The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-12-18
ROOSEVELT INQUIRY
REPRESENTATIVE PERKINS SUP.
PORTS RESOLUTION.
EVERY MEMBER VOTES FOR IT
Lloyd Of Missouri, With Others. to
Decide Just What action Shall Be
Taken-Text of Resolution.

tive Perkins of New York spoke to
the house on the resolution appoint
ing a committee to take the secret
service paragraph in the presidents
message into consideration, in the
midst of a silence and an attention
that were both strained and dramatic.
The applause that greeted the end
bers and galleries seemed to appre-
ciate the gravity of the matter in
hand.
The resolution was adopted by a
unanimous vote, and these members
pere appointed by the speaker to mem
bership IN the committees:
Representative Perkins of New
York, DENLY of Michigan, Lloyd of
Missouri, Williams of Mississippi and
Weeks of Massachusetts.
Text of Resolution.
This is the text of the resolution:
Whereas. There was contained in
the sundry civil appropriation bill,
and which passed congress at it's last
session and became a law, a provision
in reference to the employment of the
secret service in the treasury depart
ment; and,
Whereas, In the message of the
President of the United States to the
two Houses of Congress, it was stated
in reference to that provision: Tt is
not too much to say that this amend
ment has been of benefit only, and
could be of benefit only to the Grim
inal classes only and it was further
stated, The chief argument in favor
of the provision was that congress
men did not themselves wish to- be in
vestigated by secret service men, and
it was further stated, But if this is
not considered desirable, a special
provision could be made in the law,
prohibiting the use of the secret SER
vice force in investigating members of
congress. 1t would be far better to
do this, than to do what actually was
done, and strive to prevent, or at least
to hamper action against criminals by
the executive branch of the govern
ment.'
"Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That a committee of five
members of this house be appointed
by the speaker to consider the state
ments contained in the message of the
president and report to the house
what action, if any, should be taken
in reference thereto"
Perkins Takes Floor.
In presenting the resolution, Mr.
Perkins said:
81 arise to a question of the priv
lege of the house.
81 do not believe in oversensitive-
ness to unfavorable criticism, whether
upon an Individual or upon a public
body. But, while there may be undue
constituencies, 50 also there may be
undue obtuseness, which might argue
a lack of proper self-respect.
at is of Importance to the republic
that all of the coordinate branches of
the government should possess, in a
high degree the confidence and re-
spect of the people.
Il yield to no one in my respect fol
the chief executive of the United
States, and l yield to no n in my
respect for the congress of the United
States. To the congress is granted
great power, and upon it are imposed
great responsibilities.
THE dignity of this body should not
be punctiliously insisted upon, but it
should be properly maintained.
THE statements made by the presi-
dent of the United States cannot be
lightly disregarded. These may be so
construed by the public as to lessen
the dignity and thereby impair the
usefulness of the congress of the
United States. 1t a be justly said,
| think, that those expressions were
unfortunate.
whether it is enough to say this or
whether some more formal action
should be taken, it will be for con
gress, exercising a wise and discreet
Judgment to decide"