The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL DIGNITY AND
THE MESSAGE.

Because the president in his mes
sage saw fit to call the attention or
that body to the fact that it has de-
stroyed the usefulness of the Secret
Service because under his order 1t had
investigated congress for completely in
land grabbing and kindred offenses.
This is what the president said:
"The chief argument in favor of the
provision was that the congressman
ala not themselves wish to be investi-
gated by secret service men. Very lit
tie Of such investigation has been
done in the past, but it is true that the
work of the secret service agents was
partly responsible for the indictment
and conviction Of a senator and con-
gresham for land frauds in Oregon.
l do not believe that 1t is in the public
interest to protect criminals in any
branch of the public service, and ex-
actly as we have again and again dur
and convicted such criminals who
were in the executive branch Of the
government so in my belief we should
be given ample means to prosecute
them IL found in the Legislative branch.
But II this is not considered desirable
a special exception could be made in
the law prohibiting the use of the sec
ret service force in investigating mem
bers of the congress. 1t would be far
better to do this than to do what actu-
ally was done and strive to prevent
or at least to hamper effective action
against criminals by the executive
branch of the government"
Thereupon as has been mentioned
before congress became insulted.
1t went into fits of rage and began
to hunt up presidents. Its congress
sional dignity had been trifled with
because it's action had been called into
question. Some one who is the Gus
todian OF the dignity of the congress
found that when Tyler in 1912 had had
the temerity to question the wisdom
Of the acts of that body and had caus-
ed it some distressing moments the
congress resolved the following reso-
luton:
81. Resolved. That while this
house Is and ever will be ready to re-
ceive from the president all such mes.
sages and communications as the leg
lslation and laws and usual course OF
pubic business authorize him to
transmit to 1t, yet it can not recognize
any right in him to make formal pro.
test against the votes and proceedings
Of this house, declaring such votes
and proceedings to be illegal and un.
constitutional, and requesting the
house to enter such protest on its
Journal -. That the aforesaid pro.
test is a breach of the privileges OF the
house and that 1t be not entered on
the Journal.
IS. That the president has no right
to send protest to this house against
any OF its proceedings"
Therefore 1t may be expected that
that part OF the message will not find
an abiding place in the archives OF
the senate and the house of represen.
tatives. When any one tramples on
the toes Of congress an appeal is i'm.
mediately made to dignity.
Congress says that the action of the
president is unconstitutional. 1t is
probable that the most OF us who have
no dignity to be hurt will find consti.
tutional ground for the proceeding un.
der that portion of the Constitution
which says:
He shall take care that the laws
shall be faithfully executed"
Surely he has the right to insist
that he be provided with the means
10 execute the laws and to hunt up
evidence though it lead into the halls
Of congress. That is plainly his duty
But looking at 1t from the other
point OF view. What difference does
It make whether the extract is put
down in the record or not. Ashley
IN his American Federal State men
lions what everybody knows to be the
case. But even with special mes
sages. 1t is the pressure of public op
lnion. rather than the power of the
president that leads to favorable &C
ion"
The other day congress was not
sven listening to the reading of the
message
1t has come to pass. that in these