The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-01-04
MI: !: 4 :; :; T: SAGE ON The
i.a,..CRET SERVICE
President Replies to Congress
SiOnaI Resolution.
SAYS HE DID NOT HIT AT HOUSE

Language In Annual Communication
Called Objectionable by Representa-
tives Will Stand Analysis, Declares
Executive - He Renews His Argu-
ment For Repeal of Law Limiting
Activities of Treasury Aaents-Cites
Cases In Which They Have Aided
In Punishment of Volators of Fed
| eral Laws.
Washington, Jan. Ain a special
message to the house of representa-
tives today President Roosevelt says:
To the House of Representatives:
/ have received the resolution of the
house of representatives Of Dec. II,
1908, running as follows:
Whereas, There was contained in the
sundry civil appropriation bill which
passed congress at its last session and be-
came a law provision in reference to the
employment Of the secret service In the
| treasury department; and,
| Whereas, In the last annual message of
the president of the United States to the
| two houses of congress 1t was stated in
L
much to say that this amendment has
| been of benefit only and could be of bene-
| fit 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 II was further stated, But IL this is
| not considered desirable a special excep-
| tion could be made in the law prohibiting
| the use of the secret service force in In
| vestigating members of congress-" 1t
would be far better to do this than to 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 meaning of the
| above words Is that the majority of the
| congressman were in fear of being inves-
| tigated by secret service men and that
| congress as a whole was actuated by that
motive in enacting the provision In cues
| ton: and,
| Whereas, Your committee appointed to
consider these statements O. 4he presi-
| dent and to report to the house cannot
/ find in the hearings before committees
nor in the records of the house or SEN
| ate any justification Of this impeach-
| ment of the honor and integrity of the
| congress; and,
Whereas. Your committee would prefer
| in order to make an intelligent and COM
prehensive report. just to the president
as well as to the congress, to have all
l the information which the president may
| have to communicate; now. therefore.
| Be 1t resolved, That the president be
requested to transmit to the house any
| evidence upon which he based his state
| ments that the chief argument in favor
Of the provision was that the congress
men did not themselves wish to be in
vestigated by secret service men" and
| also to transmit to the house any evil
dence connecting any member of the
house of representatives of the Sixtieth
| congress with corrupt action in his off,
cial 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 rep
resentatives.
ri Cannot Understand Resolution"
am wholly at a loss to understand
| the concluding portion of the resolu-
ton. l have made no charges of cor
| ruption against congress nor against
| any member of the present house. If
had proof of such corruption affect
| ing any member Of the house In any
| matter us to which the federal gov
| ernment has jurisdiction, action would
| at once be brought, as was done in the
| cases of Senators Mitchell and Burton
| and Representative Williamson, Herr
| mann and briggs at different times
| since / have been president. This
would simply be doing my duty In the
execution and enforcement of the laws
without respect to persons. But | do
| not regard 1t as within the province
| or the duties of the president to report
| to the house alleged delinquencies"
| Of members or the supposed corrupt
| action" Of member 'in his official ca
| pacity" The membership Of the
| house is by the constitution placed
| within the power of the house alone.
| In the prosecution of criminals and the
| enforcement of the laws the president
| must resort to the courts Of the United
| States.
Portion Of Message Quoted.
| In the third and fourth clauses Of the
| preamble it is stated that the meaning
Of my words is that "the majority of
the congressman are in fear Of being
Investigated by secret service men,"
and that congress as whole was ac-
| tuated by that motive in enacting the
provision In question:" and that this
is an impeachment of the honor and
integrity Of the congress. These state
ments are not, think, In accordance
with the facts. The portion Of my
message referred to runs as follows:
Last year amendment was incor-
porated In the measure providing for the
| secret service which provided that there
/ should be no detail from the secret serv-
| ice and no transfer therefrom. It Is not
| too much to say that this amendment has
been Of benefit only and could be Of bene-
! fit only to the criminal classes. II DELHI
| erately introduced for the purpose OF d.
minishing the effectiveness of war against
crime 1t could not have been better de-
vised to this end. 1t forbade the prac-
tices that had been followed to q greater
or less extent by the executive heads Of
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