The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-22
HOUSE DEMANDS EVIDENCE.
Action on Secret Service Taken
in Congress.
Only One Vote Against Requesting
Facts of President Roosevelt
The Resolution Adopted.

Washington, D. C.-With only one
dissenting voice, that Of Representa-
tive Rowland, Of Ohio, the House
passed a resolution requesting that
the President furnish any evidence in
his possession showing that a member
of Congress had been guilty of such
official corruption as would justify
that portion of his recent message re-
ferring to the Secret Service. The
resolution is not belligerent one,
but is clothed in such language that
the friends of the President in the
House are certain that his fire will be
drawn and that one or more members
of Congress may be embarrassed
thereby The preamble and reso1u-
ton follow
Whereas, There was contained in
the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill,
which passed Congress at its last ses-
sion and became a law, a provision in
reference to the employment of the
Secret Service in the Treasury De-
partment; and,
Whereas, In the last annual mes
sage of the President of the United
States to the two houses of Congress
it was stated in reference to that
provision: 1t is not too much to say
that this amendment has been of ben
eft only and could be of benefit only,
to the criminal classes And it was
further stated, The chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
Congressman did not themselves wish
to be investigated by Secret Service
men, and it was further stated: But,
if this is not considered desirable,
special exception could be made in
the law, prohibiting the use of the
Secret Service force in investigating
members of Congress- 1t would be
far better to do this than to do what
actually was done, and strive to pre-
vent, or at least to hamper, effective
action against criminals by the execu-
tive branch of the Government and.
"Whereas, The plain meaning of
the above words is that the majority
of the Congressman were in fear of
being Investigated by Secret Service
men, and that Congress as a whole
was actuated by that motive in enact
ing the provision in question; and,
Whereas, Your committee APP
pointed to consider these statements
of the President and report to the
House cannot find in the hearings be-
fore committees nor in the records of
the House or Senate, any justification
of this impeachment of the honor and
integrity of the Congress; and,
Whereas, Your committee would
prefer, in order to make an intelli-
gent and comprehensive report, lust
to the President as we'll as to the Con-
gress, to have all the information
which the President may have to COM
municate; therefore be it
Resolved, That the President be \
requested to transmit to the House
any evidence upon which he based his
statements that the chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
Congressman did not themselves wish
to be investigated by Secret Service
men,, and also to transmit to the
House any evidence connecting any
member of the House of Representa-
tives of the Siztieth Congress with
corrupt action in his official capacity,
and to inform the House whether he
has instituted proceedings for the
punishment of any such individual by
the courts or has reported any such
alleged delinquencies to the House
of Representatives"
Representatives Perkins and Will
Jams, members of the special commit
tee to investigate the Secret Service
allegations, explained the purpose of
the resolution as soon as it had been
read by the clerk
1.-THE object is" said Mr.. Williams,
Ito give the President an opportunity
to show on what grounds he has made
his seemingly unprovoked attack
upon the honor, the honesty, and the
reputation of the legislative branch
Of the Government.