The Washington herald., 1907-01-10

Il
which ne has been considering. he will
modify hts order dischargfng the negro
troops by eliminating therefrom the pro
hibition against employment in the civil
service. He has been urged to take this
step by some Of his closest friends and
political advisers, and the impression
prevails that he may announce the modl-
fication Of the order in the near future.
While many persons, in and out Of Con
gress, have upheld the Presidents dis
charge Of the soldiers VINO were stationed
at Brownsville on the night of the riot
few have supported that part Of Inspector
General Garlington's report, made effec-
tive by the President, which recommended
that the troops be forever debarred from
employment in any civil capacity under
| the government
Senator Culberson, Of Texas, in his
| speech defending the discharge of ths
| troops. expressed the opinion that the
/ President had exceeded his authority IN
/ seeking to debar the soldiers from civil
employment. and Senator Daniel. tile
/ other Democratic Senator who has spoken
/ in support of the Executive, voiced the
same belief. Senator Spooner, when he
/ discussed the matter with the President.
/ also said that no power was lodged IN
/ the Executive which would permit him
/ TO make such a drastic provision a part
Of the order of discharge. and it is known
that other Republicans have informed Mr.
! Roosevelt that they held the same view.
Victory for Opponents.
If the President does decide 70 modify
/ trHs rr-For
Senator Foraker and others who have op-
posed his course viii consider that they
have won = distinct victory. It already
has been announced that any Of the dis
charged soldiers who can establish, be
yOnd any doubt whatever. that they did
not participate in the riot OF August 12
may re-enlist, so that the further modif- e.
cation OF the order in a way that would
remove the bar against employment in
the civil service would have the effect OF
leaving intact only that part of the order
which directed the discharge Of practi-
cally all the members Of the battalion
stationed at Brownsville when the trouble
occurred.
1t would disarm the Presidents critics
to some extent. inasmuch as it would
Q
his authority, and that ne is not above
acknowledging a mistake if ne has made
one. But. on the other hand, il certainly
would be construed by those who have
opposed him as indicating that be acted
hastily in the first instance. and that the
position he assumed is unteusbc.
The pending resolutions providing for
an investigation Of the Brownsville mat
ter by the Senate Committee on Military
Affairs went over again yesterday. When
the morning business was concluded Mr.
Foraker asked for a further postpone
ment explaining that Senator TiIlman
was still confined 10 his hotel by illness.
| and was desirOus that no sctiOn be taken
until he could be in his seat. The re-
quest was granted and there were no
further developments with reference To
the case in the Senate during the day
Radical Resolution Talked OF.
4 matter which had more or less
. close connection with the order dis
charging the troops. however. and which
! was widely discussed by Senators was
story To the effect that within the week
e a joint resolution viii be introduced in
Congress which viii provide that at the
beginning Of each session the President
shall send 10 both Houses a copy OF
! every executive and departmental order
. which shall have been issued since the
last previous transmission. and that u
/ each copy there shall be attached a Cita-
ton of the law under which the order
+ was issued.
! Several prominent Senators character
izec the story as absurd. but it is insisted
, that il has basis in fact. nevertheless.
,.Trrf- T..
placed before the two Houses in the i'm
n mediate future. 1t was hinted that it
might come from committee rather
than from individuals in either House
OF course the administration would re-
sent such an attempt TO interfere with
O. the President. and any effort 10 press tie
q resolution to a vote, should IL be intro
, duced. unquestionably would result in "A
q contest compared 60 which the present
: quarrel over the discharge Of the troops
Z would be mild and Uninteresting II is
> said that the resolution may provide fur
, ther for the appointment Of a committee
in each House TO determine whether or
= not the acts Of the Executive have been
= in conformity with the law, and such
feature, of course would make the fight
. all the more bitter.
: Two Plans Considered.
d The Senator who is taking the lead
Y in the preparation of the resolution. 1t is
said, is considering two plans, one pro
j., viding for the appointment Of a commit
. 7 tee of lawyers of renown TO report to
9 Congress on the Presidents executive
t acts. and the other TO refer all mis-
= orders to the judiciary Committees OF the
Y two Houses.
i In the event that such a resolution dc-
u tually is presented and pushed, members
Of the dominant party would be COM
; PEELED TO array themselves either for or
q against the President. and as such
Il move would tend inevitably TO increase
the feeling which already exists. il is not
TO be doubted that vigorous efforts VIII
be made to prevent the taking OF even
the first steps contemplated by the pro-
n posed plan.
As has already been announced, the
report of the assistant to Attorney Cen
eral PuTiy. who was sent TO Brownsville
> lust before Christmas, will be submitted
i TO Congress early next week probably
It Monday or Tuesday. The evidence col
# lected by Mr.. Purdy is said TO fix the
Il guilt Of the negro soldiers beyond any
doubt whatever.
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