The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1908-05-15
NEWS FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
PEESfDE-.T ROOSEVELT SAYS
LIE IS SUPREME-GIVES
lis VIEWS.
rs CCmnlander-in-Ch Chief, Asserts He
Had Authority to Discharge
CclO-ed SClLiers.

L
bcrs of the United States Senate
have received letters from President
Roosevelt within the last few days
declaring his supremacy as comman-
der in chief, in all matters referring
to the control of the army and navy.
The letters have created intense feel
ing in the Senate, and it is not I'M
likely they will precipitate a confer
ence of Republican members.
defense of his course in discharging
without honor the negroes he be-
lieved to be guilty of shooting up the
town of Brownsville, Tex, and his
action in banishing Colonel william
F. Stewart to an abandoned military
post in desert section of Arizona.
None of the Senators who have
received letters from the White
House have decided whether they
will make them public
Several Senators said today that
the letters would have the effect Of
complicating the situation in regard
to legislation in the interest of the
innocent members of the battalion
of negroes discharged On account of
the Brownsville affairs. There are
two bills before the Senate looking
to that end. 1t is believed that the
Republican Senators will hold a eau
Gus for the discussion of the entire
question, including the Presidents
letters, next week.
The officers and enlisted men Of
the army have won their fight for
increased pay, when the House, after
a debate of two hours, agreed to the
conference report on the Army ap-
preparation bill. An appropriation
of 100000 was made for the pur-
pose. 100000 of which will go to
the enlisted men. Nine hundred Of
f1cers on the retired list also will
benefit by the increase. The army
appropriation bill carries an aggre-
gate appropriation of $95,3S2,245
The principal item of increase is the
100000 additional pay With
the various changes made in confer
ence, the bill represents a total in
crease of $3,263,115 over amount
authorized by the House.
Senator Fulton proposed an
amendment to the sundry civil bill
appropriating 100000 for repair
ing the dredge Chinook. The Sena-
tor had conference with the Chief
of Engineers, who is anxious that
the Chinook be again placed in COM
mission and set to work on the Co.
lumbia River bar. 1t is doubted If
100000 is needed for repairs, but
an estimate will be had in q short
time.
Senator Hepburn proposed the
following amendments to the sundry
civil bill: Providing for a survey
Of all unsurveyed public land in Ida
no, Oregon, Montana and California,
whether in forest reserve or not; ap-
propriating $4,000 for resurveying
the Idaho-Washington boundary;
appropriating $4,000 to establish a
fish culture station in Idaho.
A notable array of speakers has
been selected for the conference of
Governors on the conservation of
the National resources at the White
House next week. For the discus
sion of each topic was selected the
most eminent expert known to the
advisers of President Roosevelt.
Among the most prominent speakers
will be Andrew Carnegie, James J.
Hill and John Mitchell, former pres
ident of the United Mineworkers of
America