The Washington herald., 1908-03-12

ports at Last Submitted, but Case
Has Not Yet Come to FIns; Decision.
II became apparent yesterday that the
sails OF political expeGiency are 20 be
trimmed to meet the expected storm OF
negro disepproval over the Brownsville
matter
When the majority Of the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs presented its
report holding that some of the soldiers
belonging to the Twenty-hfth United
States Infantry did the shooting. the
four Republicans on the committee who
had signed the majority report presented
q supplemental report. which the Demo
Gratis who had Joined with them in their
findings refused TO sign, recommending
the enactment Of legislation authorizing
the President TO permit the re-enlistment
Of any Of the discharged soldiers who
could produce proof that they we're not
engaged IN the shooting ARRAY OF the
conspiracy Of silence charged by the
administration.
President Asks Relief.
That the recommendation was made
with the sanction OF President Roosevelt
was shown by the fact that synchron-
ously with the presentation OF the reports
came a message from the President 10
the Senate saying that he wanted legis-
lation enacting into law an order he had
caused 70 be issued in December. 1906.
granting discretion 20 permit the re-en-
listment OF such OF the discharged SOL
diers as could show that they were inno-
cent Of participation in the ARRAY or in
the conspiracy Of silence"
/ This message. taken in connection with
the majority report. brought some sar-
castle comments from Senators Bailey
and Tnlman
MI Tillman referred 10 the Presidents 6
communication as the message taking II
/ all back and Mr.. Bailey complimented
the majority OF the committee on having
I been right ar one time or another, for the
reason that 1t had been on all sides Of
| the question"
Bitter Debate Probable.
That the consideration Of the repo-ts
submitted from the several segments into
which the Committee on Military At
fairs has been divided VIII result in q
bitter debate is evident. Senator Foraker
and Senator Buikeley have submitted a
| bin to reinstate the discharged soldiers
and give them back pay, and Mr.. Fora
ker viii make a fight % have this
adopted.
The reports themselves are so diverse
that Senators who are dependent upon
! their knowledge Of the case from these
] reports are bound 10 be confused The
majority of the committee found that
Some Of the infantrymen did the shoot
| ing The minority found that the evi-
dence failed 10 show that the soldiers did
the shooting. and did show that many Of
them were innocent Four Of the nine
majority members recommended that the
President be given discretion 10 let the
discharged men re-enlist under certain
conditions. Two Of the majority submit
ted supplemental report 70 the effect
that the evidence showed that all the dis
charged soldiers are innocent
Democrats WIZ Not Recnnt.
Those who signed the majority report
are Senators Warren. Lodge. Warner.
and Du Pont, Republicans. and the I'VE
Democrats on the Military Committee;
but the five Democrats refused 20 sign
the supplemental report recommending
legislation 20 permit the President 90 re-
instate such OF the discharged soldiers as
are regarded as innocent
BY the ard OF I've Democrats and Sen
ator Du Poat. who has been on the COM
mittee about six weeks. the three admin
Istration Senator's on the committee
Warren. Lodge. and Warner-were able
10 obtain the adoption OF a report vir-
tually sustaining the Presidents Conten-
ton. The four other Republicans on the
committee. who made the minority re-
port are Foraker. Scott. Hemenway. and
Buckley. Two OF these-Foraker and
Bulkeley-signed the minority's supple
mental report, 70 show that the dis
charged men were innocent.
What Majority Finds.
The majority report was. in part, as
follows:
"One hundred and sixty or more wit
nesses were brought before the committee
and testified under direct and cross-ex-
animation. Your committee has consid-
cred and agreed 10 the following resoIu-
tions:
''First-That in the opinion OF this com
'AAseNNN AA'N StA'tAlAb Ll the array at
Brownsville on the night OF August 13-
H. 1906 was done by some Of the soldiers
belonging 10 the Twenty-ffth United
States Infantry. then stationed at Fort
Brown, Tex.
'Second-That the testimony fails to
identify the particular soldier or soldiers
who participated in the shooting ARRAY.
The following facts. in the opinion Of
your committee. have been proved and
established:
About the hour OF midnight on the
night OF August 1874 1896 a number of
soldiers of the First Battalion, Twenty
attn United States Infantry. then sta
toned at Fort Brown. Tex, armed with
the new model 1903 Springfield rifle and
government ammunition. then IN use in
that battalion. jumped over the wall OF
the government reservation separating
Credit for All Washington