Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-01-07

HGdub VA
Minnesota, Smith of Iowa, Sherley of
Kentucky, and Fitzgerald of New York,
when the executive sent a special message
to 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 the
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 to 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 "chief argument
in favor of the provision was that the
congressman did not themselves wish to
be investigated by secret service men,"
Message of the President
and Reasons Therefor.
The message in part:
&c the House of Representatives.: 1
have received the resolution OF the house
of representatives of December II, 1908,
running as follows:
Whereas, there was contained In the
sundry civil appropriation bill which
naCCnh RnnPTASS n HIS IhSl SBSSlOl dHu DS- L
panao . low q nrovision In reference to |
the e~mnlovment of the secret service in |
tbo treasnrv denartment: and
q .yybareas in the last annual message
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 mas
been of benefit only, and could be OF ben
eft only, to the criminal classes" and 1t
~. f,r+har sto+od. s.~t1,o chief argument
~, So ~ +ha nroyis,o, was that the
oo,groesman did NOT the,nse,veJ wish to
~ 9aw".tina+ad h, secrat xervice men"
ond q was further stated: But IL this Is
not considered desirable a special excep-
ton could be made in the law, prohib-
iting the use OF the secret service loiGe
In investigating members OIL congress- l
would be Tar better TO 40 thls thah "
do what actually was oone' anu stllNe "
prevent or at least 10 hamper ehectNe
action against criminals by the executive
branch of the government and
Whereas, the plain meaning OF MS
words is that the majority or the con
gressmen were in rear OF pelng lnVesu-
gated by secret service men ana Una con
gress as a whole was actuated by thdl
motive in enacting the provision IN qaes-
ton. Now, therefore,
"Be 1t Resolved, That the president De
l0ptVolNo W
evidence upon which he based ms state
ments that the chief argument IN faVor
of the provision was that the congress-
men did not themselves WISH TO pc IN
v~estigated by secret service men, ana
also to transmit to the house any eVl-
dence connecting any member OF tne
house of representatives OF the SlxIletn
congress with corrupt action In his onlclai
capacity, and to INFORM the mousse Wleth-
er he has instituted proceedings tor the
punishment of any such individual by the
courts or has reported any such aileGeo
delinquencies to the house OF represent
atives.'
. Cannot Understand Trend OF
the House Resolution,
ser uho,I-, Of a loco tn understand
: an 49, ortior ~ +be rasoIiItion
the cohcluuihs poieon 'n nf oorr,ntion
! na.e aroinst a,v member
) asatns' Comst."1 W. Jf T bod nroof of
: u,ch corr,,ntion affecting any member of
the house in any matter as to which the
federal government has jurisdiction, ac-
.tion would at once be brought, as was
done in the cases of Senators Mltchel
and Burton, and Representatives Wllllam-
: son, hermann and Driggs' at dliferen'
times since l have been president. rms
wolld simply be doing my DUTY IN the
!, execution and enforcement OF the laWs
WITHOUT reSpeSt " pcieohS' DN -
: regard 1t as within the province or the
e duties Of the president to report 10 the
= house alleged delinquencies' OF members
y or the supposed 'corrupt action OF {
J member in his official capacity Th'
n membership of the house Is by the con
~stitution placed within the power OF TN
: house alone. In the prosecution OF Grim
l. inals and the enforcement OF the law
o the president must resort to the court
+ of the United States.
= 'In the third and fourth clauses OF tn
t preamble 1t is stated that the meaning o
my words Is that the majority OF IN
congressman are in fear OF being 1nvas
q tigated by secret service men and tina
e congress as a whole was actuated o.
% that motive in enacting the provision /
question: and that this Is an lmpeach
Il ment Of the honor and integrity OF IN
congress. These statements are not
think in accordance with the facts.
Declares He Said Nothing
70 Warrant the Statement
: - . AZ. ,oosso go wi
" "a careful reauins = n,onmant IN
s. snow that saiu no.nins ~ We tha GOV
le statement 'hat Nv me'o" ,a,ast
eressineh VIZ ie" n;oa Nav or .ths
sateu ny u s,.en "a ootmotea Nv III
;e cohsress as q VIZ. mn ~ sl,cb stat,
moate, this nessage Moreover 7 hay
tie never made any such statement aboi
n congress as a whole, nor, with a few IL
evitable exceptions, about the member
of congress, in any message or article