Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-14
OHIO SENATOR USED BROWNS
VILE CASE AS SUBJECT OF AD-
DRESS IN WHICH PRESIDENT is
ASSAlLEp.
SENATE PASSES
HIS RESOLUTION

ED FOR ITEMlZED STATEMENT
OF EXPENDITURES OF EMER-
GENcY APPROPRIATION.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 10.
Without debate and without ref
erence to committee, the senate
today passed resolution present
ed by Foraker calling on the sec
rotary of the treasury for an item
lied statement of the expenditures
OF, $3,000,000 appropriated by the
act of March, 1899, to be expended
at the direction of the president
as an emergency fund. This is the
fund out of which Detectives
Browne and Baldwin were paid
for their services in investigating
the Brownsville affair and for
which expenditure Foraker today
sharply criticised the president
and Secretary Taft
The renewal of the discussion
of the Brownsville affair in the
senate today by Foraker called
out large gathering that filled
the galleries to overlooking. The
senator received the strictest at
tention from his colleagues and of
number Of members of the house
who occupied places in the rear
of the chamber.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 10 Illegal
diversion of public funds by the presi-
dent and William II. Taft while secre.
tary of war, to pay for the investiga-
ton by private detectives into the
Brownsville affair, was charged by
Senator Joseph Benson Foraker Of
Ohio in the senate today in speech
In replying to statements Of Herbert
]. Browne of this city and William
G. Baldwin of Roanoke, Va, who were
employed by the secretary of war to
secure evidence of the guilt of negro
soldiers of the 25th infantry, United
States army, in shooting up Browns
vile on the night of August 1874,
1906. The government use Of the pri-
yate detectives was characterized by
Mr.. Foraker as "atrocious, shocking
and revolting."
This charge of illegally diverting
$4,000 from the war fund Of $4,000
600 appropriated by the deficiency
act OF March 3, 1899, was made by
Mr.. Foraker in concluding his re-
marks, which consisted of very care
full consideration of certain legal
phases of the Brownsville affair and
the reading Of number of affidavits
by soldiers whose testimony and econ
fessions' Mr.. Browne alleged he had
secured to unravel the mystery Of the
identity Of the men who did the
shooting, and these affidavits denied
with great particularly nearly every
statement Of Importance by the de.
'tectives.
s3,ooo,o0o War Fund of 1899.
Speaking of the 100000 war fund
of 1899 appropriated as an emergency
to meet unforeseen contingencies con
stantly arising to be expended at the
discretion Of the president, Mr.. Forak.
er said:
ut will probably be surprising in
formation to the appropriations com
mittee. as it will be to most senator's
that this appropriation. made ten
years ago at the close of the Spanish.
American war, to enable the presi
dent to meet emergency army contin.
gencies such as were then arising in
connection with orr military estab
lishment, should have been construed
to be permanent appropriation, and
that there IS still a large unexpended
balance out Of which payments of the
character now undsr consideration
are being made"
The contingency" under which
this use of the war fund of 1899 was
used. Mr.. Foraker declared. was the
remote one that men should be re
CURED to prove their innocence of q
crime before Judge who had already
pronounced them guilty under a bill
then pending in the senate. And all
this" insisted Mr.. Foraker. sin the
presence Of the fact that there waa
the most bitter and determined oppo
sition to the measure and that there
was another measure pending which
provided that all might be re-enlisted
who cared to re-enlist, but that thu
right to further prosecute before civil
or military tribunals might, be secured
in any manner at any time after such
enactment.It would seem that, grant
ing all I have indicated. the appropri
atoms are vet. nevertheless. clearl,
illegal and in fiat violation of the fol
lowing statutory provisions:
That no employe OF the Pinkertor
n1} r-s,
shall be employed in any government
service or by any officer of the Dis
trict OF Columbia
"This provision was enacted in 1870.
and has been in force and effect eve,
since. But in7emuch as IT was fa'lnt
in an approximation bill, it was though
proper in 1898 to re-enact it. amended
so as to employ the word hei ,after
lie the end that there might n;
question wheteyer about it's peint