Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-07
FORECAST OF WEEKS EVENTS
Discussion Of Brownsville Episode Will
Occupy Attention Of Senate.
AUTHORITY OF PRESIDENT QUESTIONED
MIR. Lodges Amendment Admitting
PreroEative of Executive Will
BE Opposed by Mr.
Foraker.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-The discussion
Of the episode in Brownsville, Tex, which
resulted in the discharge from the service
of three companies of negro troops by the
president will continue this week to be the
topic of paramount interest in the senate.
The question will come up Monday and the
present indications are that 1t will con-
tinue to hold a front place for three or four
days The introduction of Senator Lodges
amendment to Senator Foraker's resolution
will have the effect of injecting great deal
of new matter into the discussion and OF
shifting the debate from the mere question
of facts in connection with the Browns
willie affair to the subject of general right
of the president to dismiss soldiers. As
originally presented Mr.. Foraker's resolu-
ton called for an inquiry into the ''shoot-
ing up" of Brownsville, but If Mr.. Lodges
amendment is accepted It will amount to a
declaration of the presidents right of dis
missal regardless Of facts and on this ac-
count will be opposed by some senators
who would have stood with the president
in opposition to the resolution as originally
expressed. On the other hand some are
willing to vote for the amendment, who op-
pose the inquiry. 1t is quite well under
stood that Senator Foraker will antagonize
the amendment as inopportune, though 1t
is not believed that he would allow its ac-
ceptance to stand in the way of his ad-
vocacy of the adoption of his resolution.
He takes the position that whatever may
be the prerogative of the chief executive
in the matter of the dismissal of troops
the question is not pertinent at this time
and they will seek to have the two ques-
tions of presidential right and OF fact sep
arated. Senator Lodge will contend that
| the presidents authority in the matter Is
of first Importance and in this the Massa-
chusetts senator will be supported by SEN
ator Spooner and a number of other sem
| ators will favor the Lodge amendment
| They support the presidents position and
are willing to follow his leadership In the
| entire matter Senator Foraker will prob
ably be supported by few democrats and
a large percentage Of republicans.
Little Opposition TO Inquiry.
There is comparatively little opposition
| to the proposed inquiry and the probabili-
| ties are that the resolution will be promptly
! disposed of as soon as the Lodge amend
ment is voted upon, whether 1t be retained
or omitted. Senator Tillman is one of the
! few southern democrats who criticise the
presidents action, and 1t is understood that
| he will give strenuous support to Mr.. For
! aker's efforts to secure an investigation.
The debate will be largely along legal
| lines, but there can be little doubt that
there will be sufficient departure from this
| course to render II of exceptional interest.
Senator Hale has practically secured un-
animous consent to giving the Brownsville
question right-of-way during the morning
hour of each day until 1t is disposed of, but
It is not believed that there will be any ef-
| fort on his part to displace a speech by
| Senator Gearin on the Japanese question.
Mr.. Gearin probably will be heard Monday
| morning. If the Oregon senator should
postpone his speech the Brownsville ques-
ton will have the first consideration of the
day.
| Other events set down for the week in the
| senate are a speech on Tuesday by Mr..
| Overman, on the question of states rights,
growing out Of the Japanese agitation; a
speech on Wednesday by Mr. McCumber
in support of his service pension bill and
a vote on Thursday on Senator LaFollette S
bill regulating the hours of service on rail-
roads. 1t is expected that the Legislative
appropriation bill will be reported to the
senate during the week.
Supply Measure I'm House.
The house will begin the duties of the
| week by devoting Monday to the considera-
ton Of bills taken up under a suspension OF
the rules and will probably enter upon the
consideration of appropriation bills on
Tuesday. The army appropriation bill will
be reported to the house on Monday and
this will be the first of the supply measures
to receive attention. 1t will be followed
by the fortifcations bill and that bill will
be succeeded in turn by the bill making
appropriations for the District OF Columbia,
There is a prospect of a clash between the
committee on appropriations, which reports
the fortihcations BILL and the committee
on military affairs, which has in charge
the bill making appropriations for the sup
port of the army. There is a difference OF