The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-06
CONTRACT WAS
URGED BY TAFT
PreSident-e Instrumental in
Hiring Detectives to
Watch Negroes.
COST GOVERNMENT $4,000
BROWNE AND BALDWIN STILL ON
THE PAYROLL.


government $4,000 already in the en-
ployment Of private detective agencies
to investigate the Brownsville affair,
and the contracts with these agencies
are still in force. This information was
received by the senate today from Sec
rotary of War Wright i'm response TO
the Foraker resolution inquiring when
and by what authority of law Herbert
J. Browne and w. G. Baldwin were en-
ployed. 1t was the report of Brown and
Baldwin on which President Roosevelt
based a message to congress declaring
that the guilt of certain of the dis
charged negro soldiers had been fixed
beyond a shadow of doubt, and this re-
port was attacked by Senator Foraker
in a speech on the floor of the senate.
Attached to Secretary Wright's COM
municatiOn were copies of the various
contracts entered into between respOn-
sible officials of the war department
and the detective agencies. There was
also a confidential letter from Presi-
dent-elect Taft, then secretary of wa,
under date of April 16. 1908, urging the
president to make the original contract
with Brown and Baldwin.
Taft's Letter.
Mr.. Tafts confidential letter to the
president follows:
War Department, April 6. 1908. CCon-
fidentiaD
MIR. Dear Mr.. President:
THE Brownsville investigation before
the senate committee, while it estab-
fishes beyond any reasonable doubt the
correctness of the conclusion reached
by you on the report of the inspectors
and the other evidence, has done moth
nj Ia fararc
of the battalion who did the shooting OF
who were accessories before or afres
the fact.
IF the bill now pending. introduced
by Mr. Warner, passes. 1t will throw
upon you the duty of further examina-
ton into the evidence to determine
whether certain of those now dis
charged ought not to be restored on the
ground that they we're not parties tC
the shooting, did not know the persons
who did it, and were unable to give a4y
ciew to the perpetrators. 1t becomes
your duty. therefore, and that of the
department. to make every efrort posi-
BILE to Identify the men who did tbs
shootin., and to establish the innocence
of as many as are innocent among thost
discharged.
Conference With Browne.
In pursuit of that purpose / have
had a conference with Herbert J.
Browne. who. under circumstances not
necessary to repeat, made an mvesti-
CATION into the circumstances of the
ARRAY, and is journalist of consider
able experience, and with Mr.. ". z.
Baldwin, the head of a large detective
agency at Roanoke, Va, serving the
three great railways that pass through
-. I -~s4 -, 7aH~ S4-a e-s-
dents of three railroads which Mr.
Baldwin serves to know whether he is
considered by them to be trustworthy
reliable and skillful, and until have an
affirmative answer from them on the
subject. l shall not sign the contract
The contract has been prepared by the
judge advocate general
Il have talked with Mr.. Baldwin and
Mr.. Browne and they think that unless
within thirty days the prospect Of sue
cess is bright, It would be useless to
continue the investigation further. If,
however. their clews are found, as
they expect to find them, through the
use of the large force of detectives in
the employ of Mr.. Baldwin. then thirty
days further may be needed in order to
render the proofs satisfactory There
is. as you will see in the contract. the
right to cancel the contract at the end
of thirty days and thus save half of the
expense. should 1t turn out that the ef-
fort is wholly useless. You will find
written OF the back of the contract .
formal endorsement and authorization
By you to sign in order that the money
may be withdrawn and paid from the
appropriation there mentioned. Very
sincerely yours
WILLIAM II. TAFT
The contract recommended By Mr.
Taft was for the payment of $4,000 IN
four weekly installments. and the sec
rotary of war pointed out that it could
be terminated before its expiration if
the investigation by private detectives
had been concluded, or if it was not
successful.
Secretary Wright's letter covers fully
the employment of Browne and Bald
win. He says that since the discharge
order was promulgated numerous apph-
cations for re-enlistment had been made
by soldiers who asserted their innocence
of participation in the Brownsville ar
fair. It appeared to the department
says Secretary Wright, that some Of the
members were innocent, and for that
reason the contract was made with
Browne. under which he was to assO-
ciate Baldwin with him and undertake
an independent investigation of the in
cident.