The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-25

Of Dcxtcrity in Forming Measures OH
Which They Can all Vote.
Washington, January 22.-The senate
today passed the compromise resolu-
ton authorizing the committee on mill
tary affairs to investigate the facts
OF the affray at Brownsville, Texas the
night of August 1914 last, without
questioning the legality OF justice Of
any act of the president in relation to
or connected with that ARRAY.
This action came after the subject
of the presidents discharge of the
negro troops had been under consider
alton almost daily since the first day
of the present session of congress, and
every phase of the question had been
discussed on all sides. Before the
adoption of the resolution several
substitute measures were voted
down. One by Senator Mallory, declar-
ing that the president had authority
for his cOurS and acted justly, was
tabled by a vote of 43 to %. Another by
Senator McCumber, simply providing
for an investigation, without reference
to the president in any manner was
tabled by a viva vOce vote. The th1ru
by Senator Culberson indOrsing the
presidents action and providing for
no investigation, was tabled by u roll
call vote of 46 to 19. There was no
record vote on the resolution adopted.
When the Brownsville resolution was
laid before the senate, Mr.. Mallory. Of
Florida discussed the legal questions
involved in the presidents dischargs
of the negro troops.
Mr.. Mallory offered a substitute tor
the compromise Brownsville resolution
presented yesterday by Mr.. Foraker
The resolution of Mr.. Mallory provided
for an investigation after resolving
as follows:
That in the judgment Of the senate
the recent action of the president IN
~discharging without honor enlisted men
of companies B., C. and D., of the 18th
infantry was within the scope of his
authority and power and the proper
exercise thereof
Mr.. Mallory said he could not support
the Foraker resolution because its Ian
s,age as to the presidents power was
eQuivOcal.
Senator Teller opposed the idea adj
yaneed in a recent speech by Senator
Lodge that the president, ''inheriIed'
power from the king. This was a new
doctrine and the Colorado senator said
he could see how it might become
popular in some localities.
Senator Bacon Of Georgia, supported
the Mallory restitution. ?--l:, d. Lao
the Mallory substitute. He character
lied the agreement among republi-
49,, tho EIoy.olyor resolution az an
illustration of their extreme dexterity
in forming measures for which they
can all vote, although some Of them
are directly opposed in sentiment, as
in the matter to which that resolution
relates"
When Mr.. Bacon remarked that if me
pres It was content with a comprC-
mise m such language on which those
who opposed and supported him could
unite, Mr.. Aldrich asked: Did | under
stand the senator to say that the ques-
tion whether the president is content
with the resolution is the main ques-
tion?"
Mr.. Bacon replied that he thought
and said what the president might
think was far from the important feat
ure and" he added, Il think the SEN
atGr from Rhode Island had but one
purpose in his question and that was
for me TO emphasize what 1 had Il
to the contrary"
Replying to Mr.. Bacon's argument,
MI. Foraker reviewed the history Of the
Brownsville controversy in the senate
to show that the question of the pres
ident's power had been raised by the
message. the president had sent to the
senate on December 18th last. Mr..
Foraker maintained that from the be-
ginning all he had c0ntended for was
the facts. Nh. Bacon said in reply that
while he was far from being an advO-
cate of the president yet he believed
the language proposed in the Foraker
resolution was an injustice to the
president.
Mr.. Bacon wanted an opportunity to
vote directly on the question whether
the president had the legal power to
discharge the negro troops and on ne
question of tabling the resolution. He
spoke of the affray at Brownsville as
''an ~unspeakable outrage"
A roll call was taken on Mr.. Fora
ker's motion to lay the Mallory sub
stitute on the table. This motion pre-
vailed, 43 to %. Messrs. MeCumber,
Warner and LaFollette vited with the
democrats, and Messrs. Teller and Till
man with the republicans.
Mr.. Stone took occasion to review
Senator Tillman's attempt at hum0r'
yesterday He said he nae taken no
Offense at the reference TO himself IN
Mr.. Tillman'S characterization of the
senate as a minstrel troupe" and was
sorry the senator from Tennessee, (Mr.
Efarmack) and the senate had eliminat-