador ledger., 1907-02-08
Washington
Letter.
Washington, January %, 1907.

come to an end with the passage of ,
resolution ordering the committee OIL
military affairs to make an investiga
tion of the Brownsville aifTay
Senator Foraker won the point fol
which he was contending, though the
president and his friends endeavore,
30 obscure the issue by bringing into
the discussion the question of the
senate's right to inquire into and de-
eide upon his right TO dismiss the
soldiers. This compelled senator
Foraker to give grounds for his belief
that the presiden had exceeded his
powers, but it was at no time his
Intention to require the committee to
do other than make a thorough ex-
animation of the Brownsville affair
that the individuals guilty of the
murder and other outrages might be
discovered. This the resolution
which has been adopted authorizes,
and the long and bitter fight over its
form has been for the sole purpose of
committing the senate, il possible, to
an Endorsement of the presidents
action in dismissing the negro com
panies without the shadow of proof
against any individual member. The
resolution was amended so that 1t de-
clared that the committee was to con
duct the Investigation without
questioning the legality or justice of
any act of the president. This is
precisely what the original Foraker
resolution provided, but which the
presidents friends wouId not accent.
The amendment above given has en-
ahled them to vote for the resolution,
tor it is evident they will claim that
it lndorses the presidents action.
and that such action can not here
after he questioned. In view of the
tact. however, that senator Foraker
expressly stated that the amendment
had no such meaning, and the further
fact that it is only by ignoring the
meaning of very simple English that
such construction can be placed upon
1t. it is plain that the president and
his friends are in the attitude of the
tabled ostrich which hides his head in
the sand. Upon the conclusion of the
investigation by the committee on
military affairs it is very certain that
there will be raised the question of |
the presidents power to discharge
thee companies in such manner that.
If he is right. he can dismiss the
entire army of the United States
and without accountability |
to anyone. The seriousness of the |
point involved is at once recognized |
If one imagines in the executive chair
n man inimlcable to the institutions
OF the Republic. He could dismiss
every man in the army of the United |
States who was not ready to support
such schemes of ambition rs he might
have. In fact, the army could be
made the instrument of wrong and |
oppression to the people rather than |
a safeguard and protection. The |
question whether the president de-
sires to have unrestrained power over
the armed forces of the United States
is raised again by the message he
recently sent to Congress asking for
authority upon his own initiative
and responsibility, to dismiss any
officer whom he thinks unworthy to
remain in the service' There can
not be two opinions as to the gravity
of the question involved In the
assumption and request of the presi-
dent with regard to his authority over
the army and the navy of the United
States. The country will hear more
on this point later on.
The delegation has succeeded in Sc
curing the insertion in the house
rivers and harbors bill of an appro-
priation for improvement of Oakland
harbor on the lines advocated by all
the business interests of the city.
The sum of 1851, 500 has been secured,
uf which $685. 500 is a new appropria-
tion and s169, 900 the unused balance
on former contracts, which the bill
authorizes to be used on the new pro-
ject. The work is placed under con-
tinuing contract, and as there is no
doubt that congress will allow the
provision there is certainty that
Oakland will before long have a
harbor commensurate with its needs.
Congressman Knowland has been
partlcula. ly active in behalf of this
new project, and has received the aid
of his colleagues in both houses
Senator Perkins has given every
assistance in his power, Oakland
being his home city, and when the
bill gets to the senate, both he and
senator Flint will see that the appro-
priatlon goes through. Mr. Geo. ID.
Gray, representing the commercial
interests of Oakland, was in Washing
ton for a week or more assisting con-
gresham Knowland and the delega-
tion before the committee in the
house, aud gave valuable aid. About
week after he returned to California
the committee agreed to insert in the
bill the provision making the appro-
priation as above. Mayor Frank K
Nett also took hand in the matter
an1 sent strong telegram to chair
man Burton, showing the necessity