Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-11
BROWNSVILLE REPORT
Committee Conclusions Sub
mitted to the Senate.
NEGRO TROOPS INVOLVED
President Would Re.Enlist Those
Proven Innocent.
SENDS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
All Democrats and Four Republicans
Decide That Colored Soldiers
Were Implicated.
NEGRO TROOPS INVOLVED
SENDS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

| military affairs were presented to
the Senate today in regard to the
investigation Of the affray at
Brownsville, Tex, which resulted
in the discharge of three COM
panies of negro soldiers of the
18TH Infantry. At the same time
a message was received from the
President recommending extern
sion of the time for re-enlistment
of the discharged men who might
be found innocent.
| A flood of documents relating to the
| Brownsville shooting affray' was pre-
| sented to the Senate today Immediately
after the opening of the session. The va
rious reports from the committee on mill
| tary affairs, which have been long ex-
pected were read, and there was also read
special message from the President on
| the same subject, which took the Senate
| by surprise.
The President got his message in first
Assistant Secretary Latta was on hand as
soon as the chaplain finished the opening
prayer. When the message was read and
proved 10 De a recommendation tudL Noii-
gress extend the time within which dis
charged soldiers connected with the
! Brownsville incident might re-enlfst. II
they proved themselves guiltless, the SEN
| ators. both republican and democratic, got
up and took notice.
The Presidents Message.
The message was as follows:
| ITO the Senate:
ION December II, 1906, the Secretary
| of War by my direction issued the fol-
| lowing order:
Applications to re-enlist from for
mer members of Companies B, G and d.
| 25th Infantry, who were discharged
| under the provisions Of Special Orders
No. 266, War Department, November 9.
1906, must be made in writing and be
accompanied by such evidence also IN
writing, as the applicant may desire to
submit to show that he was neither
| implicated in the raid on Brownsville,
| Texas, on the night of August 13, 1905.
| nor withheld any evidence that might
lead to the discovery of the perpetra-
| tors thereof.
proceedings were begun under this or
der; but shortly thereafter an investiga-
| ton was directed by the Senate, and the
proceedings under the order were stopped.
| The Senate committee in.rusted with the
work has now completed it's investiga-
| tion and finds that the facts upon which
my order of discharge Of November Q.
/ 1905 was based are substantiated by the
evidence. The testimony secured by the
committee is therefore now available, and
| l desire to revive the order of December
| Il, 1906 and to have it carried out in
| whatever shape may be necessary to
achieve the purpose therein set forth; any
additional evidence being taken which
| may be of aid in the ascertainment Of
| the truth. The time limit during which
| it was possible to reinstate any individual
soldier in accordance with the terms ot
this order has, however, expired. / there
| fore recommend the passage Of . law
extending this time limit, SO far as the
! soldiers concerned are affected, until
| year after the passage of the law, and
permitting reinstatement by direction of
| Judgment shall appear not to be within
| the class whose discharge was deemed
| necessary in order to maintain the dis
| cipline and morale of the army.
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
| "The White House, March II, 19OS.'
| Senator Warren then presented the ma
jority report supporting the President In
his action in discharging the troops with
out honor, and stating that the evidence
deduced by the committee investigation
showed that colored soldiers from the
| Brownsville fort did the shooting This
! report is signed by Senators Warren,
| Lodge. Warner, du Pont, Taliaferro Fos-
ter, Overman. Frazier and McCreary,
compr; sing all of the democrats in the
committee and four republicans.
! With the majority report was a. supple
mental report. stating that the evidence
showed that not all of the soldiers dis
charged were concerned in the shooting
and recommending the passage of bill
allowing re-enlstment of the innocent
soldiers within year from the date of
the passage of the bill. Senators War
ren Lodge, Warner and du Pont, re-
publicans. signed this report.
Before Senator Scott could get the floor
! to present the chief minority report Sena-
! tor Culberson asked Senator Warren why
| the President couldn't reinstate discharg-
| ed soldiers by executive order, just as he
| had removed them.
| Senator Warren replied that under the
| law the President could not do this. Sena-
! tor Scott then followed with the minority
| report signed by Senators Scott. Foraker
| Hemenway and Bullkeley. which was to
| the effect that the guilt of no soldiers at
Brownsville was proven by the commit
| tees investigation.
Innocence of Troops Claimed.
| After the reading of these reports, Sen
| ator Foraker came to the fore with an
other report, showing the innocence of
| the soldiers which report, he said. en-
bodied the personal views of Senators
Buckley and himself Mr.. Foraker said
the reading of this report would consume
| more than an hour and asked that it be
printed in the Record without reading.
He declared that no report consisting
| of several typewriter pages could do the
! subject justice. referring to the other
| retrorts just submitted. and that his was a
| careful review of the testimony. He would
! explain 1t in full to the Senate at a later
| date he said. and show conclusively that
the findings therein were entirely justi-
fed.
| In the course of his remarks the Ohio
senator addressed the chair Your
| honor This caused general laugh,
in which MIR. Foraker joined heartily.
Coming events often cast their shadows
| before" he said quickly. Il may be ad-
| dressing the court before long
Mr.. Foraker vouchsafed no explanation
Of this remark.
! On the suggestion of Senator Tillman
the Senate agreed to print the order OF
the President discharg.ng the colored
troops. the message received today from
the White House and the various com
mittee reports.
| Senator Tillman declared he wanted the
colored people of this country to have a
chance TO read the entire case with care.
He was especially anxious. he said, TO