The Washington herald., 1909-01-06

Apparently much interested in the spe-
claI report Of the Brownsville probe. sub
mitted TO the Senate yesterday by Sec
retary Wright. Senator Foraker, the
champion OF the discharged negro sol
diers. devoted much time TO studying the
papers before they were sent TO the Gov
eminent Printing Office
The report was requested IN a resolution
offered by the Ohio Senator. passed before
the holidays Asking for information as
10 the circumstances Of the employ
meut OF detectives &c shadow the
members Of the dismissed troop Mr.. Fo--
aker purposely postponed addressing Tie
Senate on the Issue. until he procured the
data from the Secretary Of War.
Coincident with the receipt Of the
Brownsville document, there was strong
rumor afoat in the Senate yesterday to
the effect that Senator Foraker after
leaving the Senate in March would con
tinue his fight for the discharged soldiers,
and would appear before the courts as
their counsel in a suit 10 test the consti-
tutionaIity Of the Presidents order dis
missing them without honor.
President Spent $4,000.
In MS report Secretary Wright asserts
that President Roosevelt has expended
$1,000 for the services Of Herbert J.
Browne. OF Washington D. c., and W
G. Baldwin, Of Roanoke. Va, as private
detectives. IN connection with the Browns
vile ARRAY. The money was paid in n
stallments between April q, lsoS, and
January ?. 1903. The contract with the
detectives was made originally on the
recommendation Of William II. Taft. in
confidential letter 10 the President.
The contract has been twice renewed
and is now in force. The money was
paid from an emergency fund authorized
81 one OF the general appropriation bills.
The validity OF the expenditures was ap-
proved by the Attorney General and the
contracts with tie detectives were ex-
amined and approved by the Judge Ad-
vocate Of the Army. Secretary Wright
declares in his statement that he ap-
proved the employment Of the detectives
and the renewal Of the contract from
time 70 time
While Senator Foraker would not give
out statement regarding the report,
saying he had not had sufficient time 70
examine the papers closely, he mani
tested great interest in reading The letter
Of Judge Taft which was transmitted 70
the President on April Is, 190S
The letter which is marked conf
dentiar' IS in part as follows:
ConfdsnsiaI
War Department.
Washington. D. C.. Aprl ls. ls16-
Ny dear lir President.
The Brownsville IDFestl lgatlOr before the Senate.
while Il establishes beyond any reasonable doubt the
correctness q the conclusioa reached by you On the
report 4 tie inspectors and the ether evidence has
done nothing 20 identify The parricalsr members
q The battalion who did the shooting OF who were
accessories before Ct after TIE fac II The bill
nov pending. i1JTvGucCd by NJ Warren. passes
Z VII throw -Eon you the duty q further ezar1I-
nation into the CTdCECe 70 determine whether car-
tain Z those nov discharged ought not 70 -
restored. the ground tlat they we're not parties
20 the shooting and did not know the persons who
oid II ana were unable 20 gre any cleTs % the
Te-perrarCrs- L becomes your duty. Therefore ard
that n the department 20 make eTe-v effort pos-
be 20 identify the men who did the shooting ard %
establish the innocence q as many as are innocent
among those discharged
Il pursuit q th-- Is--ross. have had q confer
e1ce With Herbe-- ]. Browne. WL1 under cfrc1u,-
stances net Necessary % repet, made an irvestjza-
ti0l into the Circumstance uf the ARRAY and with
" g. Baldwin, the head q large detective agency
a. Roanose- Va, serving the three great railways
that pass through that t5uu
Contract Prepared.
Tie oontract has been prepared b. the Jud-s
Advocate General have talked With 1ir Baldwin
and with AIL Browne. and they think that unless
within thirty days the prospects Of succsss are
bright II would be useless 70 continue the faTesrz-
Gon further. i. however. Their cieEs are found
as they expect 70 ind them through the usa Of
the large f0-Ce Of detectives IN the employ q NJ
Baldwin. then thirty DAYS further nav be needed
n eTdeE 20 reader TIE proof satisfaC-c7y-
You W1l ind written upon the sack e the coa-
UlC formal indo-senant ard zutho-fzatio- for
yen 70 sig-. in order that the money % satisfy
the contract nay be WithdraE1 and paid frcn tie
aTTCcp-iatiCn there mentioned.
VERY sincerely youTs. WILLIAM H TAFT.
IN memorandum accompanying the
letter Secretary Wright says the detec-
tives had much difficulty IN locating the
discharged soldiers, which DELAYED their
work somewhat, but even before the ex-
piration Of the first contract covering
three months service the DEPARTMENT
felt that the expenditure had been jus-
tihed, and he holds that late informa-
ton warrants the continuation of II for
some tine yet