The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-15
BROWNSVILLE
MATTER AGAIN
IN -LIMEL|GHT
Foraker Introduces an Amend
ment to His Bill for Rem
IiStment of Negro Soldiers.
PRESIDENT SCORED IN
MESSAGE ON SUBJECT
STATEMENTS, AFFIDAVITS, ETC.,
FROM DETECTIVES SENT
OUT BY ROOSEVELT.

Washington. Dec. Ex-senator For
aker today introduced an amendment
TO the bill providing for the re-enlist-
ment of the negro troops discharged
without honor because of alleged par
ticipation in the ARRAY at Brownsville,
and addressed the senate concerning the
amendment. He proposes in his new
measure to establish a tribunal con-
sisting of retired army officers, before
whom evidence may he submitted as
to the guilt of defendants and before
whom the defendants themselves might
appear to answer to charges The
measure is so drawn as TO practically
take out of the hands of the executive
and TO give a tribunal appointed by con-
eress full authority to consider the
Brownsville questions and by its find
inRs provide for the re-enlistment of
the re-enlistment OF the discharged ne
groes.
Hounded by Detectives.
In addressing the senate, MI For
aker said that during the summer let
tiers had been coming to him from
these discharged negro soldiers declar-
ing that detectives were constantly en-
gaging them in conversation.
The senator spoke of the activities
correspondents, saying that in many
cases they went so far as to take up
their dwelling with the discharged SOL
diers for the purpose of securing their
confidence and spying upon their move
ments.
He approved. ferreting out the facts,
but declared that there was a right
way 10 do it.
Upon the conclusion of Mr. Foraker's
remarks. Mr., oCulberson asked that the
presidents message on the Brownsville
affair be read, and Vice President Fair
banks asked that that be done.
All the Senators present remained in
their seal and much interest was shown
in the document.
Presidents Message.
TO the Senate: 1 enclose herewith a
letter from the secretary of war trans
hitting a report of the investigation
made by Mr.. Herbert j. Browne, en-
ployed by the department in conjunc-
ton with Captain w. G.. Baldwin to
investigate as far as possible what hap
pened at Brownsville on the 18th and
18th of August, 1906 The report and
documents contain some information of
great value and some statements that
are obviously worthless, but l submit
them in their entirety. This report en-
ables US TO fix with tolerable definite
ness at least some of the criminals who
took the lead in the murderOus shooting
of private citizens at Brownsville. II
establishes clearly the fact that the col
Ored soldiers did the shooting: bat upon
this point further record was unneces-
sary, as the fact that the colored SOL
diers did the shooting has already been
established beyond all possibility OF
doubt. The investigation has not gone
far enough to enable us to determine
all tue facts and we Will proceed with
it; but it has gone far enough to deter
mine with sufficient accuracy certain
facts of enough Importance to make il
advisable that 1 place the report be-
fore you.
Company Did Shooting.
1t appears that almost all of the
members of company B must have beer
actively concerned in the shooting
either to the extent of being particl-
pants or to the extent of virtually en-
couraging those who were participants
As to companies c and d. there car
be no question that practically every
man in them must have had knowledge
that the shooting was done by some OF
the soldiers of B troop, and possibly by
one or two others in one of the other
troops. The concealment was of itself
asgr2ye Offense, which was greatly ag-
- Continued on Page 2.