Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-13
FORAKER MAKES new CHARGE
Ohio Senator Says Roosevelt Wrong
fully Used War Fund.
HIRING DETECTIVES IS ILLEGAL
Mr.. Lodge Replies Briefly Defending
President, Citing Precedents-
No Date Fixed for Vote
on Negro Bill.

WASHINGTON. Jan. IA spirited
speech by Senator Foraker of Ohio on
the use of private detectives in lnvestigat-
ing the Brownsville affair was the feature
of interest in the senate today Mr.. For
aker laid aside his manuscript several
times during his address to inject remarks
that were pointedly aimed at the presi-
dent, although he refrained from the men,
tion of Mr.. Roosevelts name. Evidently
referring to the president, he declared that
men who made charges and insinuations
will some time "be where they can be
called to account"
Mr.. Lodge replied to Mr.. Forakers re-
marks declaring that the use of the $780,
900 fund appropriated in 1899 an emerg-
ency, war fund from the president during
the Spanish war In the employment of the
detectives on the Brownsville case was not
in violation Of law.
Mr.. Foraker endeavored to have day
fixed for voting on his bill for the re-
enlistment of the discharged soldiers of
the Twenty-fifth regiment. but Mr.. War
rem, chairman of the committee on military
affairs, insisted upon postponing such
agreement until future day.
Charge Made by Foraker.
Illegal diversion of public funds by
the president and William II. Taft
while secretary of war to pay for the
investigation by private detectives into
the Brownsville affair was charged
by Senator Joseph Benson Foraker
Of Ohio in the senate today in a speech, in
replying to the statements of Herbert J.
Browne of this city and William @. Bald
win Of Roanoke, Va. who were employed
by the secretary of war to secure evidence
! OF the guilt of the negro soldiers OF the
/ Twenty-fifth infantry, United States army
| in shooting up Brownsville on the night OF
August 1914, 1906. The government use OF
the private detectives was characterized
by Mr.. Foraker as 'atrocious. shocking
and revolving"
This charge Of illegally diverting $500
from the war fund OF 5000, 900 appropriated
by the deficiency act OF March 8. 1899, wal
made by Mr.. Foraker in concluding hi
remarks. which consisted OF a very careful
consideration OF certain legal phases Of tn,
Brownsville affair and the reading OF
number of affidavits by soldiers, who's,
testimony and confessions" Mr. Brom,
alleged ne had secured to unraveI tn,
mystery OF the Identity OF the men VIII
did the shooting, and these affidavits de
MED with great particularly nearly ever,
bNdAtihthl VI 'ihloi laAANC b9 Aiit hcAtGllNes
Discusses History of War Fund.
Speaking Of the 100000 war fund o
1899 appropriated as an emergency TO NEE
unforeseen contingencies constantly arising
TO be expended at the discretion Of tn
president, Mr. Foraker said:
1T will probably be surprising nforma
tion to the appropriations committee as
will be TO most senator's that this ap
preparation, made ten years ago at tn
close OF the spanish-American war, 70 IN
able the president to meet emergency arm
contingencies such were then arising /
connection with our military establishment
should have been construed TO be a pei
manent appropriation, and that there
still a large unexpended balance out {
which payments of the character no,
under consideration are being made"
Continuing, Mr.. Foraker declared this
section ls3 Of the revised statutes. enaete
!, In 1872 and still in force. directs the hea
OF each department TO make an annu:
report TO congress, giving a detailed stat,
b ment OF the manner in which the col