The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-23
ROOSEVELT TELLS
OF EXPENDITURES
Information IN 100000
Fund Sent to Senate.
AIDED IN DETECTIVE WORK
Chief Executive Transmits Informa-
tiOn Requested by Foraker ResO-
luton, but Requests that Certain
Senator'S Only Be Allowed 60 Pc
ruSe It-HeId in Confidence.

President Roosevelt created a stir
among Senators yesterday by sending to
the Senate, under sealed confidence. in
/ formation requested by that body in re-
gard 10 expenditures made by the War
I Department from the three million dollar
contingent fund appropriated on March
/ 3. 1889. for the purpose Of enabling the
Secretary Of War to obtain military in
formation.
/ II was from this fund that the $l5.0S
paid 10 Browne and Baldwin, the private
I detectives hired to get confessions from
former negro soldiers. who had been dis
charged from the Twen;y-hfth United
States Infantry without honor" for al
I legged participation in, OF knowledge Of.
the Brownsville ARRAY. was disbursed.
Owing 70 the fact that the information
was sent in confidence the Senate felt
obliged 70 consider il in secret legisia-
/ tive session. where a mild protest was
raised by some Senators by a suggestion
OF a stipulation from Mr.. Roosevelt that
the report should be examined only by
members Of the Committee on Military
Affairs
Statement of Expenditures.
The resolution requesting a statement Of
+ expenditures under the three million dol
/ lar appropriation was presented by Sen
ator Foraker After its adoption a story
went the rounds that the President was
unwilling 10 send the Information de-
sired 20 the Senate. but was willing that
CERTAIN Senators should examine Il priv
ately.
Il Vas said then that Senator Foraker
was anxious 20 have a private peek al
The accounts Of disbursements under
the fund. but this did not meet with the
approval Of the administration. How
ever. Il Mr.. Roosevelt was disinciined 10
let the Senate have the information, he
experienced a change Of mind, in part at
least. as witnessed by his action in
transmitting the information received by
the Senate yesterday
Il was understood that the President
disinclinati0n N this regard was based
on the contention that since much OF the
money paid out Of the S3oo0G 90 fund was
used in getting secret military informa-
ton as 10 conditions IN foreign countries.
Il would be incompatible with the public
interest 20 furnish any details to the
Senate, and thus risk the chance OF hav-
ing hem get 10 the foreign nations con-
cerned through the newspapers or publ
cation in the official records Of the Sen
ate proceedings.
Part OF The money, il was said, was
I used in making inquiries IN Venezuela
and Colombia, with a view 70 use II
this government found It necessary 10
send military forces 20 those countries.
and * IS understood that more OF Il was
spent IN getting certain information that
would be OF value to the United States
II & became involved IN trouble with
nations of greater military consequence.
The consideration Of the Presidents re
port and the accompanying statement was
given BY the Senate IN secret iegisla-
tive session which is distinguished from
the frequent executive session held for
the purpose Of considering treaties and
the nomination OF Federal officers
Action Is Unexpected.
The Senate had not expected the in
formation TO be sent in the form Of a
confidential communication. When the
contents Of his report became known
some OF the administration Senators.
notably Mr.. Warren. who is chairman Of
the Committee or Military Affairs. and
Mr.. Lodge, who is a member OF that com
mittee. became active among their as
sociates. apparently with the object Of
preventing any adverse action on the re-
port. Senator Depew. who has lately
shown a disposition to be a strong ad-
ministration man. assisted them
That V,--r ~ prnGfTfarTFc rnr0rr IL,
which he asked that the financial state
ment in regard 70 disbursement OF the
three million dollar fund should be ex-
amined only by members Of the Military
Committee brought comment from many
Senator's. some OF whom were inclined
10 believe that the entire Senate was en-
titled to the information
Mr.. Dick. OF Ohio, called attention to
tho absence Of his colleague. Mr.. Foraker
who had presented the resolution calling
for the information. and suggested that
nothing should be done in the matter
until Mr.. Foraker. who was in the Capt
toll building. appears In the Senate.
ThereupOn the report was intrusfed 10
the personal custody OF Charles c.. Ben
nett. the Secretary Of the Senate. who
carried it 70 his Office and locked it in
the safe
The objections made 20 confirming knowI-
edge OF expenditures under the 1900. 900
fund TO members OF the Military Com
mittee were voiced mildly. and IL is prob
able the Senate ultimately viii permit
the report TO go 20 that committee for
consideration.
Precedent Explained.
It was explained in the session yester-
day afternoon that there was precedent
for Withholding such information. This
precedent was the action Of President
Mckinley in declining to comply with a
Senate resolution requesting information