Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-01-09
FACT AND LAW.
Senator Lodge Contends President
Had RIuht 20 Dlacharue Troons.

Had Right 20 Discharge Troops.
Washington. Jan Senator Lodge
addressed the senate Monday on the
brownsville, Tex. affair. Mr.. Lodge
said:
Two questions are here involved.
a question OF fact and question Of
law. They are entirely distinct; they
ought 10 be settled separately. and
neither should be permitted TO cloud
nor obscure the other In the public
mind. The question OF fact may be
stated In this way: There was a
shooting In the streets of Brownsville
on the night OF Aug. 10. 1896; houses
were fired into. One man was killed
and lieutenant OF police had his
horse shot from under him, and was
SO seriously wounded In the arm that
amputation was necessary. These
facts are admitted. and not disputed
by any one. This shooting was done
either by United States soldiers from
fort Brown or by the inhabitants OF
BROWNSVILLE. There Is no one else,
and Il Is not pretended there Is any
one else who could have done II. The
president, secretary OF war and off.
GERS OF the army detailed 10 INQUIRE
into the affair have decided that tho
shooting was done by the soIdIeru
and furnish testimony 10 sustain their
opinions. The Constitutional league,
representing the soldiers, deny that
the shooting was done by the citi.
zens OF Brownsville disguised In cast.
off uniforms of the troops, and pro.
yided with explosive shells from the
government range. who committed
this outrage for the purpose OF cast.
Ing odium on the troops Of Fort
Brown.
One OF these two propositions must
be proved. for general negations are
OF no use here. II will be the duty
OF the committee. under the resoln.
ton. 10 take all possible testimony
and decide whether this shooting was
done by the soldiers or By the citizens
OF Brownsville This Is a question OF
fact. In II is involved not only tho
innocence or guilt OF the soldiers. but
the innocence or guilt OF the inhabit.
ants OF Brownsville
The question OF law Is whether
the president In Diminishing these com.
panies without honor exceeded his
power under the Law and the constl
tuition. This question can be settled
by our say just as well now. and
think better than al any other time
without the least regard for the com
mittee's decision as TO the question OF
facts"
Mr.. Lodge then argued that Presi
dent Roosevelt had "A legal right 10
discharge soldiers without honor
Mr. Culberson offered an amend
mcnt 10 the Foraker resolution. which
Senator Foraker accepted. authoriz.
ing the military committee 10 visit
Brownsville and take testimony. Mr.
Foraker then asked unanimous con.
sent OF the senate that the resolution
be made a special order daily after
the morning business until disposed
Of To this Senator Hepburn OBJ
jected. saying there were other mat
tiers OF equal. II not greater impor.
lance demanding consideration. Mr.
Foraker gave notice that he would
withdraw his motion later.
Mr.. Foraker followed Senator Lodge
and spoke until $3.50 o'clock. giving
notice that he would conclude Tues
day.
Previous TO the Brownsville debate
the senate listened 10 a two hours
address on the Japanese question by
Senator Gearin. who argued for a res
olution declining the opening OF nego
tiations with Japan for a revision OF
our treaty with that nation He IA
vored states rights.
The galleries were crowded. and
the debate was listened 10 with the
closest attention by an unusually
large number OF senators.