Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-18
HOUSE ASKS FOR THE FACTS
President is Asked for Basis of His
Secret Service Charges. n,
ACTION DIVISION
COmmittee to which Matter was
Referred VIII Sit DlrIng Holiday
Recess to- Resolve Reply
from Executive.

WASHINGTON, Dec. iL-The house to-
day 10y unanEnous vote, auop,ed a resoiu-
ton requesting the president to supply II
with any evidence mat may be In AIS
possession that VIII justify the statement
IN his last annual message an relation to
the attitude Of memDers.oI congress towald
appropriations for the government secie ct
service.
Mr.. Perkins, chairman Of the special COM
mlttee to investigate the charge maze in
the presidents message, and John Sharp
Williams both state on tue floor that /.
was The desire 10 be Just toward the presi-
dent IN allowing HIM to submit any evil
dence lac may have.
Mr.. PerAins said the would
continue in session during the Christmas
holidays 30 tnat II might receive anu con-
s'der such evidence from the PRESIDENT.
Mr. Bennett VI New York demanded d
division ON the preamble provision stating
the committees Interpretation Of the pr,sl-
dents message to congress, but before the
division was entered on .enoeayored to with-
draw ms motion. Mr.. Williams Insisted
that this couid not be done ana the vote
being taAen zO members voted aye and
fourteen no on this para Vt the y. Gamble.
Preamble, End RESOLUTION.
The preamble follows:
heTeas, There was contained in the
suhuIy clVh appropriation BAL, when
passed congress a. It's last Session ana Ue-
same a aW' a provision IN reference 20
the employment OF the secret service OF
me Treasury department.; and,
whereas, In the last annual message of
tne PRESIDENT OF tne United states TO the
TWO houses OF congress 1t was stated in
reference to tnaL provisions:
~ rs not 100 much 70 say that this
C0uld De OF benefit my, 10 the crimind
classes and 1t was further stated the
chief argument In IavOr Of the provision
Was thar the congressman did not them
selves wish to be investigated by secret
service men," and 1t was further stated,
but II this is not considered desirable a
special exception could be made in the
law, prohibiting the use of the secret serv-
Ice force in investigating members of con-
gress. 1t would be far better to do this
than to do what actually was done and
strive to prevent, or at least hamper, ef-
fective action against, criminals by the ex-
ecuttve branch Of the government and,
whereas, n plain meaning of the
words is that the majority of the congress
men were in fear of being investigated by
secret service men and that congress as a
whole was actuated by that motive in en-
acting the provision in question; and,
whereas, Your committee appointed To
consider these statements of the president
and to report to the house cannot find In
the hearings before committees nor In the
records of the house or senate any justi-
1lcatlOn or THIS IMPEACHMENT OF the nOnOi
and integrity of the congress; and,
Whereas, Your committee would prefer
in order to make an Intelligent and com
prehensive reports just to the president
as we'll as to congress, to have all the in
formation which the president may have
to communicate; therefore, be it
Resolved, that the president be requested
to transmit to the house any evidence upor
which he based his statement that this
"chief. argument in favor of the provision
was that the congressman did not them.
selves wish to be themselves investigated
by secret service men, and also to rams.
nit to the house any evidence connecting
any membe OF the house OF representative
OF the sixtieth congress with corrupt ac'
ton in his, official capacity and to inform
t ths,l house fo %h tSs eSS%anfshGmSssnt tnS Il Sby i n5H,
| viduai by the confts or has reported any
such alleged delinquencies to the house
OF representatives
In reporting the resolution, Mr.. Perkins
said 1t had been recommended unanimously
by the special committee and said that al
soon as the president should send In any
information in his possession the commit
tee would make another report for the
consideration of thu house.
Speech of Mr.. Williams.
Mr.. williams said the committee would
Impartially report upon this seemingly
and unjustified attack upon the honesty
and reputation Of the legislative branch o.
the government"
$50 far as the committee knows" sait
Mr.. Williams. there is not a s~cintilla o.
evidence TO support that statement by thS
president. The committee has thought 4
would be fair to the president to give hin
further opportunity to produce testimony
IL he has any. The American people havt
a right to know If the American congress
be corrupt"
Such a procedure, he continued, would
allow the country which, he said. was th'
master of both of U.S. to exercise tudg'
ment In the matter. The special commit
tee, he said, would remain in session
ready to receive to consider and tC
weigh whatsoever competent evidence th'
president can furnish with a resolute jus
tice and impartiality."
Mr.. Perkins said the committee wal
actuated by a desire to be entirely just L
the president and he added that 1t haC
brought in the resolution with that pur
pose In view.
Mr.. Keifer of Ohio wanted to know
whether the words, III not Incompatible
with the public service" should not be in
serted in the resolution as Is usual in call
ing out the president for information. Thii
suggestion called forth laughter and Mr.
Perkins declared that the resolution, a.
worded, was "a request for information
and was imperative in its wording
Mr.. Perkins then cut off discussion BY
demanding the previous question, and
Speaker Cannon called for a viva voce vote
There was a chorus Of ayes" favoring thu
passage OF the resolution, followed by &
dead silence when the noes were called
TOR. 80
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE
MI. Burkett Makes Extended Address