The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-02-08

the discharged soldiers could even be
engaged as a laborer on the Panama
Canal The President received many
protests from Republican Senators
about that clause of the order. They
pointed out to him that he was bar
ring the soldiers discharged without
honor" from privileges which are not
denied the soldiers dishonorably dis
charged The climax came when Sem
ator Knox OF Pennsylvania, formerly
Mr.. Roosevelt's attorney general, was
discussing the case with him.
II can not defend your order because
of that feature of it, Mr.. President"
said the Pennsylvania Senator.
"Well, 1 will revoke it," retorted the
President, and that is what he has an
nounced in a special message to Con-
gress this week. Accordingly, as
things stand now, the order has been
modified in two particulars, although
the President announced when he was
on the Isthmus of Panama that he
would not change the order. The first
change was to announce that the dis
charged soldiers could be reenlisted
provided they would establish their in
nocence of the shooting up of Browns
Vile to the satisfaction of the Presi-
dent.
The Senate debate has had some
notable features also and was preceded
by some notable negotiations. There
was an uprising against an amendment
by Senator Lodge to exclude from the
investigation the question whether the
President had acted within his legal
and constitutional authority as COM
mander- -in-c chief. 1t was shown that
large majority of the Senate, under
the lead of Mr.. Lodges colleague. Sen
ator w. Murray Crane of Massachu-
sets, would vote against that amend
ment Mr.. Crane, a great harmony ex-
pert, demonstrated to Senator Lodge
that he was beaten on his amendment,
and the result was compromise.
which is to be adopted, providing for
an Investigation OF the Brownsville af-
fray without saying whether or not the
Presidents authority is to be brought
in question. This compromise was ac-
ceptable to both sides, for the Repub-
licans, although determined to do so
If necessary, did not like to go on rec
erd against the President.
Long after the compromise was
brought out Senators have continued
to discuss the Legal and constitutional
phases and there have been several
strong speeches. Senator Daniel, Dem,
ocrat of Virginia, took up strongly
for the President. He asserted that
the President. as commander-in-chief
of the army, has abundant authority
to discharge an enlisted man at will
and without a courtmartial. The de-
bate rested there for several days till
Senator Tillman of South Carolina, in
a characteristic speech, denounced the
President with fiery language, declar-
ed that he had acted without authority. |
and Furthermore had precipitated the
race controversy by dispatching the
negro troops TO Brownsville against the
protest Of Texans. Mr.. Tillman thinks
the trouble essentially grows out of
the race problem. Senators have tried
to keep that phase of 1t out of the de-
bate, but Mr. Tillman put 1t squarely
before the Senate.
More Senate lawyers are having a
say this week. Senator Spooner of
Wisconsin, conceded to be the leading
lawyer of all Congress-, Is going to
a speech several days ago. He wants
to wait till after Senator Foraker OF
Ohio answers the other speakers. SEN
ator Lodge, who continues to be the
champion of the administration. has
'een laid up at his residence with a bad
sold, but he will probably have some G
hing to say about the case before the
iebate is over. v
That Is by no means all the warlike =
opfcs before Congress. A very i'm 7
'ortant discussion Is In progress over /
laval legislation. There is a division y
# opinion whether Congress this year I
hall authorize the building of two e
lew warships or one new warship. No v
laval appropriation bill has yet been p
eported from committee, but the
louise seems to be disposed to vote for
at one new warship. Probably 1t VIII
fant that a big warship. The Senate i,
) likely to favor two new warships. h
ut Senator Hale of Maine, who is the ii
reatest naval expert In Congress. ia N
ors two warships of the 16,000-ton n
lass. He shrinks at the prospect OF II
normous naval expenditures, as the q,
ost is rapidly increasing so that the II
,tal I'm few years may be not s1O0,-
1900, as now, but half again as much.
avy officers want more pay. although 8,
ley are well paid now In the view ri
Congress. and they also want a re- n,
,rye list created 30 that they can be- ar