Arizona republican., 1908-12-15
THE FORMERS AMENDMENT
Proposing to Take Matter Entirely Out of Executive
 Hands--Latter's Communi-
 cation Holding That Sub- ject Has Been Disposed of.

Washington, Dec. 14-Senator Fora ker today introduced an amendment to the blllsproviding for the re-enlistment of the negro troops discharged with out honor because of their alleged par ticipation in the affray at Browns vile, and he addressed the senate com mittee concerning the amendment. He proposes in his new measure to es- tablish tribunal consisting of retired army officers. before whom the evi- dence may be submitted as to the guilt of the defendants and before whom the defendants themselves might appear to answer the charges.
 The measure is so drawn as to prac- tically take out of the hands of the executive and to give to the tribunal appointed by congress full authority to consider the Brownsville question and by its findings provide for the re- enlistment of the discharged negroes.
 Tn addressing the senate, MT. Fora ker said that during the summer let ters had been coming -"- him from these discharged negro z ldiers declar- ing that detectives were constantly en- gazing them in conversation. The sem ator spoke of the activities of detec- tives as outlined by his correspondents. saying that in many cases they went so far as to take up their dwelling with the discharged soldiers for the purpose of securing their confidence and spying upon their movements.
 He approved the ferreting out of facts. but he declared that there was a right way. to do it.
 Upon the conclusion of MT. Fora ker's remarks. MT. Culberson asked that the presidents message on the Brownsville affair be read. and Vice President Fairbanks directed that it be done. All the senators present re- mained in their seats and much inter est was shown in the document.
 A synopsis of the presidents mes age is as follows:
 "To the Senate:-I enclose herewith from the secretary of war, transmit ting a report of the investigation made by MT. Herbert J. Brown. employed by the department in conjunction with Captain W. G. Baldwin, to investigate as far as possible what happened at Brownsville on the 18th and 14th of August. 1906. The report and docu ments contains some information of value and some statements that are obviously worthless but I submit them in their entirety.
 This report enables us to fix with tolerable defniteness at least some of the criminals who took the lead in the murderous shooting of private citizens at Brownsville. It establishes clearly the fact that the cOlored soldiers did the shooting but upon this point fur ther record was unnecessary. as the fact that colored soldiers did the shooting had already been established beyond all possibility of doubt. The investigation has not gone far enough to enable us to determine all the facts and we will proceed with it, but it has gone far enough to determine with sufficient accuracy certain facts of enough importance to make it advis- able that I place the report before you.
 Tt appears that almost all the mem- bers of Company E must have been actively concerned in the shooting. either to the extent of being partici- pants or to the extent of virtually en- couraging those who were participants. As to companies c and D, there can be no question that practically every man in them must have had knOwl- edge 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. This concealment