The sun., 1908-12-10
TO REDUEE THB PRESIDENT
CONGRESS INDIGNANT OVER
HIS REFLECTION ON 1T.
He Iusinuatet in Eiis Message That Con.
sress Vas Corrupt sne Feared Inves-
usatton-The Leaders In Conference
Agree to Resent the Iniputation.

gress Vas Corrupt anc Feared Inyes-
ugation-The Leaders In Conference
Agree to Resent the Iniputation.
WAsa1ForoS, Dec. a.-The indignation
which prevailed yesterday among Sena-
tors and Representatives over Presi-
dent Rooeevelt's virtual declaration In
his annual message that Congressman
bad restricted the operations OF the
Government Secret Service because they
did not themselves wish to be investi-
gated grew greater to-day. Yesterday
many of the legislators had not heard Of
or read Mr.. Roosevelt structures. To-day
all OF them were acquainted with what
many have construed as an insult to the
legislative branch. There s to be a
public outbreak OF resentment and it will
come soon.
The Senators are just as angry rs their
younger and more excitable brethren
Of the House. but their indignation is
not as much In evidence Over on the
House side Of the Capitol there was a
buzzine Of excitement in cloakrooms
and COMMITTEES rooms which lasted all
day When adjournment time came it
had been pretty well agreed among the
leaders, Republican and Democratic.
that something ought TO be done TO make
Mr.. Roosevelt understand that Congress
did not intend to sit idly b. and have the
country made to belle, = ihai il vas full
Of corruption and feared tho ligh; fine
House at least intends to strike back.
The plan will probably be ready for exc
cution tomorrow,
Early this afternoon Champ Clark. the
new Democratic leader in the House,
and Swager Sher'ey Of Kentucky. one of
the foremost men Of the Democratic
side, went to the Republican leaders and
tod them fatty that the Democratic
membership did not purpose to permit
the Presidents reflections on Congress
10 pass unnoticed. From that time on
there were conferences in which most
Of the big men on both sides Of the House |
Participated. among them, in addition |
TO Clark and Sher.ey, being Serene F..
Payne. John Dalzell and James A. Tawney. |
the Republican floor leaders. After talk |
ig things over for while they decided |
TO see Speaker Cannon, but a short con-
,srsation with him convinced them that |
i; might be undesirable to have the
Speaker. as the presiding officer of the |
House, brought into the matter, 80 their
sutse,rent conferences did not include
Nr Cannon.
The Democratic leaders told the Repub-
lcan leaders that they regarded il as pref
cradle to remove whatever action was
decided on from any tinge Of partisan
ship, and for that reason they were anxious
TO bring about en- sgreement between
both parties 10 the chamber so that a solid
front might be presented in showing
resentment Of Mr.. Roosevelts attitude.
They said that IL the Republicans would
not agree to join with the Democrats In
this the Democrats would 60 it alone,
and they intirnated that il action was
taken by their side Of the House without
the concurrence Of the Republicans it
would take the form OF a resolution of
ceDsure Of the President. or at least OF a
protest against the language employed
by him In his message. particularly his
statement that the chief argument in favor
of provision OF law. enacted last year
cIrtailing the operations Of the Secret
Service was that the Con gressnnen them
selves did not wish to be investigated.
and his suggestion. generally interpreted
as sarcastic, that Congress might make
a special exception in favor OF itself 30 as
to prevent the use Of Secret Service men
in IN H.. t;,, rnx, 0raaaunan
but the Democratic leaders found that
The captains Of the opposition were not
Unsympathetic. A decision to unite on
some form OF expression Of the Houses
Indignation was reached without trouble.
and after that the only difficulty was to
determine just what was the best thing =.
10 be done that would obtain the support ,
Of practically the entire membership OF ,
the House. The idea Of making formal
protest was abandoned. and after con- ,
siderable discussion 1t was decided not
to adopt a suggestion, which. however.
WAS very favorably received that that ;
portion Of the Presidents message re-
latipg 10 the Secret Service should be re-
turned to him with an explanation Of the ,
reasons Of the House for refusing to re- .
teive il.
From present prospects the leaders will
present to the HOUSE a resolution assert
ing the dignity and the right OF the House
in matters Of legislation. A tentative ]
agreement to do this was reached when
the conferences Of the leaders adjourned.
II was not intended in this resolution to
make direct reference TO what the I
President said in his message, but to '
serve warning on the President that the /
legislative branch Of the Government 10 4
not to be lectured by the Executive and I
that it will not countenanee by silence Il
an attempt on the part Of the President /
to create the impression that corruption Z
exists in the Congress.
Representatives In expressing their 9
Indignation to-day were telling stores :
Of the alleged misuse Of the Secret Service. /
one Of them very prominent public
man declared that because he was OPP q
posed to having the Secret Service 60
beyond the function for which 1t was
aesI gned, that of detecting and prevent =
ing counterfeiting of money, Secret Serv- 4
ice agents had been sent into his Congress Q
district in the recent campaign 10 help r,
defeat him. This man is Republican.
4 former Representative who was around 9
The Capitol to-day declared that he had
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