El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-27
Of THE
RESOLUTION
IS PLAIN
Congressman Agree This Is
Only Proper Course For
Government to Take.
MEXICO MUST THEN
SATISFY UNCLE SAM
Spirited Speeches on Sub
ject When Investigation
Resolution Is Introduced.

Washington. D. C, July 27.-The
speech in the senate of senator A B.
Fall, of New Mexico, has focused the
attention o. the country on the s1tua-
ton in Mexico as nothing else up to
the present time mas done The de-
plOrable conditions on the border. the
losses which have been sustained by
Americans in Mexico, and the -Outrages
this side of the Rio Grande. together
with the apparent indifference Of the
state department, are now actually for
the first time really matters of con-
ton Of the resolution Ct investigation
the United States government viii now
work Will be done, not by the state
department, but by commission under
the war department
Goes to War Department.
The resolution reads as follows:
That the secretary of war be, and
he is hereby, authorized and directed
to make, or cause to be made under
his direction, 8. full and thorough in
yestigation of each and all claims OF
american citizens and of persons dOnnt-
ciled in the United States which may
be called to his attention by claimants
or their attorneys for damages for in
juries 10 their persons or property, re-
ceived by them or by those of whom
claimants may be the legal representa-
tlves, within the boundaries of the
United States. by means Of gunshot
wounds or otherwise inflicted by Mex
lean federal or insurgent troops during
the late insurrection in Mexico in the
year 1911.
"ror the purpose of such investiga-
ton the secretary of war is authorized
70 appoint commission of three Of
4lcerS OF the army one OF whom shall
De an inspector general Such COM
mission shall have authority to sub
pena witnesses, administer Oaths and
TO take evidence on oath relating to
any such claim and to compel the at
tendance Of witnesses and the produce
ton Of books and papers in any such
proceeding Dy application to the dis
trtct court Of the United States for the
district within which any session OF
the commission is held. which court
IS hereby empowered and directed to
make all orders and issue all processes
necessary for that purpose, and said
commission shall have all the powers
conferred by law upon inspectors
general of the United States army in
the performance OF their duties Such
commission shall report to congress.
through the secretary Of war, as soon
as practicable, its findings Of fact upon
each and all the claims presented TO iC
and its conclusion as TO the justice
and equity thereof and as 20 the proper
thereof"
speech Aroused Keen Interest.
Senator Falls speech on Monday
aroused the keenest interest among
senators, many Of whom were entire
~ ignorant of the conditions in Next
CO, which he wildly disclosed At the
Swanson, of Virginia, said that he
would like 10 have the committee on
foreign relations of the senate conduct
an investigation and report to the SEN
ate whether the executive department.
of the government has been derelict
in its assertion of American rights"
Senator Smith, of Arizona. then took
the floor.
senator smith Speaks.
Inasmuch as this debate has arisen
upon join resolution which intro
duced," he said, 7 think it but due to
the senate and the committee on for
eign relations to give, in a minute.
know the outrages in Ell PasO and, in
my own state. in Douglas. I saw the
people there Just after it occurred.
DO not know whether ii was done. but
1 filed an application, or at least q
notification, to be sent to the depart
ment of state here asking that some
or settlement OF the damages which
occurred in that outrage. When I ar
rived here my attention was particu-
lGrly called to the matter by a rep
resentative from the state of Texas
W. R Smith, who had introduced a
resolution in the house similar to the
one afterwards introduced here. In
response to that resolution the secre-
tary of state made a report, which was
printed, and the substance Of it was
that If the people were killed on Amer
lean soil they, with their witnesses
must go to Mexico and establish in a
foreign tribunal their rights.
such a doctrine that I went with il
myself to the secretary of state, but L
did not lind him present. However, L
did submit the question to the depart
ment, with my strong disagreement TO
any such doctrine, and insisted that
when a man was killed under those cir
cumstances on American soil our own
government was responsible to him
My resolution. 1 think, went before
the committee a month or more ago
Then the two great national parties
met in national convention. That de
layed it; but 1 went to some member
OF the subcommittee daily until finally
the joint resolution was brought in as
a substitute for the one of congress-
man Smith, of Texas, a copy OF which
1 had introduced in this body. / say
this in justice to him
This United States should Pay.
The committee reported the reso-
luton, and I want to ask a question
of one of the members Of the subcom-
mittee. the senator from Georgia.
did not think il went quite far enough,
in that it simply said they should in
VeStigate, and whatever damages they
might find they should report to con-
gress. I do not know that ] am well
enough acquainted with the diplomatic
relations. but i would have liked 1t
better to have declared that whatever
they found congress should pay to its
own citizens. and that the United States
itself should make a demand on the
government of Mexico"
Il want to state in response to the
inquiry of the senator that the sense.