The Washington herald., 1908-04-01

All prospect for legislation looking to
the restoration OF the Brownsville negro
battalion OF the Twenty-hfth Infantry
disappeared yesterday when the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs. by vote
OF TO t. decided to report adversely all
pending legislation on the subject.
The committee was in session about an
hour. There was little discussion, the
time being consumed in voting. Two bits
were pending before the committee-one
by Senator Foraker. OF Ohio. which di-
rected the restoration Of the soldiers to
the rolls. with full pay and allowances TO
date from their original discharge by or
der of the President; the other. by SEN
ator Warner, OF Missouri. embodied the
views Of the administration and author
lied the reinstatement of the soldiers of
the battalion who could show that they
had not participated in the shooting up
Of Brownsville or had guilty knowledge of
the affair. The Warner bill made no pro-
vision for arrears OF pay and allowances.
Foraker VIII Not Compromise.
1t had been evident for some time that
the majority OF the committee would
not agree on the conditions of reinstate-
ment- Senator Foraker would not con-
sent to accept the Warner bill. or any
compromise measure. He adhered TO the
ground which he took at the outset
that the soldiers were discharged unlaw-
fully and without information to sustain
the charges against them, and the testi-
mony taken during the investigation by
the Senate committee only strengthened
his opinion.
The first vote yesterday came on the
motion Of Senator Foraker TO substitute
his bill for the Warner bill. On that mo-
ton the vote was: Ayes-Senators For
aker. Of Ohio; Hemenway, OF Indiana;
Scott, of West Virginia. and Bulkeley, OF
Counecticut-four. Republicans. Noes
Senators Warren, of Wyoming chairman:
Lodge. Of Massachusetts,; Du Pont, of Del
aware. and Warner. Of Missouri. Republ-
cans: and the five Democratic members
OF the committee.
Democrats Change Sides
\ vote was then taken on the motion
TO report favorably the Warner bill. On
that motion the Democratic Senators
voted with the four Republican Senators,
who were in the minority on the first
vote. and the vote was reversed. 4
motion was then made 10 report the War
ner bill adversely, and that motion pre-
vailed by the same vote by which the
committee had refused 10 report X favor
ably. except that the attitude OF the Sen
ators was reversed. Senators Foraker.
Hemenway. Scott and Bulkeley and the
Democrats voting in the affirmative.
Senator Foraker was authorized 20
make the adverse report on the Warner
bill. Thereupon Mr.. Foraker suggested
that he would like 10 have his bill oc-
eGpy the same position before the Sen
ate as the Warner BILL and on his mo-
ton it was ordered 10 be reported also
adversely, and Mr.. Foraker was ordered
10 make the report The Ohio Senator
did not command the fun strength Of his
committee on this motion, two Demo
cratic SenatOrs-McCreary. Of Kentucky.
and Frazier. of Tennessee-and one Re
publican. Scott. Of West Virginia, voting
in the negative.
Minority VIII Report.
Senator Warner then asked permission
on behalf Of himself and Senator's Lodge.
Warren, and DI Pont to submit mi
nority report TO the Senate in favor OF
the Warner bill, and this the committee
agreed upon. The report will be submit
ted to the Senate probably to-day. and an
extended debate will follow, but it is
agreed on all hands that no legislation
will pass. The Democratic Senators prac-
tically served notice on their Republican
colleagues yesterday that they would not
consent 10 a vote on any bill restoring
the discharged soldiers TO the roll