The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-03-13
SEVERAL REPORTS
Minority Of Committee Brings In Con-
tllctlno Data-Presldent Sends Mes.
sage Modifying Past Position on
Brownsville Mattsr-soidiers May
Get Back to the Army.

resulted In the discharge without
honor Of three companies OF negro
soldiers Of the Twenty-hfth infantry.
At the same time a message was re-
celved from the president calling At
tention to 1.-THE fact that the testimony
taken by the committee sustains his
postum IN discharging the negro sol-
diers. There we're four reports from
the committee, the majority being
signed ~ Senators Warren. Lodge
Warner. Dupont, Taliaferro, Foat.::.
Overman, Frazier and McCreary. "A
minority report was signed by Sena.
tors Foraker, Scott. Buckley and.
Hemenway. :
TheEsfollowing is the text Of the
presidents message:
To the senate:
The Message.
ION December 12rn, 1905, the &C.
cretary Of war, by my direction,
issued the following order:
!" Applications to reenlist form for
mer members Of the companies B, G,
and .. 18th infantry. who were dis
charged under the provisions Of spe-
cial order No. 266. war department,
November 9. 1906. must be made IN
writing and be accompanied by such
evidence. also in writing as the APP
plicant may desire to submit to chow
that he was neither implicated IN
the raid on Brownsville on the night
Of August Is. 1906. mol withheld aay
evidence that might lead to the per
petrators thereof
Proceedings were begun under this
order; but shortly thereafter an In.
vestigation was directed by the sen
ate and the proceedings under the
order were stopped.
Facts substantiated.
THE senate committee entrusted
with the work has now completed the
investigation and finds that the facts
upon which my order OF discharge Of
November 9th. 1906, was based. are
substantiated by the evidence. The
testimony secured By the COMMITTEES
Is therefore now available and / de-
sire to revive the order Of December
~, 1906, and to have It carried out IN
whatever shape may be necessary to
achieve the purpose therein set forth.
any additional evidence be taken
which may be Of aid. The time limit
during which It vas possible to rein.
state any individual soldiers includ.
ing the terms Of this order has. how.
ever, expired. I therefore recommend
the passage Of = law extending this
time limit and the passage Q. . Law
permitting the reinstatement By direc-
ton Of the president OF any man who,
in his judgement. shan appear not e
be within the clause, under which bid
discharge was deemed necessary IN
o. der to maintain the discipline and
morale Of the army.
..THDODoRB ROOSEVELT.
AThe white House. March II. 1903
Majority Report.
The majority report contended thai
the shooting was done BY some. mem
hers Of the 26th infantry, though thu
Testimony fails to identity the parti
cular participants. The principa
minority report, presented by Senatol
Escott recommends that the negrs
soldiers be restored, as It has beel
Impossible to ascertain who did th,
shooting. III
Senator Foraker and Senator Bulke
Icy turned In q supplemental report
declaring that the testimony Of eye
witnesses against the negro soldier
10 unreliable and the weight Of ev'
dence shows that none Of the negr
soldiers participated.
Other Rsporta
"A supplemental report by Senator
Warren. Lodge. Warner and Dupon
declares the evidence shows the q
sault was perpetfated BY members g
!. the battalion, but that It 10 REASONABLE
to believe that al the soldiers we
not concerned and recommends r.
~storation Of all rights and privilege