The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-01-08
BIG STICK SMASHES:
ROOSEVELT DEFENDS
THE SECRET SERVICE
In Message to House President De-
clares His Statements i'm Previous
Words to Congress Were Gross
ly Misunderstood.

pl& SUCK CrnEned 0OWu upon inc
heads OF Representatives Tawney OF
kentucky, and Fitzgerald Of New York.
when the executive sent special message
20 the house Of representatives. berating
those solons for being champions OF the
successful move to place limitations upon
the scope OF the secret service.
The president also declared that tho
Interpretation OF the house OF the secret
service clause in his last message was
misunderstood. and had there been any
evidence which would point TO the neces-
sity Of an investigation OF members. such
evidence would long ago have been turned
over 10 the proper authorities.
The message was in answer TO the res
olution transmitted from the house in
which the representatives asked for evil
dence upon which Mr.. Roosevelt based
his statements that the "chlef argument
in favor OF the provision was lat the
congressman did not themselves wish TO
be Investigated by secret service men"
Message Of the President
and Reasons Therefor.
TIE message In part:
To the House OF Representatives: ]
have received the resolution OF the house
of representatives OF December II. 1908,
running as follows:
Whereas, there was contained In the
passed congress at its last session and be-
came law, a provision In reference TO
the employment OF the secret service In
the treasury department: and
Whereas. in the last annual message
OF tho president OF the United States to
the two houses Of congress II was stated
in reference TO that provision 1T In not
too much 10 say that this amendment has
been OF benefit only. and could be OF ben
eft only, to the criminal classes" and II
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 Il was further stated: But II this Ia
not considered desirable special excep-
tion could be made in the law, prohlb-
ting the use OF the secret service force
In investigating members of congress-. II
would be far better 10 do this than 10
DO what actually was done. and strive TO
prevent or at least to hamper effective
action against criminals by the executive
branch OF the government" and
Whereas. the plain nearing OF HE
words Is that the majority a. the con-
gressmen were In fear OF being invesu-
gated by secret service men and that con-
gress as n whole was actuated by that
motive IN enac,ing the provision In ques-
ton Now. therefore.
BE II Resolved, That the president be
evidence upon which he based HIS stats
mems that the chief argument In favor
OF the provision was that the congress
men did not themselves wish TO DO In
vcstigated by secret service men, and
also to transmit to the house any evil
dence connecting any member OF the
house OF representatives of tho Slxtieth
congress with corrupt action In his official
capacity and 10 inform the house wheth-
Q. he has instituted proceedings for the
punishment OF any such individual by the
courts or has reported any such alleged
dolinquencies to the house Of represent
atlves'
Cannot Understand Trend Of
the House Resolution.
'T am wholly at n loss to understand
the concluding portion OF the resolution.
have made nc charges OF corruption
against congress nor against any member
of the present house. II I had proof Of
Each corruption affecting any member of
the house In any matter as to which the
federal government has Jurisdiction, ac-
ton would at once be brought, as was
done in the cases of Senators Mitchell
and Burton. and Representatives William
son. Hermann and briggs at different
times since / have been president. This
would simply be doing my duty In the
execution md enforcement OF the laws
without respect to persons But do not
.rI tuff In he tNn. ~ N
s.i.qH ~ ."a,au,.. 800. e., AZ
. .s,, Nv su,,n,as..o.. ~ ,1, w ~
aoN. a., $3.50 .''a.r,,n. .,,i.n. -,
.. ~ ~ M. rs,.t .soi,,' r,a
ne, :, ,ha so,ss ~ hv IN. cow
.,,,,,,s., liza ,.,,.h,, az y. ., ~.
'a p ~ ,,. ss p =. st.
, .oase aaa ~, , .e -, ~ Law.
. .n a,so,. ,,a. 800. 81, ,ha .a,r,s
ene y,..1,as s.ass, " '"'
a. ~ mia ans ,o,,r,h ,,.,s.. n, On.
na,,',a !, =. .,a,as ,hs, an a,.a,Snr 40
p'a"ns s,as .,,,s ."u =, p..
Iy IA go 80 49,, ,n,n.1
s $500 -. ~ 1870, 49,. "a ,ha,
ussa W go go "V a.,ra,a, '' ~.
49,, ,,,o,,,a a. .nac,I,,, ,hs nroyis,or IN
ma 80 M. All, g. ~, ,,,n,ach.
Savs az nnn"r al ,ntasr,,v =, ,he
ln.a T,,,a.n s,atar,an,. az. M,
.,.,'u ,aras,.a ,.',.ss IN. ,ar,.
1ans. IL 60 s.as.,.m
Dec's'os re ea,u "o'"ns
to Warrant the Statement.
"A careful reading of this message will
show that said nothing TO warrant tho
statement, that the majority OF the con-
gressuien were in fear of being investi-
gated by the secret service men, or that
congress ar a whole was actuated by that