The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-12-31
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4 THE SECRET SERVICE ROW 4
X Is CHANCE FOR CONGRESS. 4
4 Gives,opportunlty for Sweeping 4
4 Investigation Of Presidents 4
X Acts Considered 4
Il EncroaChment. !

many members OF both houses keenly
felt and strongly resented the crIti-
clsm upon the legislative body con-
talned in President Roosevelt's re-
cent message which has been the sub
ject OF so much discussion, II Is also
true that not few members and
senators were Indifferent about the
matter, and were more pleased that
the incident afforded opportunity for
getting back" at the executive with
resolutions which will bring to light
by investigation acts OF the admin.
istration which congress condemns.
1t is observed that Immediately
following the resolutions in both
houses regarding expressions con-
tanned in the presidents message,
there appeared other resolutions call
ing for information regarding the
work OF commissions, special agents
and secret service men, which It is
alleged will disclose work accom-
pllshed under the administration
without authority OF law.
Attention has been frequently call
ed to the disposition Of President
Roosevelt to carry out certain poll
cles, even II It Is necessary for him
to create commissions, boards and
agents without any authority Of law
for SO doing. At least, 1t Is claimed
that he has no authority, because
congress has not specifically legislat-
ed on the subjects in mind.
At the very time when both houses
were subjected to the severest criti-
clsm by the president for failure to
grant a sufficient appropriation to
cover secret service work in all the
branches Of the government, the leg
lslators were condemning the presl-
dent for alleged improper acts
Some of these acts were said to be
the designation Of commissions with
out lawful authority, and one in
stance is pointed out OF an arbitrary
action by the president without legal
sanction.
1t is claimed that the president ar
bitrarily authorized the condemna-
ton and destruction Of the Pennsyl-
vapia railroad station which was pur-
chased by the government as a part
Of the transaction which abolished
the old railroad stations in Washing
ton, took over tracts OF land to form
part Of project for identifying the
city, and centering the railroads in
the new Union station.
Congress passed a law regarding
the use of the old Pennsylvania eta
ton temporarily, and plans were on
foot for using it for storage pur-
poses, pending action by congress for
the disposition OF the building.
Incurs Extra Expense.
1t is now claimed that President
Roosevelt gave a peremptory order
to the officer in charge of the public
buildings. The officer informed the
president that there was no appropri-
alton by congress OF funds necessary
to do this work, but the president
directed that the building be dis
posed Of on terms that would per-
NIT some one to destroy the build
ing and take away the materials con-
tanned therein. 1t is asserted that
upon the presidents order the gov
eminent war obligated to pay $1,000
as a part Of the arrangement for dis
posing Of the building.
Attention is again called by the
Directing senator's and members to
the action Of the president in Great
ing waterways boards and forestry
commissions to travel over the coun-
try obtaining information for the ex-
ecutive, the expenses of which COM
missions are ultimately laid before
congress to be provided for in de-
ficiency appropriations.
Congress TO Go the Limit.
The present i'll feeling in congress
towards the executive growing out of
his criticism of the legislative body
on account Of the secret service mat
ter is affording opportunity for reso-
lutions Of inquiry intended to lay
bare these alleged illegal acts Of
President Roosevelt. Certainly It is
the intention of some senator's and
members to carry these inquiries to
the furtherest possible limit.
In the meanwhile the fact should
not be lost sight Of that the friends
and immediate supporters Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt are not any more
alarmed about these inquiries than
the executive Is said to be. They
are aware of the fact that upon all
occasions President Roosevelt has
shown himself able to take care of
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