The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-26
AN INQUIRY
ORDERED
SENATE VOTES TO NVESTI-
CATE CRITICISMS BY
PRESIDENT.
Words in Annual Message Resent
ed by Upper House of Congress.
Senator Bailey Urges Stronger
Resolution on Grounds That
Words Were WantOn.


Washington, Dec. 19.-The senate
decided definitely to enter upon an in
vestigation relative to the portion OF
the annual message of the president
which criticizes the action of congress
in prohibiting the detail of secret SER
vicce men to duty in other depart
ments.
The resolution directing the inquiry
has been in contemplation ever since
the message was received on Tuesday
of last week. It was decided that Sen
ator Aldrich should stand sponsor for
the measure, and the Rhode Island
senator presented a resolution author
izing the inquiry, which was adopted
without division and thus was the in
quiry decided upon. The resolution
as adopted follows:
''Resolved, That that portion of
the annual message of the president
relating to the secret service is hereby
referred to the committee on resOlu-
lions, who are instructed to inquire
whether the legislation referred to in
the message has impaired the efficiency
or sufficiency of the force employed in
the secret service; and such committee
are further directed to ascertain what
persons other than those included in
the secret service were paid from the
public treasury for the fiscal year end
ed June 80, 1908, for services in con-
nection with the enforcement of the
laws or for work in the detection or
investigation of possible crimes or
criminal acts or violation of the law,
including all special attorneys, special
agents, inspectors or other employees
of any department of the government,
or any branch of the public service,
and also some information as to all
persons whose employment was author
lied by indefinite or general appropri-
ations; the information to contain the
names of all persons so employed or
paid, their previous occupation, the
nature of the work in which they were
engaged, by whom they we're appoint
ed, and upon whose suggestion or rec
ommendation; the inquiry, however,
not to include ocffiers appointed by the
president and confirmed by the senate,
or officers specifically provided by law,
or laborers appointed as such and actu-
ally engaged in employment as labor
ers. :"
May Gail Witnesses.
The resolution further authorizes
the committee on appropriations to
subpoena witnesses and examine them
under oath, and further to report what
action, if any, in the judgment of the
committee, the senate should take in
the matter.
Mr.. Bailey objected to the resolution
because it did not direct the committee
to inquire into Every gross and wan
ton" words of the presidents message.
$50 far as am concerned he said,
mo action should be taken on that
resolution until that point is covered.
Either congress is the most infamous
body that ever assembled in any coun-
try Of the world, or it will take some
notice of this most wanton and gross
insult ever given any body in the
world
Mr.. Aldrich insisted that the resolu-
ton provide for just what Mr.. Bailey
advocated Mr.. Hale declared the res
olution was sufficiently strongly word
ed to permit the committee to make
the kind of report required by Mr..
Bailey.
81 would like to inquire from the
senator from Maine,'' interposed Mr..
Tillman whether he thinks the SEN
ate has been insulted.'
Mr.. Hale insisted that every one
has his own opinion on that subject,
and any one was able to form an opin-
ion as was he.
Mr.. Tilman insisted that according
to the presidents message congress is
composed of lot of ''rascals and
scoundrels who belong in the peniten-
tiary' Senator Newlands declared that
the question at issue was whether the
secret service had been used to investi-.
gate congressman in the pursuance of
their legislative duties or was only to
detect fraud in the duties devolving
upon the executive departments.
Mr.. Newlands sad he was not at
tempting to apologize for the president,
but wanted to have the senate avoid
any hasty or improper language.
The resolution was passed without
roll call.