New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-02
EXPECT SHARP DEBATE.
Continued from er5s page.

the 25th, he occasion 20 multiply IN
definitely the testimony.
All of these things. It Is asserted. the Presi-
dent was perfectly warranted in taking into
consideration for II was his duty to determine
whether certain members of the 18th. whose
identity could not be ascertained. had psrpe-
trated an outrage which rendered them fncorn-
petent longer sarva in the military establish
rnent and in his efforts TO determine ne was
not bound by tbs somewhat narrow rules OF
evidence which prevail in a court or JUSTICE
or which would necessarily have controlled
court martial charged with the duty or deter
mining whether or not the men OF the 10Th de-
served TO be dishonoraby dismissed. or even
more severely punished.
SHARP DEBATE EXPECTED.
These arguments, framed by some OF the
ablest members OF the Senate, have appealed
with telling force 10 certain Senators, and,
while Senator Spooper declines TO say where
he will stand the question. II is a sara pre-
diotion that he will feel It his duty also to
cortrovert the second proposition IN Mr.. For
aker's charge. So that Senators who have been
keeping in touch with The sentiment among
their colleagues as II has developed during the
recess look forward TO brilliant debate
When Senator Foraker's contentious have
been disposed OF. however, there will stin re-
main the question of individual hardship i'm
posed by the dismissal of so many members OF
the 10Th. And it is probable that the Senate, or
Senators. will endeavor to mitigate the hardship
in individual and especially deserving cases.
For instance there Is the case of AIinso Sanders.
who has served with credit for many years and
who would be entitled to retire on three-fourths
nav next April There is no direct evidence
against Sanders. On the contrary. Senators find
in the evidence much which leads them to be-
lieve that the Brownsville outrage was not per-
petrated by the members of the company OF
which he senior sergeant. Consequently,
there will doubtless be introduced IN Congress
and passed a bill Correcting the military rec
ord Of Sanders, that he will be Immediately
placed upon the retired list OF the army, and
Il is entirely possible that there Will be other
cases which appear to be equally or almost as
deserving. in which the hardship resulting from
dismissal will be eliminated in the same man
ner. There are numerous presidents for such
action by Congress. Numerous military rec
ords, some OF them. perhaps, tar less deserving
than those of some OF the Negroes discharged
from the 25th. have been corrected by special
bills passed by Congress. and the benefciaries
are now on the retired list OF the army and
drawing their retired pay. nor is It believed
likely that the President would disapproye such
bills. for his action in dismissins the members
OF the 18th was based merely on his decision
that some OF their number had vitiated the use
fuluess OF the entire command at Brownsville.
and not on any desire TO punish individual men,
bers. as the Executive clearly points out Fl his
message. Such correction OF their military rec
ords would not OF course. restore any Of the
dismissed men TO the active list, and 1t Is be-
lieved that no reasonable objection would lie
against legislation which merely sought to re-
ward them for honorable service rendered before
the Brownsville episode. and which did not place
them where they might prove further menace
to the community.