Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-10
Unsatisfactory TO LEvIE.
CONDEMNS CLEANING OF RIFLES
SENT TO SENATE COMMITTEE.
Says That They Would Not Pass In
spection in Any Company In
Which He Has Served

The two rifles sent to the Senate commit
tee on military affairs at the Capitol by the
War Department as examples Of rapid gun
cleaning figured prominently in the testi-
mony that was taken regarding the Browns
Vile affair by the committee today. Pri-
vate Alexander J. Levie. now Of the 18th
Infantry. but who prior to the arrival Of
the colored troops at Brownsville was first
sergeant Of the Goth Infantry, Company L,
was on the stand and testified concerning
certain conversations he had heard at
Brownsville showing hostile feeling on
the part Of citizens there toward the COM
ing Of the colored soldiers.
After giving this testimony the two
Springfield rifles that had been shot at
Fort Myer and afterward cleaned were
shown to him. According to Gen. Crozier,
the time consumed in cleaning one OF these
rifles was one minute. The cleaning was
done merely by running a thong brush
through the barrel several times.
Wouldn't Pass Inspection.
The witness promptly asserted that Meth
er rifle would bear inspection in any COM
pany In which he had served. His testi-
mony on that point was positive, but its
force was lessened by his statement on
cross-examination to the effect that he had
never been able to clean a rifle after devot-
ing more than half an hour to the work
that would not after day or two again
show stains of powder. He could not say
that the rifle cleaned at the War Depart
ment three days ago might never have been
in condition to pass inspection at the time
1t was cleaned He was positive, however,
that ten minutes was the lowest time in
which a rifle could be cleaned TO pass in
spection.
Hostility to Colored Troops.
Levie testified that he heard an old gentle
man at Brownsville, a few days before the
arrival of the colored troops, say that the
first crooked move the colored soldiers made
the whole shooting match would be annf-
hilated. He heard other conversation indi-
eating that the people of that town were
opposed to having the colored soldiers come
there. He testified also to having seen
Padron. the Mexican policeman, exhibit a
long bowie knife with a six-inch blade and
say he had that for use in case there should
be trouble This was In a conversation re-
ferring to the coming Of the colored SOL
diers.
When Padron was on the stand few
days ago he denied ever having had such
weapon, and when asked for hts knife he
produced an ordinary Mexican pocket knife
of large size.
A communication received from the War
Department was laid before the commit
tee. 1t had been written in response to in
quries by Senator Lodge. 1t stated that
2.456 enlisted men are now on the retired
list all having served faithfully more than
thirty years in the army. This letter was
called for in order to meet a statement by
Senator Foraker to the effect that the
military record of Mingo Sanders, who was
twenty years in the army without ever
having been tried or reprimanded for any
offense. was very exceptional.
When this statement was read, Senator
Foraker wanted to know whether any of
these 2,456 enlisted men now on the retired
list had a record of having served without
a reprimand. That point not being exact
ly covered in the communicate he de-
clared that he would write to the War De-
partment and ascertain that fact.