The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-09

spectors and secret service agents of
Senator Tiliman's connection with an
alleged land grab" in Oregon. As he
presents the evidence to Senator Hale.
in response to the latter's request TO
the heads of the various executive de
partments for a statement Of the oper-
atoms of the secret service, the presi-
dent undertakes to show.
RooseveIt's Charges.
That Mr.. Tillman used his influence
rs a senator in an effort to force the
government to cempel a railroad cor
pOration to relinquish its control of
land grants from the United States in
order that he and his family and his
secretary, J. 3. Knight, might profit
through the purchase of some of the
land;
That the senator used his govern
ment franking privilege in numerous
instances for the conduct OF private
business.
Comparatively few senators were IA
VOred with the opportunity of reading
the presidents report to Senator Hale,
but those who did read the report took
! a serious view of it, although most of
the senators refused to believe that
Mr.. Tiliman had ever done anything il
violation of his oath.
Reply Reserved.
Senator Tillman did not permit the
/ fact that President Roosevelt was Civ
/ ing out the charges against him to
alter his determination to make no
/ statement until Monday. He said that
/ he could not make his reply so COM
plete as he would desire for tomorrow's
papers, and that he would therefore
] mill a RI Taa 4-~rss
| have to make until Monday when he
would make a statement to the sen
ate. No effort was made by him TO
conceal that when he learned the facts
/ concerning the railroad grant he had
made an effort to obtain portions of
the land in the names of himself and
/ members of his family, but declared
/ that as at most he could have gotten
| possession of only a few hundred acres.
/ his efforts were, after all, in behalf Of
the public, and not especially in his
own interest.
Complete Statement Promised.
Immediately after the conclusion Of
the chaplain's prayer Monday, Mr. Till
man viii ask the recognition of tie
/ chair on a question of personal privil-
eye. Departing from his custom of ex-
| temporaneous speaking, he will read
| his statement, thus insuring more care
/ ful adherence TO what he desires to say
/ than he would be able to give in Of
/ hand speech.
The communication to Senator Hale
| is nearly 5000 words long, and in addi-
| ton there are appended numerous ex-
/ hibits, including copies of letters writ
| ten by Senator Tillman and his agent
| William E. Lee. showing that they did
make an effort to secure several quar-
! ter sections of the Oregon land, and the
report of the postoffice inspectors who
| investigated the transaction of the
4 land agents. 1t was through this inves-
| tigation that the alleged interest of
| Senator Tillman was brought to light,
and, fatefully, il appears that it was at
his instigation the inquiry was begun.
Roosevelt to Hale.
The presidents communication to
| Senator Hale follows:
THE White House, Washington, Jan.
5. 1909
MY Dear Senator Hale: ] have re-
quested the different departments of
/ the government, not only those to
| whom you sent the request, but those
/ to whom you did not, to give me all the
I information about the use Of special
attorneys, special agents, inspectors,
etc, i'm their departments which will
/ enable me to put before you all the
.
/ facts which. as ] take it, your commit
! tee desire to have. / have transmitted
| these reports herewith. I call special
attention to the report of the secretary
/ of state. the secretary of the treasury
and the attorney general
Let me at the outset express my
| cordial agreement with the view that
| it is not only the right, but the duty
| of congress to investigate the work
/ ings of the secret service, or detective
agents, by which alone the government
can effectually safeguard itself
/ against wrongdoing, punish crime and
I bring to justice criminals
81 am well aware of the liability to
/ abuse inherent in any effective detect
I i've system OF secret Service system;
] for the measure of the efficiency Of the
system is also the measure Of the SC
! robustness of the abuses of the system
| if it be applied to wrong purposes or
directed in any improper manner. II
/ is eminently TO the public interest that
there should be vigilant inquiry into
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