The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-12

NX/ ports from the Committee
| y" on Military Affairs were
Wv presented to the Senate to-
day In regard to the inves-
| tigation OF the affray at Brownsville.
Texas. which resulted In the discharge
without honor OF three companies of
negro soldiers of the Twenty fifth In
fantry. At the same time message
was received from the President call
| Ing attention to the fact that the tes-
| tmony taken by the committee sus-
tains his position in discharging the
negro soldiers. He recommends ex-
tension of the tins for re-enlstment
of the discharged men who might be
! found not to fall within the terms of
/, the order. There were four reports
! from the committee, the majority be-
Ing signed by Senator'S Warren. Lodge,
Warner. Dupont, Taliaferro, Foster.
Overman, Frazier and McCreary. a
minority report was signed by sena-
tors Foraker, Scott. Bulkeley aud
| Hemenway.
Ia Good Politics.
| The message of President Roosevelt
accomplished two PURPOSES 1t was
| good politics, In SO far as 1t gave
the President opportunity to square
himself with the negroes. whose sym
| rathy he had alienated by his course
| towards the battalion of negro soldiers.
| and 1t also was card we'll played
| in anticipating Senator Foraker's re-
port finding the negroes not guilty,
| and the message was of further use
in putting the President in line with
| the majority of the committee. who
recommended that the eX-soldiers who
would make affidavit to their inno-
: cence should be allowed to re-enlist.
/ The message accentuated the back
down OF the President. produced un-
| doubtedly by the opposition to Taft
| aroused among the negroes of the
South, and other States whore the
negroes vote decides the election.
Discussed With Interest.
The reading of the Presidents mes
sage and the several reports called
forth the undivided attention of
/ the Senate. Senator Culberson in
quired why legislation was necessary
| to permit the President to reinstate
the soldiers Of the Twenty-fifth Regi-
ment and Mr. Warner. chairman of
the committee, replied that the Presi-
dent had no authority to restore them
with all rights and privileges
after ninety days. and that for that
purpose the proposed Legislation would
have to be enacted
Mr.. Tillman said he wanted all the
reports and the Presidents message
printed In a single volume.
81 also want in the document" said
Mr.. Tillman. "the message of the
President dischargng these men. and
then his message taking it back.
! want the entire report, so 1t can be
sent out for the benefit of the
'niggers' of the country
Bill 70 RcInstate Then.
Senator Bailey inquired whether the
l T., = ~ Is ra-
instate the colored soldiers. Referring
to the Presidents recommendation and
| to the mmendation of several
| members OF the Committee for LegiS-
lation to Restore the Colored Soldiers.
| Senator Bailey said there seemed to
be race of diligence to see who
could satisfy the dissatisfied Republic
cans before the Republican convention.
and before the general election.
'The Senator is. Of course. giving
| his views from a Democratic stand
point retorted Mr.. Warren.
Mr.. Bailey replied that people could
not see themselves as others see them.
"And most fortunate it is they can't"
said Mr. Warren.
"But II some power would give the
Senator from Wyoming power to see
the Republican party now. he would bes
more ashamed OF this than have ever
| been aSnameQ OF 5lnySell--lHdl Is, IL iiS
can be put to shame"
II am quite content Mr.. Bailey
continued. "to sit here and see the SEN
ator from Wyoming and the Senator
| from Ohio (Mr. Foraker) fight this out
between themselves The truth is, the
Senator from Ohio needs none of my
assistance or sympathy, but as be-
| tween a multitude and one man. al
| most sympathiZe with the one man,
iif he is wrong"
Senator Foraker said the President
had not had power t. ""'rstate the
men. and added: "He will have to wait
on Congress before right and Justice
can be given to these men,"
VIII Restore All Rights.
| After an exchange OF words between
Mr. Foraker and Mr., Warren. the latter
said a bill permitting the re-enllstment
| of the soldiers would be introduced
very soon. There were matters con-
cernlng their pay that would have to
| be considered before the bill could be
put in.
Mr. Foraker said he wanted to know
what the committee proposed to do.
because he might have u bill to put In
himself.
Mr. Warren said he thought the COM
mittee bill would restore all rights.
with pay to commence at the time OF
the re-enlistment.
IT agree as to that" said Mr.. Foraker.
Mr. Tillman. reverting to his re-
quest that the Presidents order dis
missing the men be printed with tho
testimony at the beginning OF the
pamphlet, separate from the Presidents
more or less arbitrary action" and
added that the President had made
progress toward giving these negroes
Justice.
The Senate agreed to print the sew
eral reports and the Presidents mes
sage in single volume. as suggested
by Mr.. Tillman.
The majority report found as foi-
lows: