The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-03-14
UPHOLOS PRESIDENT
Sustained by Senate Committee
in Brownsville Affair.
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Mr.. Roosevelt Wants to Give Dismissed
Negro Soldiers Another Chance and
Asks That Time For Reinstatement
Be Extended.
Be Extendcd.

Be Extended.
Washington. March 1.-The senate
received two reports on the Browns
Vile shooting aaray-One the minority
report submitted BY Senator Foraker
Of Ohio. defending the negro troops
and contending that the evidence
against them was insufficient and un-
trustworthy. the other the majority re
port. saying that beyond a doubt the
negro soldiers were responsible But
while the majority report found the ne
grOes guilty. the committee filed sup
Elemental report To enable the re-en-
listmeut o. the discharged soldiers
Sho may satisfy the president that
they had no participation in nor a
guilty knowledge OF the ARRAY To
this end the committee offers "a bill
Tor the relief OF certain members OF
the Twentyifth Infantry" The bill
says in conclusion:
The president may authori-s the
enlistment o. said men. and any man
Who shall enlist in the military service
under authority SO given 10y the presi-
dent shall pc held AMI considered.
from the date OF his enlistment under
such authority. 10 have re-enlisted on
said date and 10 be entitled 10 the paw.
allowances and other rights and hene-
fits tina, he would be entitled TO TO-
ceive from said date OF enlistment IL
he had been hcncTablv discharged
under the provisions OF the special
order hereinbefore cited and had re-
enlisted Immediately
In view OF this action President
Roosevelt sent 4 special message 20
congress recommending legislation
authorizing the reenlistment on their
own application in writing OF such
members OF the battalion in question
who can show their innocence OF com
plicity in the affair
The following is the presidents
message
"On Dec u 1906. the secretary OF
war by my direction. issued the fol
lowing order
Application to re-enlist from form
er members OF companies 2. c and ID.
Twenty fifth infantry. who were dis
charsed under the provisions OF spe-
clal orders No e6s. war department.
Nov. Q 1906. must be made in writing
and be accompanied by such evidence.
also in writing. as the applicant may
desire 20 submit TO show that he was
neither implicated in the raid on
Brownsville Tex. on the nicht OF
Aug. Is. 1906. nor withheld any evil
dence that might lead 70 the discovery
OF the perpetrators thereof
Proceedings were begun under this
order hut shortly thereafter an invest
gation was directed by the senate and
the proceedings under the order were
stopped. The senate committee in
trusted with the work has now com
pleted its investigation. and finds that
the facts upon which my order Of dis
charge OF Nov. 9 1906. was based are
substantiated by the evidence. The
testimony secured by the committee
Is. therefore. now available and ! de
sire 10 revive the order OF Dec. 70
1906. and 10 have It carried out in
whatever shape may be necessary TO
achieve the purpose therein set forth.
and in additional evidence being taken
which may be OF aid in the ascertain
ment OF the truth The time limit
during which II was possible to rein
state any individual soldier in accord
ance with the terms OF this order has
however. expired.
Il therefore recommend the enact
ment OF law extending this time
limit so far as the soldiers concerned
are affected. until a year after the
passage OF the law. and permitting the
reinstatement by direction of the pres
ident OF any men who In his judgment
shall appear not 70 be within the class
where discharge was deemed neces-
sary In order to maintain the disci-
pline and morals OF the army"