Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-12


The pending currency bill was dis
cusscd by Senator James 2. Clarke %
Arkansas, who declared that he wnule
vote for neither the Aldrich bill noI
for the Bailey substitute
The consideration of the Panama
transportation bill which Was to have
proceeded today was postponed unit
tomorrow.
After the passage of several bills o:
the calendar, the Senate at 4.i5 F. NJ
adjourned.
Washington. March 1l.-Eeports
from the committee on military affairs
were presented to the Senate today il
regard to the investigation of the af-
fray at Brownsville, Texas, which re-
suited i'll the discharge without honor
of three companies of negro soldiers
of the 25th Ingantry. At the same time
a message was received from the
President calling attention to the fact
that the testimony taken BY the com
mice SustainS his position in dis
charging the soldiers. lie recommends
extension Of the time for rc-cuiiStment
of the discharged men who might bC
found who did not fall within thu
terms of the order. There W"rC fou
reports from the committee. the ma
jority being signed by Senators War
rcn, Lodge, Warner, Dupont, TaliIf"r-
ro. Foster, Overman, Franzirr and Me
Creary. A minority report was signed
by Senators Foraker. Scott. Bulkle!
and Hemenway. The majority rcpor;
found as follows:
That, in the opinion Of tho committee
the shooting was done by som" of th
soldiers in the 18th Infantry; that the
testimony fails to identify the particu-
lar soldiers or soldier who participated
in the ARRAY. 1t is stated that thCro is
considerable contradiction in the tcs-
timony but taken as a whole, it proves
the case outlined in the majority de
ciSiOn.
The principal minority report was
presented by Senator Scott and take
the position that it has been imposS-
BILE to ascertain who did tho shooting
and makes the recommendation that
the negro soldiers hc restored. In ad-
ditiOn to this minority report. soma
tors Foraker and Buckley joined in !
supplemental report which WAS ire
scented by Senator Foraker.
Senator Foraker's report declared
that the testimony Of the eve Wtnesscs
against the negro soldiers is not r"li-
able and that no motive Of their al
legged connection with the ARRAY haf
been shown.
A supplemental report signed b1
Senators Warren, Lodge, Warner ant
Dupont declares that und"- tho cVi-
denCe it is shown that it is reasonable
to believe that all Of the soldiers A"r'
not concerned in the commission of The
crime, either as principals or accr~-
series. They recommend that il WoUlo
be justice to restore to all of tn" i'll
nocent mon the rights and privilege
which had accrued to them by reason
of their previous service in tho army
The Brownsville anray occurred u'
the night Of Aug. 13-li, 1906. TN" VHi
department conducted n hurried in
vestisutinn of the shooting and MS (;
result President Roosevelt ordered tn
discharge. without honor of the throt
companies, then stationed at Fort
Brown. Senator Foraker. in December
1906, raised question as to the Pres
idcnt's right to discharge the mon and
an investigation by the committee ~
military affairs was ordered. Th" com
mittce began taking testimony Fob. 4
1907. and concluded March 10, 1909.
The following is the text of tho
Presidents message:
''1'o the senate:
con Dec. T. 1906 the secretary oI
war, by my direction, issued the fol
lowing order:
"ApplCation to re-enliSt from for.
n.r members Of Cos. r, g AMI ID. 2ltf
Infantry. who were discharged und"l
tic provisions of Special Orders 80
266, War Department, Nov .. 1905
must be made in writing and bn ar
com panied ny such evidence also j,
writing. as the applicant may dc.ir'
| to submit to show that he was ncithcl
| implicated in the raid on Brownsville
! Texas. IN the night Of Aug. -. 1905
nor withheld any evidence that Nigh
| lead to the discovery Of tho prrpctra
| tors thcrnof''
| Proceedings We're begun undcr this or
der. but shortly thereafter an invcstiaa
-tion was directed by the Senate ana TIL
proceedings under the order were stopped
The Senate committee entrusted with tn
work now has completed its investigation
and finds that the facts upon which M
order Of discharge of Nov. 9, 1896, va
! based are substantiated by the evidence
| The testimony secured by the COMMITTEE
| is therefore now available, and I desir
Continued on Page Ten)