Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-01-18
Blackburn Springs Amendment Which
Ends All Hope Of Early Settlement
Of Quarrel Over Negro Soldiers,
DEMOCRATIC AGREEMENT
BELIEVED BEHIND MOVE
Foraker Declines to Accept ReSOIu-
ton Expressly Recognizing Presi-
dents Legal Right to Dismiss
Accused Men.

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wirel
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE legal
phase of President Roosevelts dis
charge of the negro troops was again
forced into the controversy in the
senate today by notice of an amend
ment to the Foraker compromise res
olution, which Senator Foraker said
he should press.
Senator Foraker, who continued his
argument. at once declared his oppO-
sition to the amendment He dis
cussed the power of the executive,
holding that the affray at Brownsville
ought to be investigated smply.as to
the facts and the question of power
determined later If it should arise as
the result of the inquiry. He reviewed
his previous utterances maintaining
the same position in every respect He
ferred to the arguments which have
been made since his first speeches and
particularly to those of Senators
SDooner and Knox. He defended the
Twenty fifth infantry, reviewing the
"escapades" it is charged with eX-
pressing astonishment that the rec
ord furnished the senate by the war
department in this particular was not
complete, and stating that in response
to his resolution it had been supple
mented by information which was de-
eidely favorable to the regiment
Consideration of the resolution was
deferred until Monday at the close OF
Mr. Foraker's address.
The republican leaders accept the
Blackburn amendment as a political
move and most of them express the
opinion that 1t is the result of dem
ocratic conference. This Senator
Blackburn denies. but he says with
apparent confidence that 1t Will have
practically the unanimous support OF
the democratic senator's.
The amendment is not the result
of caucus" he said, but it has gem
eral endorsement" He says he will
press ii to a vote.
The republicans are trying to get a
unanimous agreement to lay the
amendment on the table, but some re-
publican senators express disincli-
nation to pursue that course because
they fear it would be construed as a
reflection on the president There Is
talk of a republican caucus, if the la
ter developments should make one adj
vsable Several senator's advocate an
amendment along the lines suggested
by Mr.. Aldrich, saying in the language
of a western senator that It would
have the effect Of "denatuling" the
Blackburn provision. For the present
the sentiment Of the republican mem
bers is to confine their efforts to hold
ing back debate and to await devel-
opments They express confidence in
their ability to shape the matter so
that it will not embarrass the demo-
Gratis more than the republicans. Sens
ator Tillman does. not stand with the
support of the Blackstone amendment.
The hope generally expressed
last night that a vote might soon
be secured upon the Foraker res
olution bearing upon the Browns
vile riot, received another shock
Immediately after the senate con-
vened. 1t was administered by SEN
ator Blackburn, who. when the reso-
luton came before the senate, offered
an amendment expressly disclaiming
any intention to question or deny the
legal right off the president to dis
charge without honor enlisted men OF
the army Of the United States"
MIR. Foraker, who had taken the
floor to conclude the speech begun
yesterday, said he certainly should op,
posed the amendment. He had, he
said. supposed the compromise reso-
luton presented by himself yesterday
was satisfactory, and he contended
that the consideration of the question
of the power of the president should
be postponed untily after the investi-
CATION He had not intended, he adj
ded to discuss the question of power,
but the amendment seemed to make It
necessary for him to go into that fea-
ture
Putting his position concisely Mr.
Foraker said;
The president in the exercise Of
.Vat 4 f4tni Of
surrounded on all sides by law, and
he Is just as amenable to law as any
body else"
The discharge Of men from the
army was as much matter of per-
manent regulation depending on con-
gressional action as the enlistment OF
men, or any other regulation.
There is no power anywhere to In
dict a man by or try a man by order,
convict a man by order. and then dis
charge man by order" said the sena-
tor
In conclusion Mr. Foraker said
there was manifest effort to discredit
the men OF these companies; that
these men should be INDICTED and tried
and that the judgment executed
against them by executive order was a
disgrace to the United States.
Eulogies on the life and character
of the Late Senator William b.. Bate
of Tennessee. were delivered. after
which the senate adjourned as a mark
nj rpenpct fO his memory